Chances are, if you’re considering going to an outdoor music festival this year, the environment is not really your top reason for going. It’s actually because you’re planning on listening to some great music with some great friends. And, if there is plenty of food and drinks around, that will make it all the more enjoyable.
But when you really sit down to think about it, there are some eco-friendly perks to the experience as well. While outside, you can get plenty of fresh air and Vitamin D (make sure to use some sunscreen) and you are walking to get to point A and B all throughout the evening. There’s also one more reason that you may not even be aware of: It’s an eco-friendly movement set to music.
Yes, some of music festivals are actually making a concerted effort to “go green” with their events and below, we’ll show you how five of them are doing just that. So, as you’re making your plans to check out a concert or two, here’s a reason to keep the earth on your agenda.
The Electric Forest Festival. Held in Rothbury, Michigan, this festival is nestled in the Sherwood Forest where you can swim in the Big Wildcat Lake or horseback ride by day and then take advantage of the music featured at night. As far as the eco-friendly features that it offers, there is something called “The Solar Glow Disk Experience”, which is a nine-hole solar-powered golf course, plus an eco-points system where you can earn points for merchandise based on the amount of things that you recycle. For more information, check out ElectricForestFestival.com.
Bonnaroo. It is hard to believe that Bonnaroo is over 11 years old. Located in Manchester, Tennessee (about halfway between Nashville and Chattanooga), it has been the home of some of the biggest acts around including Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and others. As a festival that is known for merging all genres, it’s reminiscent of a modernized Woodstock in many ways. It also has a point system for recycling via the Clean Vibes’ Trading Post, plus a Planet Roo Solar Stage. You can check out additional info at Bonnaroo.com.
Telluride Bluegrass Festival. If bluegrass music is more your thing, then the small town of Telluride, that sits comfortably in Colorado, is definitely the place that you want to be. Just the state of Colorado itself is a breath of fresh air with its tall evergreens and majestic mountains. Plus, there is on-site camping that is available. They are also partners with companies like Renewable Choice Energy, Eco-Products and Green Team KBCO—all of which are focused on providing eco-friendly services to the community. See more at Bluegrass.com/Telluride.
Lightning in a Bottle. A real favorite among “go green” activists is the Lightning in a Bottle Festival that takes place each year in California (oftentimes at the Oak Canyon Ranch). There is a section of their website that is devoted to what they call the “Temple of Consciousness” that includes speakers, workshops and yoga classes. Plus, there’s an “Environment” category that encourages people to create new ways to make the earth a better place during the event in the categories of water, waste, energy and education. And yes, there’s plenty of music there too. If you want to learn more, go to LightninginaBottle.org.
Glastonbury Festival. While it may not be quite as picturesque as the Red Rocks amphitheater in Morrison, CO, if you’re looking to get out of the United States, the Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom is one that you will not want to leave off of your itinerary. Everyone from Beyonce and U2 to Paul Simon and the Barenaked Ladies have made appearances, and they work alongside programs like Julie’s Bicycle’s (which encourages people to ride rather than drive to cut down on carbon monoxide) and A Greener Festival–an eco-friendly initiative that organizes festivals in ways that make them more “go green” aware. For more information on Glastonbury, see GlastonburyFestivals.co.uk.
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