Summer is winding down, but if you’re a music fan and enjoy nature, you’re in luck. Several music festivals let you soak in the outdoors to the soundtrack of your favorite bands, and there’s still time to catch a few shows before the fall.
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Here’s a look at five stops you may want to add to your list:
Pickathon 2023 – August 3-6 in Happy Valley, OR
Cool off from this summer’s endless heatwave by heading to the woods of Oregon. Located just outside Portland, this event brings together a music collective with an environmentally focused approach, including powering the stage using hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Bands include longtime folk favorites like Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange), soul icon Lee Fields, and up-and-coming garage rock acts like Dehd. In all, there are more than 40 acts billed.
Another bonus is camping is allowed at this festival.
Lollapalooza 2023 – August 3-6 in Chicago, IL
Anyone looking to see some of the biggest acts in music doesn’t want to miss this year’s Lollapalooza Festival.
The stacked lineup includes Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, The 1975, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Lana Del Rey. All of these, plus dozens of other acts are coming together for the three-day event at Chicago’s Grant Park.
This large park in the heart of Chicago offers both a cityscape view and a view of Lake Michigan.
There are no camping options, so festival-goers will need to book in nearby hotels and Airbnbs.
Positive Jam Festival – August 5 in Accord, NY
What better way to see a music festival than to head to Upstate New York, just down the road from Woodstock, the mother of modern music festivals?
In reality, Accord is about 20 miles from Woodstock, and the feel-good vibe should be there with this festival put on by indie rockers the Hold Steady. The fields of Arrowood Farms will host the event, which also includes Guided by Voices and several other acts.
For those living in New York City, the festival is trying an environmental approach by offering a ticket for a bus that can bring guests straight to the event.
The event is only one day, so there are no overnight accommodations at the festival site.
Rocky Mountain Folk Festival – August 11-13 in Lyons, CO
Imagine camping on the banks of a river in Colorado and waking up to the sound of bluegrass and folk bands. You don’t want to miss the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival if that’s your style.
Held annually at Planet Bluegrass, the venue sits on the St. Vrain River downstream of Rocky Mountain National Park.
The music lineup includes a small number of popular acts, such as Charley Crockett, Shovels & Rope, and Katie Pruitt, with plenty of up-and-coming and local bands filling the 20-band lineup.
Trans-Pecos Festival – September 28-October 1 in Marfa, TX
This one technically takes place after summer is over, but that’s probably for the best, since attendees will be heading to the desert.
The annual Trans-Pecos Festival is at El Cosmico, a popular getaway with campers, yurts, and other unique housing you can rent while visiting Marfa, TX. The town is a well-known artist hideaway near Big Bend National Park.
This year’s music lineup includes Spoon, Neil Francis, Ben Kweller, and several other bands. The festival includes artist showcases, a local marketplace, and a pop-up desert spa.
Festival-goers can camp, stay at El Cosmico, or book accommodations in the nearby town.
