Cultivora

Bonnaroo Music and Arts festival is one of the best-known festivals in North America, drawing in over 115,000 festival attendees annually. This four-day festival pulls in over 700 artists from around the world, encompassing all genres, from hip-hop to bluegrass, and even comedy. From big headliners, to small local bands, Bonnaroo has it all. The 700+ acre grounds provide ample space for handfuls of tent-cities and a mini RV park. Art installations are scattered throughout the festival grounds, along with a variety of vendors. A 100-acre entertainment village features round-the-clock activities, including a classic arcade, cinema, silent disco, comedy club, theater performers, a beer festival, and a music technology village. Bonnaroo is the quintessential North American festival where you camp, hear wonderful music, and make new friends. This is the largest festival in North America and appears to be growing more and more every year. Be a part of what Rolling Stone magazine named “one of the 50 moments that changed the history of rock and roll.”

Festival Line Up

Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish, Bon Iver, Skrillex, The Shins, The Beach Boys, The Avett Brothers, Black Star, Alice Cooper, Feist, Childish Gambino, the Roots, Bad Brains, Foster the People, Aziz Ansari, Dispatch, SuperJam, the Word featuring John Medeski, Robert Randolph and North Mississippi Allstars, Ludacris, Ben Folds Five, Flogging Molly, Spectrum Road featuring Cindy Blackman Santana, Jack Bruce, John Medeski, and Vernon Reid, Mac Miller, Major Lazer, tUnE-yArDs, Afrocubism, Flying Lotus, Umphrey's McGee, Little Dragon, St. Vincent, City and Colour, the Civil Wars, Young the Giant, Two Door Cinema Club, Punch Brothers, NEEDTOBREATHE, Fitz & the Tantrums, Yelawolf, Dawes, Battles, Danny Brown, the Black Lips, SBTRKT, Phantogram, Kendrick Lamar, Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires, the Kooks, the Joy Formidable, the Antlers, Kathleen Edwards, Mimosa, Kurt Vile & the Violators, Alabama Shakes, Das Racist, Delta Spirit, Gary Clark Jr., Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Laura Marling, Trampled by Turtles, Mogwai, the War On Drugs, Ben Howard, Grouplove, Blind Pilot, ALO, the Devil Makes Three, White Denim, EMA, Here We Go Magic, K-Flay, the Lonely Forest, Mariachi El Bronx, Big Freedia, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., the Soul Rebels, Kvelertak, SOJA, Steven Bernstein's MTO Allstars Plays Sly, Big Gigantic, Sarah Jarosz, Orgone, Darondo, Fruit Bats, and Moon Taxi.

Photo: Adam Macchia, Bonnaroo

• How do I get to and from the festival?
• How do I get around during the event?
• What time does it start and end?
• Is reentry allowed?
• Are there any prohibited items?
• Can I bring outside food and/or drink?
• Will there be food sold at the event?
• Will there be alcohol sold at the event?
• What do I need to know about money?
• What will the weather be like?
• What should I wear?
• What should I bring?
• Anything else I need to know?

• How do I get to and from the festival?

  The festival site is a beautiful 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, which is about 60 miles southeast of Nashville, and 70 miles northwest of Chattanooga. If you are coming from out of state, the best way to get to Manchester is to fly into Nashivlle International Airport, and take the Bonnaroo Airport Shuttle directly to the festival site. The ride takes approximately 90 minutes, and round-trip shuttle passes can be purchased directly from the Bonnaroo website.
  
  You can also fly into Chattanooga (a little over an hour away), or Knoxville (3 hours away), but these airports don’t have a direct shuttle, so you would need to arrange transportation between the airport and the festival. You also have the option to take the bus; the Greyhound Bus Line goes right to Manchester, TN, located just one mile from the festival.
  
  If you are driving to the festival, tune into Radio Bonnaroo at 101.5 FM for up-to-the-minute traffic announcements, in addition to music, artist interviews, and in-studio performances. Make sure that everyone is wearing their wristbands, as there will be checkpoints as you approach the festival site. As always, carpooling is encouraged.

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• How do I get around during the event?

  You’ll be doing a lot of walking. The festival also has access for patrons with disabilities.

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• What time does it start and end?

  Centeroo, the main area of the Bonnaroo festival grounds, opens at 12pm on Thursday, June 7, and will remain open 24 hours a day, until the festival closes on Sunday, June 10, at 10pm.
  General Admission campgrounds will open at 7pm on Wednesday, June 6, and VIP camping will open at 8am on Thursday, June 7. All campgrounds will close at 3pm on Monday, June 11.
  Bonnaroo is known for their late-night music sets, and you can bet that there will be plenty of music and drum circles in the campgrounds 24 hours a day.
  

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• Is reentry allowed?

  Camping vehicles are not permitted to leave and re-enter the site until Friday evening starting at 9pm. Even then, camping vehicles are only allowed to leave and re-enter once during the weekend, and only through the West and East Tollbooth exits. Your wristband will be scanned and vehicle searched when you return. Leaving with your vehicle can be a hassle and we wouldn’t recommend it.
  
  For day parking vehicles, you can only enter and leave through the West Tollbooth exit.
  
  Patrons will be allowed to leave and re-enter the event grounds on foot via the West or East Tollbooth exit. There are no time restrictions for leaving if you are walking, but make sure you go through the correct exits and get your wristband scanned, or else you won’t be allowed back in.

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• Are there any prohibited items?

  You are not allowed to bring weapons, fireworks, illegal substances, glass containers of any kind, professional photography equipment, pets, and bicycles, scooters or personal motorized vehicles. Also note that no unauthorized vending will be allowed.

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• Can I bring outside food and/or drink?

  You are encouraged to bring food, drinks, and coolers into the campgrounds. You are NOT allowed to bring glass, so make sure everything you bring is either in plastic or aluminum containers. As for the festival itself, you are not allowed to bring in “outside food” into Centeroo, unless it’s a factory sealed water bottle or small snacks.

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• Will there be food sold at the event?

  There are tons of food options, sold by vendors throughout the campgrounds. Food tends to be expensive, so we encourage you bring as much of your own supplies as you can.

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• Will there be alcohol sold at the event?

  Both alcohol and beer will be available for sale. Bonnaroo has an on-site beer fest, so the quality of the beer will be better than most festivals. You can also bring your own to the campgrounds, but remember not to bring glass containers.

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• What do I need to know about money?

  You won’t be able to use credit cards, but there will be ATMs throughout Centeroo. Avoid the lines and ATM fees by bringing a fair amount of cash.

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• What will the weather be like?

  Summertime in Tennessee is very hot and humid. However, Bonnaroo does have a history of rain, and evening temperatures can drop to about 60°-70°F (16-21°C)

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• What should I wear?

  Summer in Tennessee can get very hot and sunny. It is advised to bring shorts, sunglasses, swimsuits, and clothes that are comfortable in warm weather. Bring rain gear, since Bonnaroo has a history of rain; the weather can cool down in the evening, so a sweatshirt is recommended. Two pairs of sneakers are encouraged, but you may also want sandals and/or rain boots.

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• What should I bring?

  There is a General Store in Centeroo, so if you forget to bring anything, you can buy it there, but advance preparation will save you the trouble of running back and forth to your campsite or paying for expensive festival items. Bring enough clothing to get you through the weekend, keeping in mind the temperature change and the possibility of rain. The stigma of fanny packs is gone; they are perfect for carrying your phone, cash etc., leaving your hands free for dancing.
  
  Water is very important due to the heat; bring empty or unopened water bottles, and take advantage of the free water refilling stations across the camp and festival grounds. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are clutch items.
  
  If you are camping, bring the usual camp gear, bug spray, extra toilet paper, and a flashlight to find your way around at night. Do something to make your tent easy to find by attaching a flag, balloons, or other festive markers. There will be noise around the clock, so if you want to get any shuteye or save your hearing make sure you have some earplugs. Also, don't forget to pack these essential items for low-maintenance grooming while camping. Be respectful and pick up after yourself; it’s a good idea to bring some garbage bags.

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• Anything else I need to know?

  If you have a smartphone with Google Maps (or something similar) drop a pin for where you park or camp. It’s not fun searching for your car/tent at night. There is also a mobile app that’s helpful for all things Bonnaroo.
  
  In addition to the food vendors, there are a ton of craft vendors located throughout the grounds. You can pick up a hand-made drum, sunglasses, or anything else you might desire.
  
  There are no on-site gas vendors, so be sure to fill your tank before entering the festival grounds. Portable gas cans are only allowed if you have a generator.

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