Finally, festival season is here. And the Avenue has searched high and low to bring you music options both near and far.
Monster Beach at Pensacola Memorial Weekend
What: Monster role play with booze, body paint, music, sand and lasers.
When: Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29
Where: Pensacola Beach, Fla. Hemingway's Bimini Beach Bar
Sound:Dance/Pop/Electronic/House/Mash-ups
Bigger names: Wildchild World
Cost: Free entry 18+. $15 to $75 for open bar and event passes.
Florida Folk Festival
What: A toe-tapping, boot-stomping celebration of 58 years of Florida music, food and culture. Complete with banjo and fiddle contests.
When: Friday, May 28 to Sunday, May 30
Where: High Springs, Fla. Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park
Sound: Folk/Bluegrass/Blues/Country/Mountain music
Bigger names: Mel Tillis, Michael Johnathon, Ben Prestage
Cost: $25 for one day; $50 for the weekend.
Bama Jam Music Festival
What: A country music festival with variety. If you want 100 percent, all-American or just subtle country roots, you'll find it here.
When: Thursday, June 3 to Saturday, June 5
Where: Enterprise, Ala.
Sound: Country/Southern/ Folk Rock
Bigger names: Kenny Chesney, Hank Williams Jr., Zac Brown Band, Gregg Allman, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert
Cost: $179-gate price for a three-day pass.
Bonnaroo
What: Party on a private, 700-acre farm where there's something for everyone, including comedy acts, art displays and vendors.
When: Thursday, June 10 to Sunday, June 13
Where: Manchester, Tenn., roughly between Nashville and Chattanooga
Sound:Rock/Alt/Hip-hop/Indie/Americana/Electronic/Experimental
Bigger names: Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, The Flaming Lips, Weezer, Phoenix, Norah Jones, Regina Spektor, Rise Against, Tori Amos, The National, Damian Marley & Nas, The Black Keys
Cost: $272.60 (includes festival fees) for four days.
Vans Warped Tour
What: It's like one big, sweaty mosh pit with underage kids having the time of their lives getting bloody noses.
When: Friday, July 23
Where: St. Petersburg Vinoy Park
Saturday, July 24: West Palm Beach - Cruzan Ampitheater
Sunday, July 25: Orlando Firestone Amphitheatre @ The Lot
Sound: Rock/Alternative/Punk/Emo
Bigger names: All American Rejects, Alkaline Trio, Anti-Flag, Andrew WK, Dropkick Murphys, Everclear, Face to Face, Motion City Soundtrack, Sum 41, Reel Big Fish
Cost: $20 to $35 for one day.
Lollapalooza
What: This summer-festival pioneer is known for its killer line ups situated in the heart of downtown Chicago.
When: Friday, Aug. 6 to Sunday, Aug. 8
Where: Chicago, Ill. Grant Park
Sound:Rock/Pop/Indie/Soul/Electronic/Americana/Psychedelic/Blues
Bigger names: Weezer, Lady Gaga, Green Day, Phoenix, The Strokes, MGMT, Hot Chip, Spoon, DEVO, Slightly Stoopid, Cut Copy, The National, Erykah Badu
Cost: $215 for a three-day pass
Festival tips from Fest organizer and No Idea publicist Tony Weinbender
Festival veteran Tony Weinbender, 34, has been going to music festivals for almost 20 years and running them for about 15, so the Avenue asked him for advice on how to do your summer music experience right.
If you're going to plan around parties, Weinbender says the first night and the last night "everybody goes big."
When it comes to food, Weinbender suggests raw almonds as a high-energy, high-protein snack. But make sure not to get the roasted or salted kind because that will just make you dehydrated.
It's also a good idea to avoid eating anything scary. When stuck with a portable toilet, "you don't want to be having to blow up a bathroom," he said.
And though you may love them, don't bring your dogs or other animals. "They don't like music. They're just bummed out," Weinbender said.
Then it just comes down to good old common sense. And the Internet. Look for stuff you're going to enjoy, and plan ahead to avoid any major surprises.
