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Ultra Music Festival is the world’s largest electronic music festival, with over 100,000 attendees from nearly 80 different countries. The festival, known simply as “Ultra” or “UMF,” started as a closing exhibition to Miami’s Winter Music Conference in 1999, and has since expanded to three full days of pulsating electronic music. While the Winter Music Conference and Ultra are now separate events, they both occur during Miami Music Week, which usually happens in the last full week in March.

Ultra is a must for electronic music lovers. The atmosphere of being surrounded by fellow passionate enthusiasts from around the world is rare to come by and hard to beat. Be prepared to get sweaty, dirty, and make lots of new friends to rave with throughout the weekend. So if you enjoy dancing for three days straight, soaking up the Miami sun, and receiving hugs from the nicest strangers in neon wigs and fuzzy boots that you’ll ever meet, all while listening to the best established and emerging electronic artists the world has to offer, then grab your sunglasses and glow sticks, Ultra is for you.

Festival Line Up

12th Planet, 2manydjs, Adam Beyer, Afrobeta, Afrojack, Aleksus Sanchez, Alvin Risk, Ammie Graves, Andres Fresko, Andrew Parsons, Andy C, Annie Mac, Armin Van Buuren, Art Department, ATB, A-Trak, Avicii, Azari & Ill (DJ Set), Bass Control, Bass Nacho, Bassjackers, Bassnectar, Big Chocolate, Big, Gigantic, Beltek, Benny Benassi, Bingo Players, Bishop Magnetic, Bloody Beetroots (DJ Set), Borgore, Brodinski, Busy P, Camo & Krooked, Carbon Airways, Carl Cox, Cassy, Cazzette, Cedric Gervais, Chase and Status (Live), Chris Lake, Christopher James, CO/OP, Cosmic Gate, Dabura, Dada Life, Damian Lazarus, Darick Gyorgy, Dash Berlin, Datsik, David Guetta, Deekline, Deniz Koyu, Deniz Kurtel (Live), Digitalism (DJ Set), Dillon Francis, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Dirty South, DJ Dragon, DJ Icey, DJ Koo, DJ LC, DJ Naomie K, DJ Shadow, DJ Stellar, DJ Wags, DJ Xta-C, DMP, Doctor P, Dubfire, Duck Sauce, Eco, Electric Soulside, Elio Riso, Erick, Morillo, Fatboy Slim, Fedde Le Grand, Felguk, Felix Cartel, Ferry Corsten, Flux Pavilion, Flying Lotus, Flynn Nolan, Foniko, Gareth Emery, Gesafflestein, Gossip, Groove Armada (DJ Set), Gui Boratto, Gypsy, Hard Rock Sofa, Hardwell, Hatiras, Heather Holiday, High Contrast, Hil Huerta, Hugh Cleal, IDeaL & J-Break, Jack Beats, Jackmaster, Jakpot, Jamie Jones, Jared Coetzee, Jason Daniel, Jeff Thompson, Jefferson Funk, Jefr Tale, Jelo
Jeremy Olander, Jes Live, Jimmie Page, Joachim Garraud, Jochen Miller, Joe Bermudez. John Digweed, Jon Rundell, Joris Voorn, Junior Sanchez, Justice (Live), K-Ahz, Kaskade, Katy B, Kcis, Keys n Krates, Knife Party, Kraftwerk, Krafty Kuts, Laidback Luke, Lance Blaise & Gabriel Ben, Laura of Miami, Layo & Bushwacka!, Lazerdisc Party Sex, Lazy Rich, Lee Foss, Lightfield (Live), Little Dragon, Loco Dice, Love & Light, Luke Da Duke, M83, Madeon, Maetrik, Magda, Magnetic Man, Manuel De La Mare, Marcus Schossow, Martin Solveig, Maya Jane Coles, Metaphysical, Metronomy, Michael Woods, Miike Snow, Mim0sA, Miss Nine, Mord Fustang, Mt. Eden, Muggs, Mykris, Nadastrom, Nate Campbell, Neon Indian, Nervo, Netsky, New Order, Nic Fanciulli, Nicky Romero, Nobody Beats The Drum, Noel Sanger, Paper Diamond, Paul Thomas, Pedro M, Pendulum (DJ Set), Phunk Investigation, Pierce Fulton, Plump DJs, Popof, Porter Robinson, Pretty Lights, Professor Genius Brains, Proxxy & Lantern, Ranidu, Remo, Renato Ratier, Rhino & Miss, Cooper, Rhoan Troy, Richard Dinsdale, Richard Fraioli, Richie Hawtin, RioTGeaR, Robert Dale, Rod B. & Re Dupre, Rogrigo Vieira & Ferris, Ryan Morales, Sander Van Doorn, Sandro Silva, Savoy Live, SBTRKT (Live), Schwann, Seth Troxler, Shira - Masss, Shut Da Mouth, Sidney Samson, Sinden, Skream! + Benga, Skrillex, Spencer & Hill, Spinfantastic, SpinnZinn, Stanton Warriors, Stefano Noferini, Steve Aoki, Stripe, Subguys, Sultan & Ned Shepard, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Steve Lawler, Sven Vath, Swanky Jones, Swanky Tunes, Switch, Sydney Blu, Tale Of Us, Tensnake, The Flash Brothers, The Knocks, Tiesto, Tommy Trash, Transoverload, Treasure Fingers, Tritonal, Umek, Vida & Hannah Rad, Wolfgang Gartner, Wyzzard, Yousef, Zedd, Zeds Dead.

Photo: Oliver Correa, The HiFi Cartel

• 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?

  If you're planning to drive, parking near the festival is usually around $40. If you don’t mind walking, you can usually find parking a little further from the festival entrance for around $10.
  
  Coming from South Beach, you can either take a taxi, which costs around $20 each way, or the MetroBus, which is free and offers 24-hour service on select routes.
  
  Downtown Miami offers many more transportation options, as it is better equipped with public transportation and closer to the festival site. If you're staying nearby, you might be able to walk or take a taxi. Otherwise, public transportation is a viable and inexpensive option - in addition to the MetroBus, the MetroMover is another free option. Note that the Bicentennial Park Station is closed until 2013, but you can disembark at the Eleventh Street Station, which is just as close.
  
  CLICK HERE for maps and schedules.

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• How do I get around during the event?

  When it comes to traveling between Ultra’s multiple stages and tents, the issue is the crowds, not the distance. This is especially true when getting to and from the main stage, so try to have a general plan for the day before you get there. It is also prudent to designate a meeting spot in case you lose your friends.

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• What time does it start and end?

  Doors open at 4pm Friday and 12pm on both Saturday and Sunday. The lines entering the festival can get pretty long, so make sure to account for that in your travel time.

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• Is reentry allowed?

  Reentry isn’t allowed, so plan accordingly and take with you everything you’ll need for the day.

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• Are there any prohibited items?

  Alcohol, illegal drugs, bottles, backpacks, animals, sound systems, and recording devices, both audio and visual, will not be allowed through the gates.

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• Can I bring outside food and/or drink?

  Outside food and drink are prohibited in the festival. Empty Camelbaks are allowed and can be filled up once inside.

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• Will there be food sold at the event?

  Food is available at the event. As with most festivals, prices can be quite steep, so plan accordingly. If you don’t feel like waiting in line, keep an eye out for mobile vendors wandering around the festival grounds.

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• Will there be alcohol sold at the event?

  Beer and cocktails are sold at the event and, once purchased, can be taken anywhere within the grounds. You must get a wristband from an age-verification station if you plan to purchase or consume alcohol.

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• What do I need to know about money?

  Festival vendors do not accept credit cards. There are ATMs on the grounds, but the ATM fee is an astronomical $12 per transaction, so try to bring enough cash to get you through the day.

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• What will the weather be like?

  Weather in Miami is consistently hot, humid, and sunny and March is typically one of the sunniest months of the year. The average temperature range in March is between 61-80°F (16-26°C). During the day it can be moderately hot and humid, but a night the temperature can drop to where you’ll need warmer attire.

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• What should I wear?

  Summer clothes are generally best, but because the festival goes from day to night, prepare for the weather transition by bringing a light layer. Many follow the “less is more” mentality, with girls wearing bikini tops and guys going shirtless. Fashion-wise, anything goes. You may feel ridiculous on your way to and from the festival, but once through the entrance gates, neon colors, sparkles and tutus become the norm.

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• What should I bring?

  Sunscreen is a must. Apply before you arrive and bring it with you to reapply ‐ there is nothing worse than getting burnt the first day of a festival and having to suffer through the pain for the rest of the weekend. Since backpacks aren’t allowed, fanny packs are a great idea to store your phone, cash, and sunscreen while leaving your hands free for dancing ‐ it is after all an anything-goes fashion fest.

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• Anything else I need to know?

  The Winter Music Conference also happens at the same as Ultra, so after the festival ends at midnight, there are dozens of parties across Miami to choose from. This is where staying in Downtown Miami can come in handy ‐ you have a nearby place to relax and freshen up without having to pay $40 for a round-trip taxi ride to South Beach.

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