Music festivals have become a huge part of society not only the United States but also across the world. For a weekend, people can escape and listen to their favorite artists and be surrounded by their best friends. The thing with music festivals is once you go to one, you want to attend them all. Here is our list of the top music festivals that are worth the travel to get to both in the United States and outside.
Music Festivals in the United States
Depending on where you live, some of these festivals may be close to you or not. These are festivals everyone should experience at least once with top tier production, incredible lineups, and experiences that will create memories for a lifetime.
EDC Las Vegas - Las Vegas, Nevada
Credit: EDC Las Vegas
EDC Las Vegas is a festival everyone should try and experience at least once. It is a three day festival at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was originally held in June but has since moved to May. If you want insane production, fireworks that beat any 4th of July fireworks, and the top DJs and producers in EDM all in one place, EDC is your best bet. From dusk till dawn, this is the ultimate super bowl for ravers to unite, spread love and dance the weekend away.
Coachella Music and Arts Festival - Indio, California
Credit: Coachella
Aside from the stereotype, this festival has gotten over the years being all about the Instagram pictures and influencers, Coachella is really an amazing festival to experience. Once you look pass the negativity, people are really there for the music and experience. Logistically this festival is very well put together, has incredible production for the stages and can cater to those who like multiple genres, not just electronic dance music. My favorite thing about Coachella is artists can bring their own production and staging with them to bring their own vibe to Coachella.
Ultra Music Festival - Miami, Florida
Credit: Ultra Music Festival
Another huge electronic dance music festival located in Florida is Ultra Music Festival which is always stacked with every major artist in EDM. The production of their stages is always incredible and truly makes you feel alive. It is currently pending where the new home of Ultra will be for 2020 due to the City of Miami not allowing them to have it downtown in 2019 and having to move it to Virginia Key which did not work out for the number of people that attend Ultra every year. Nonetheless, Ultra will always be a staple festival in the United States.
Electric Forest Music Festival - Rothbury, Michigan
Credit: Electric Forest
Become one with nature and travel to a forest in Rothbury, Michigan where you can see DJs, producers, vocalists, jam bands and more. Uncover the secrets of the forest and watch it come to life at night. Electric Forest is one of those festivals that’ll teach you a lot about yourself and the world around you. You never know what you’ll find in the forest and it is well worth the money and the trek to get there.
Dirtybird Campout West- Modesto, California
Throwing in Dirtybird Campout West to round out our music festivals worth traveling to in the United States. Also known as a summer camp for adults that love house and techno, Campout is put on by Dirtybird Records. You get assigned to a team that has a specific color and partake in activities like you’re back in summer camp all over again. All the while getting groovy to the artists on the lineup and on the final night and final set you’ll witness a family set where each artist gets to play one song to finish out an incredible weekend.
Music Festivals Outside of the United States
In case you’ve happened to hit all the festivals above before, or you have extreme wanderlust to travel to somewhere new in the world, here are some top festivals to hit outside of the United States.
Tomorrowland - Belgium
Credit: Tomorrowland
If you’re able to make your way to Belgium, Tomorrowland is one of the biggest festivals in the world. It is held for two weekends in July and attracts big names like Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki, Martin Garrix as well as artists more common to the US like Rezz, Marshmello, Alison Wonderland, Seven Lions. Spread across 16 stages, you are sure to come across popular DJs and ones worth discovering. Another plus is you can plan a trip around it and visit neighboring countries in Europe since major cities are relatively close to it and once you’re in Europe it’s pretty cheap to travel within it
Envision Music Festival - Uvita, Costa Rica
A music festival in the middle of a jungle up alongside a beach? Count me in. Envision Music Festival is a transformational festival that encourages more connection beyond just the music. Partake in art, seminars, education, yoga, and more at this festival. You’ll leave this festival knowing more about yourself and the world that you can carry with you for the rest of your life.
Shambhala Music Festival - Salmo River Ranch, British Columbia Canada
Credit: Shambhala Music Festival
Escape the commotion of the city life and busy life, to the Kootenay Mountains to fully enrich yourself into the Shambhala experience. It prides itself on providing the tools for attendees to choose their own adventure. Whether you want to get lost in the music, open your mind at workshops, and/or stretch your body with daily yoga, you can choose and be responsible for your own experience.
Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Credit: What’s Up with Amsterdam
Amsterdam Dance Event takes over the city by hosting over 2500 artists from across the globe across the best-known clubs in Amsterdam. It is the world’s biggest club festival and also a conference for the whole spectrum of electronic sub-genres. During the day you could attend the conference to be inspired by leading DJs, producers, industry professionals to learn more about the electronic industry. Then at night choose between multiple events to see major artists from all over the world.
EDC Japan - Chiba-shi Chiba 261-0022, Japan
Credit: EDC Japan
For those that don’t know, EDC is hosted in several cities other than Las Vegas. EDC Japan is a popular choice if you’re traveling to Asia. You get the same production, just as stacked of a lineup as EDC Las Vegas, just immersed within Japan and Japanese culture. Also not too far from Tokyo and Kawasaki, making it easy to make a trip around it to explore other parts of Japan and/or Asia.
