Features

Eight Destination Festivals on the Horizon

Festivals on Beaches

The Hangout Music Festival
Gulf Shores, Alabama
http://www.hangoutmusicfest.com/

Who is playing this year?
Dave Matthews Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack White, String Cheese Incident, Wilco, more

Why go to Gulf Shores – aside from the music?
Following the BP oil spill a few years ago, the tourism in the Gulf Shores was hit pretty hard. However, the beaches are clean and safe now; making The Hangout one of the premier festivals this summer because not only is the lineup great, it’s on a beach. There also isn’t any camping, so you’ll be staying in air-conditioned condos with kitchens and showers and real beds.

Mayan Holidaze
Mayan Riviera, Mexico
http://mayanholidaze.com/

Who played this year?
Umphrey’s McGee, STS9, The Disco Biscuits, Big Gigantic, and more.

Why go to Mexico – aside from the music?
It’s on a beach in Mexico at an all-inclusive resort – the definition of a VIP experience. From activities at the resort (like beach volleyball, yoga classes, ‘Guac Off’ hosted by Umphrey’s Jake Cinninger and golf tournaments) and excursions in the Caribbean (scuba diving a ship wreck, exploring the ancient fortress in Tulum and zip line through the Mayan jungle), Mayan Holidaze has enough activities to keep you busy during the day and raging at night.

International Festivals

Lollapalooza
Santiago, Chile
http://lineup.lollapaloozacl.com/

Who is playing this year?
Foo Fighters, Bjork, Arctic Monkeys, MGMT, Thievery Corporation, Band of Horses, more

Why go to Santiago – aside from the music?
Santiago is a hotbed of Chilean culture: delicious South American food, crazy nightlife and 16th century Spanish architecture, not to mention wine country a little farther out of the city limits.

Sonar
Barcelona, Spain
http://www.sonar.es/es/2012/

Who is playing this year?
The Roots, Fatboy Slim, Deadmau5, Lana Del Rey, more

Why go to Barcelona – aside from the music?
This legendary dance music festival held in Barcelona, Spain, draws native Spaniards as well as foreigners to visit this beautiful Catalan city and revel in the hard-hitting nightlife. The tapas, wine, architecture (Antonio Gaudi’s Parc Guell and apartments), museums (Miro and Picasso), las ramblas and the beach are all reasons Barcelona is one of the most vibrant cities in Europe.