America is known for its huge festival scene – each year, the US attracts hundreds of thousands of people from the corners of the globe to join in the madness.
With amazing artists, an incredible atmosphere and stunning venues, it’s no wonder partygoers thrive on these annual events.
The legendary Woodstock festival recently passed its 50th anniversary, so what better way to remember the festival of peace and music than to share our top festivals in America?
1. Burning Man
In the dusty hot desert known as Nevada, you’ll find Burning Man.
Each year over 80,000 people gather here to create ‘Black Rock City’, a barren place which only exists for nine days over August. This annual event has more than 30 years of history and is known for its communal living experience – not to mention the crazy outfits!
Burning Man is a place where money doesn’t exist – participants are expected to bring food, supplies, shelter and just about any other trading item you can think of.
2. Coachella
The mother of all festivals! Starting back in 1999, Coachella first began as one day festival in California. As time went on, this annual event blew up and quickly became the biggest festival of the summer.
Attracting more than 99,000 people annually, Coachella hosts many of the biggest acts of this time. Previous headliners include Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, AC/DC, Stone Roses, Drake and many more.
Alongside the bigger artists, up and coming new acts perform on the smaller stages – a great way to see many new artists as well as the main acts we all know and love.
3. Electric Daisy Carnival
Where Carnival meets Festival! Electric Daisy Carnival is possibly the lesser known festival on our list which boasts 15 stages performances, with all kinds of electronic music on offer.
EDC began in 1997 as a warehouse party in Los Angeles, since then it has grown into an internationally acclaimed live music experience, attracting nearly one million fans annually.
The festival is now held in Las Vegas during the Motor Speedway and is notorious for its colourful carnival stages.
4. Austin City Limits
The Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival is one of the largest live music events in the country, taking the famed ‘Austin City Limits’ TV series outside the studio and into scenic Zilker Park.
The music lineup is the number one attraction. With eight stages and over 140 musical groups performing, there’s something for every musical palate. Previous years headliners have included Guns ‘n’ Roses, Childish Gambino, The Cure and Billie Eilish.
While bands are playing on the main stage, smaller projects and markets can also be found taking place around the site.
5. Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is more than just a music festival. Taking place each year in historic Grant Park, Lolla is a four-day cultural experience that takes place on 115 acres between Downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan.
Lollapalooza attracts some 200,000 attendees. Side stages offer up-and-coming artists an opportunity to perform for a wider audience, and DJs play a varied selection of electronic music in the festival’s dance tent.
Do you want to attend any of these festivals? Plan a gap year to the USA today!