Concerts are fun, but festivals are entirely different experiences. Huge crowds, countless big-name performers, and a return home with more stories than your friends want to hear. Tickets can reach the $300-400 range, but the number of performances over the course of a few days justifies the price. Most festivals only happen in one place each year, so transportation may be an issue. However, a road trip to see all of your favorite bands in short succession could add to your experience. Listed below are some great festivals to check out this summer.
Lollapalooza: For those willing to travel to Chicago, Lollapalooza 2013 is sure to be an amazing experience. With headliners such as The Cure, Mumford & Sons, The Postal Service, and The Killers, audience members will see a huge variety of performances during this 3-day festival. If you don’t have plans for Aug. 2-4, be sure to visit this link to grab tickets to one of the biggest festivals in the nation. 
Bonnaroo: If you’re at all interested in music festivals and concerts, you’ve probably heard of Bonnaroo. This 4-day celebration of music and arts in mid-June is one of the most significant events in music each year. Featuring a diverse collection of artists such as The XX, Tom Petty, ZZ Top, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and others, it’s a pretty fair guarantee that you’ll find something you like. The festival takes place in Manchester, Tenn., so a road trip or flight will be necessary for most Bloomsburg students. Visit this link to find out more.
Warped Tour: For those with fond memories of their emo-punk phases in junior high, the Warped Tour is the perfect event to attend in summer. All Time Low, Rise Against, and Taking Back Sunday will appear at this festival, along with other artists you probably won’t see at other festivals. Fortunately, the Warped Tour travels around the country and will be stopping in Scranton, Pa on July 16, and Pittsburg on the July 17. If you can deal with being surrounded by kids who were dropped off by their parents, the Warped tour is sure to be a fun time. Follow this link for more details.
Electric Zoo: If you’re more into bass drops than guitar solos, Electric Zoo is the festival for you. On Labor Day Weekend, Randall’s Island Park in NYC will host one of the nation’s premier electronic music festivals. Headliners include Tiësto, David Guetta, Avicii, and others. Electronic Zoo is sure to be a loud, memorable experience, and proves that festivals aren’t just for rock bands. Click here to learn more and buy tickets.
Burning Man: Unlike any other festival in the country, Burning Man contains no sponsored tents, no corporate influence, and no press. You won’t need money once you get in, since the Burning Man economy is based on trades and gift-giving. Reserved for only the most adventurous, Burning Man promises to be an experience like no other, although this experience is probably not for everyone. What happens once you arrive is up in the air, but if that’s your thing, click here to buy tickets.
Made in America: Geared more toward fans of hip-hop, this Philadelphia-based event will feature artists such as Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Wiz Khalifa. Other performers, such as Imagine Dragons and The Gaslight Anthem will give this festival some musical diversity. Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 will be the dates of this event, which will take place at Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Local enough for most Bloomsburg Students, Made in America is definitely something to check out this summer. Follow this link to learn more.
Whatever festivals or concerts you attend this summer, please remember to be safe. Extended periods of activity outside in the summer can quickly lead to dehydration. Be sure to bring water to avoid this problem.
