The first time I attended Bonnaroo it completely changed my life.
The people, the music, the environment, the radiate positivity vibes. It was the summer of 2015 - I was 21 years old. I was able to attend Roo because I applied for press passes through my universities newspaper and I got accepted. Like any 21 year old - I brought my mom with me. We had the best experience together. I got accepted with press passes again in 2016. Like any 22 year old would do - I brought my mom again. It will be memories that I will have with me my entire life. And we still yell “Bonnaroo” to each other. It was a complete escape from reality.
A different world of positivity, kindness and the best people you will ever meet. But 4 days out of 365 days every year wasn’t enough. I needed this feeling more. It energized me, it empowered me, it gave me purpose. This was when I decided to start my journey to having a career in the music industry.
I spent some time away from The Farm. Not intentionally, life just happens. Then in 2023, my partner and I bought tickets. And she absolutely loved it. It was like I got to experience my first Bonnaroo again through her. Even though we forgot the tent, my feet were hurting every day, got the Roo illness and battled the Sunday storm - giving all these imperfect moments - the intense feeling of happiness, escape and love outweighed them all. And we are attending again this month! Each year I attended I have learned something new.
Here are my tips to a very Happy Bonnaroo:
It all starts with you.
Bonnaroo is made up every single human being that is there. This is the one place in the world where everything else doesn’t matter. Let yourself take a break from reality. Be present. Be kind. Pay it forward. Radiate positivity. Each year on The Farm does feel different. Last year it felt like less people understood the true meaning of Bonnaroo. But the world has gone through intense changes in the 20s and I’m hopeful the true meaning of Bonnaroo will be returned to The Farm. Let it start with you and follow the Bonnaroovian code.
Prepare thyself.
Bonnaroo isn’t an easy festival on the body. Honestly it’s a tough festival to attend. You have to be a certain type of person to camp on The Farm for four nights (some even do more). I’ve had a lot of people tell me they couldn’t handle camping in the Tennessee heat for 5 days. But I love it cause I prepare myself. Stay hydrated. Bring shoes that can handle 20k+ steps a day (a mistake I made last year). Please wear sunblock. Pack early and double check yourself. Last year after arriving late Thursday night we discovered we had every piece of the tent but the actually tent (the horror but this happens to so many people at Roo).
Take care of yourself.
I love waking up early on The Farm, grabbing a coffee with my partner and going to Yoga in Centeroo. It truly is the most perfect and peaceful way to start my day. I love hearing the yoga teacher saying “Good Morning Bonnaroo - aren’t we all happy to be here?” Last year they had us do partnered yoga. Both days the yoga teachers words brought me to tears - made me feel so free and relaxed. This is how I honor myself on The Farm. We all know our limitations - what makes us feel comfortable and at our full potential. For me that means: staying hydrated, taking a shower every day (yes I will be dropping $10 a day to feel refreshed), having hand sanitizer (for the porta potties), bringing clothes that make me feel good/comfortable and most likely not drinking alcohol. Taking care of yourself can be so easy, you just need to define what you need.
Vibe with The Farm.
Don’t put pressure on yourself to accomplish A, B, C every day you’re there. The more pressure and expectation you put on a moment to be perfect sometimes leads to the moment disappointing you. It is impossible to attend it all. There are a few activations and artists I don’t want to miss this year. But I know it’s impossible to see every artist I’m interested in. I say this because The Farm is so much more than just the music. There is so much to experience, to feel, to be present in. Moments that you will just stumble upon by having no set agenda for the day. Let yourself vibe and flow with The Farm. You just might stumble into your favorite new artist, a new best friend, a yummy slice of spicy pie and your favorite moment.
Most importantly: Have a Happy Bonnaroo!