The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Manchester, TN, June 10-13, 2010

Tips for surviving the memorable music festival

by Elissa Pugh | March 01, 2010

Four days. 80,000 tickets. Over 90 performers. The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is held on a 700-acree farm in Manchester, Tennessee. Epic and unforgettable performances range in genre from rock and roll to hip-hop to bluegrass. The festival’s 100-acre village includes multiple stages, arcade, cinema, comedy club, beer festival and many other attractions. Bonnaroo was named one of the 50 moments that changed the history of rock and roll by Rolling Stone magazine. This year’s wide ranging line-up includes sure to be memorable performances by actress Zooey Deschanel’s musical group, She & Him, The Flaming Lips performing Dark Side of the Moon featuring Stardeath and White Dwarfs, and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Because Bonnaroo is held during June in Tennessee, odds are it will be either hot and/or raining during the festival. Be prepared for both when packing your wardrobe and supplies for the weekend. Do not forget sunscreen or bug spray! Remember to liberally reapply your sunscreen (it is guaranteed to sweat off or wash off). Go ahead and bring some aloe vera for the sunburn that will likely find its way to you regardless of your sunscreen application. You can bring factory-sealed water bottles, small snacks, rain gear, umbrella, blanket etc. into the festival area in a non-frame backpack (whose contents will be checked at the entrance to the main festival area). A deck of cards or other small games can also be handy entertainment while waiting for performances to begin. Also consider packing your own toilet paper (in a plastic bag in case of rain), wet washcloths or baby wipes, and a flashlight or two. There are public sinks for brushing teeth and cleaning up. Private showers are provided but cost $7 per use.

Staying off-site is a possibility, but the vast majority of festival goers stay on-site in tents or rented RVs. If you think that having access to a private bathroom, shower, or air-conditioning would greatly increase your experience, then you might want to consider renting an RV or staying off-site in a hotel. Another bonus of RV rental is the prime location of the pre-parked RVs.

Tens of thousands of people attend Bonnaroo and these vast crowds can often make it difficult to get close to the stage for your favorite performers. Late-night performances on the smaller stages can help offset the massive crowds. The large number of Bonnaroo attendees also means a large number of cars. As you arrive, cars are directed to park in fairly tight lines in an extremely large, fielded area. Cars are directed to leave enough room between rows to pitch a tent but there is no room or aisle area in which a car could maneuver. If you were planning on leaving the festival early, guess again. This parking area is not only congested, but very dark once the sun goes down. Bring a balloon or some other object to tie to the top of your vehicle in order to aid you in finding it.

It is possible that two performers you would like to see may be on different stages at the same time. Be prepared to make these tough choices. You might also choose to seek shade in the comedy or cinema tents to escape the heat. Hang in there; it should get cooler as the sun goes down. Browsing in the vendor tents can not only provide a respite from the crowds and weather, but provide you with the opportunity to browse everything from the obligatory tie-dye t-shirts to prosthetic elf ears from Aradani Costumes (one year comedian Patton Oswalt bought a pair after his performance in the comedy tent).

The lines will be long. You will have to decide if the sinks for cleaning up and ice for your cooler are worth it. Food and café recommendations that you might receive are fruitless because you will more than likely base your meal choice on the length of the line. Luckily, the “small snacks” that you can bring into the main festival area can usually include a peanut butter sandwich, fruit, etc.

Despite the heat and crowds, you will be proud to say you attended Bonnaroo and like many others, might just want to return next year. After all, where else you can experience Stevie Wonder, Tenacious D, and Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers all in the same weekend?

Ferris wheel photo by chris friese, via Creative Commons; Bonnaroo entrance photo by keenduck, via Creative Commons