Many ravers and festival-goers were extremely disappointed when it was announced that the 2019 edition of Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival took a hiatus. This Florida festival has been a favorite since it’s first event in 2016, and the news was both saddening and shocking to many.
However, that disappointment turned to excitement when Okeechobee announced that it would be returning in March 2020, this time put on by Insomniac Events along with Soundslinger. That excitement increased even more this week when Okeechobee released its jaw-dropping lineup.
The festival takes place March 5th -- March 8 at Sunshine Grove in Okeechobee, Florida. Even the first day, which is a Thursday, has a stacked lineup, and that’s what pretty much sold me on going this year without even haven seen the rest of the lineup yet! Thursday night I’m excited for Rufus du Sol, ARIZONA, Said The Sky, Ivy Lab, and Yheti.
Friday’s lineup is equally stacked. What I love about this lineup is how well-rounded it is -- lots of EDM and jam band-type stuff, but also indie, rock, rap, and so much more. On Friday I’m definitely not missing Bassnectar, Kaskade, Big Gigantic, Lotus, Nora En Pure, Papadosio, Crooked Colours, and G-Space.
On Saturday, the lineup starts to get even more diverse. The main acts I think everyone should make sure to see on that day: HAIM, Tipper, Sublime With Rome, G Jones, LSDREAM, Y2K, Mersiv, and Zia.
Last but certainly not least, Sunday’s lineup is lead by one of my favorite bands that I’ve never had the fortune to see before -- Munford & Suns. That would be good enough for me, but there are tons of other amazing artists too, such as Glass Animals, Alison Wonderland, San Holo, Machine Gun Kelly, Flatbush Zombies, Elohim, and Charlesthefirst. And it’s a good thing Okeechobee is blessing us with such a strong Sunday lineup, considering day four of any festival can be a bit of a struggle!
Though the lineup is what initially hooked me on Okeechobee for 2020, there are so many other aspects of this festival that I’m excited about. I absolutely love camping festivals, and I’ve always heard the camping experience is amazing here. According to their press release, this year is set to include, "immersive art experiences, pop-up performances, creative installations, yoga, life-enhancing workshops, and other experiences that define the eclectic nature of Chobeewobee Village."
In addition to the three main stages that Okeechobee boasts, there are also multiple unique stages throughout the 800-acre layout. The infamous Jungle 51 stage is hidden deep in the festival grounds. This stage has featured some of the biggest house and techno artists in previous years. Plus, it's open from dusk-till-dawn! There’s also something called the Aquachobee Beach, which features a stage that you can watch while sitting on a white-sand beach.
Additionally, there's also a 24-hour general store, 24-hour food options, showers, free portals, and food and beverage options from local vendors and craft artisans on-site! There's no doubt that Okeechobee provides its own, unique community over the course of four days, leaving you with once-in-a-lifetime memories.
Okeechobee tickets are on sale now, so don’t sleep on this amazing festival. I hope to meet a lot of you at the Grove this coming year!
