5 Festivals You Need To Attend Once In Your Life

With the start of the new year comes so many opportunities for change. Instead of making a new year resolution you won’t stick too, try coming up with one that you will actually want to keep: attend at least one festival you’ve never been to before.

There’s so many different types of festivals, especially here in the U.S that it can be a bit overwhelming when you’re trying to figure out which ones you want to attend.

The lineup is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to factors that pay a key role in choosing.

1. Coachella:

Coachella has a reputation for being a bit bougie and bringing in a huge celeb crowd. Here’s a tip, all of that is true; however, it’s mostly true for weekend one. If you want a celeb-free festival that focuses more on the music, head to weekend two instead. Coachella draws in people from all over the world, and it’s almost impossible to not make international friends here.

Everyone has heard of Coachella, so it’s no wonder that it’s on our “must attend” list. It gets really hot here, but since once the sun rises it wakes everyone up at the same time, the party will start early and you won’t experience any FOMO from oversleeping. The food is also a huge plus because there’s so many options you’ll wish you had more time to try everything. Between the lineup, the vibes, the food, and the art, this should be at the top of your list for festivals to try this year.

2. Mysteryland USA:

I may be a little biased because my own festival squad was born, bred, and raised here. However once you attend, you’ll see why.  Located in upstate NY, the only weather you’ll have to worry about is the fact that it tends to get cold at night, but that’s nothing a festival squad cuddle puddle can’t fix.

Mysteryland draws in a lineup that is so broad and ever changing that you’ll get all the vibes from Diplo to Griz. Mysteryland is a music and arts festival, so in addition to the dope music you’ll see some awesome art installations here. And one year, there was a ball pit and even free Redbull. You could wander the grounds every day and still find something new to love and interact with each time.

3. Electric Forest:

If you’ve ever wanted to escape reality and run away and live in a forest with all of your friends for a few days, look no further. Now just add amazing music, good vibes, a forest lit up like you couldn’t imagine, and you have Electric Forest.

Any festival that has grown like Forest has, clearly knows what they’re doing. This year, for the first time, Electric Forest will be taking over two weekends instead of just one – following in the footsteps of major festivals like Coachella. The hardest decision here is now just choosing which weekend is the one for you..

4. Ultra:

Ultra is easily one of the biggest and mostly widely-known festivals out there, for good reason. It takes place during Miami Music Week, which brings in practically every artist in your wildest dreams. With 7 stages to choose, you can find yourself wandering from the main stage, to the world stage, to the live stage with ease.

Ultra brings in every major act giving you the opportunity to see all of your favorite artists at the same event. Since it does take place during MMW, even if you don't see your favorite on the lineup, there's a 99% chance you'll find them in Miami at some point during the week. Pool parties, after parties, Ultra, Miami Music Week, you can sleep when you're dead because you'll most likely be awake the entire time you're in Miami.

5. EDCLV:

EDCLV is the grand finale of all the EDCs. It is the end all, be all in the realm of Electric Daisy Carnivals. Let us not fail to mention though that this is not a festival for the faint of heart. Saying it gets hot would be the understatement of the year because you're raging in the Las Vegas desert sun. And you will not have cell service. If you wander away from your squad there is a good chance you will not find them again, so planning is key.

Part of what makes EDCLV so amazing is that it is so different. For one, it takes place in Vegas which should be reason enough to convince you it’s a must-do. The hours for the festival are unlike any other, from dusk to dawn. Seeing the sun set everyday isn’t guaranteed, but there’s a good chance you’ll see it rise.

Here's to festival season 2017..

As long as you’re surrounded by the right people, any festival will be the right one. Try heading to a festival solo and give yourself an opportunity to be vulnerable and meet so many new people. As lineups continue to drop daily, let the countdown and planning officially begin for festival season 2017.