The Beginner’s Guide to Bonnaroo

Among the neon sea of flower crowns, 12 dollar water bottle stands and drug sniffing, undercover cops there exists a music lover’s oasis. It’s a place where the music and good vibes come first, leaving the responsibilities of everyday life and hygiene to come second (or third). You might have heard about the four day music and camping extravaganza that is Bonnaroo, also known as Roo or “The Farm,” but this is a festival that redefines seeing and believing.

The magic is real.

For my fellow Bonnaroo ticket holders, including the anxiously new and expertly seasoned, it’s that time again. There’s only one week before we hit the dusty trail to Tennessee, set up camp and roam The Farm for four blissful days. And somehow, the To Do List continues to grow. Yes, Roo is a festival defined by laid back vibes and an anything goes attitude. But there’s a fine line between forgetting clean underwear and shacking in someone’s tent because you realized yours is the size of a doghouse (shoutout Dean and company). Preparation is key.

There are three major aspects of Bonnaroo that, if properly prepared for, will guarantee you the music festival experience of a lifetime.

The Camp

Stay nourished:

Bonnaroo is four days of walking, grooving and barely sleeping. So while alcohol is important, packing the proper food and hydration stuffs is crucial. A portable grill is perfect for grilling up hotdogs and hamburgers. If you’re less culinary inclined, Clif bars, bananas and jerky of all varieties make for convenient, energy boosting alternatives. The night before you leave, freeze a case of water in lieu of ice, pile in your food the next morning, then throw in some bagged ice for good measure. And because buying frozen water at Roo adds up, pick up dry ice at one of the many warehouses on the road trip route.

Kick back:

There’s no alarm more reliable than a Tennessee sunrise, because those oven baked rays will wake you up every morning like clockwork. Having a battery operated fan makes for a comfortable night’s sleep nap (with shows at 2:30 am, prepare for some epic sunrise accompanied walks home to camp). Because the heat will wake you up hours before the day’s first show, a good chunk of your morning will be spent lounging at camp. Create an outdoor, shaded living room with that canopy tent from your U-12 soccer days, tie a sheet or tarp to one side and savor the shade. Your sun kissed and/or crispy skin will thank you.

The Festival

What to bring:

Pack for each day like it’s impossible to return to your campsite, because no one deserves to miss Fitz & The Tantrums for a forgotten tube of sunscreen. Last year my crew and I were blessed with a ten minute walk from camp to Centeroo, but some campsites are as far as 30 minutes away. Revisit a tried and true classic: The Buddy System. One buddy can supply a knapsack with snacks, a blanket to lay on while Lionel Richie serenades you, a flashlight for the walk home and your recreational items of choice, while the other should man a Camelbak. This, my Bonnaroovians, is the holy grail of festival goods. Roo graciously supplies free water stations, so drink up and let your pouch overfloweth.

Nighttime note: you won’t need much else when the sun goes down, but if there’s room in that knapsack, throw in a jacket. Contrary to the buckets of sweat you’ll produce by day, it gets pretty damn chilly at night.

What to take:

Drugs. Alcohol. Caffeine. Bath salts…just kidding. Bonnaroo is not a sprint. It’s a 15-hour concert-packed marathon, for four days straight. You must be a conscious and responsible consumer. Nothing sucks more than missing out on your favorite show because you’re too fucked up or quarantined in the medical tent. Bonnaroo’s go-with-the-flow attitude is often accompanied by a false sense of security, so take the time to do your research, make educated decisions and look out for your friends. Also, realize that while Florida is hot, Tennessee is way fucking hotter. Drink water on the hour, every hour, and give your dancing shoes rest (I rarely sat last year, so by Sunday my ankle was a swollen grapefruit.) Listen to your body and your body will thank you.

The Culture

Radiate positivity:

Providing one of the summer’s most drool-worthy festival lineups is what brings nearly 100,000 people to The Farm each year, but it’s the Bonnaroovian culture that keeps them coming back. One of Roo’s guiding mantras is to “Radiate positivity”. It’s a simple request, and one that will manifest itself in every aspect of your Bonnaroo experience. Be open, take witness and abandon your inhibitions. There’s something intrinsically beautiful about thousands of people coming to one place for the pure love of music.

Help thy neighbor:

The undeniable sense of camaraderie is what makes Bonnaroo unique from any other festival. Every moment will redefine the true purpose of community, making itself known with every high five (you’ll soon see), sip of water shared and new friend made along the way. So help and befriend thy neighbor, and thy neighbor will do the same for you. After only a few short hours on The Farm, you’ll find that your faith in humanity has been restored.

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