Whether you’re a newbie or festival veteran, there is something for every music lover this summer. However, if you consider attending one of America’s best music festivals, you should act soon. After all, some summer music festivals like Michigan’s Electric Forest and Maryland’s Oceans Calling are already sold out. In other words, early sellouts may force you to pay higher prices on the secondary market. Fortunately, about 250 music festivals are being held this summer, with many tickets still available. The following are just some of the best music festivals happening in the summer of 2024.
Top U.S. Summer Music Festivals
Bonnaroo
Great Stage Park
1560 New Bushy Branch Road
Manchester, TN 37355
www.bonnaroo.com
Dates: June 13-16, 2024
Like in years past, Bonnaroo brings in an extensive group of talented music artists. For instance, you have A-listers like Pretty Lights, Post Malone, Fred Again, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. However, others aren’t getting top billing that is certain to get to your attention. In brief, you can see Cage the Elephant, Diplo, Jon Baptiste, Reneé Rapp, and Brittany Howard, and that’s just on Saturday. Many more notable performers are coming to Bonnaroo, like Megan Thee Stallion, Carley Rae Jepsen, Gary Clark Jr., and Maggie Rogers. Fortunately, tickets, including single-day and 4-day general admission, are still available. Of course, if you’re driving or staying for the whole show, you can also purchase camping and parking passes. On the other hand, if you prefer to stay in a hotel, you can check the listings on the Bonnaroo website or a third-party travel site.
CMA Fest
Nissan Stadium
1 Titans Way
Nashville, TN 37213
www.cmafest.com
Dates: June 6-9. 2024
If you love country music, mark your calendars for the CMA Fest in Nashville. After all, it’s the world’s longest-running country music fest, and the most significant acts are always drawn to Nissan Stadium. Among this year’s top artists are Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Jelly Roll, Ashley McBryde, Jon Pardi, and Keith Urban. That’s not to mention additional acts, like Ben Chapman, Jordan Davis, Megan Moroney, Carly Pearce and Lainey Wilson. In all, there will be hundreds of performances across ten stages, including the admission-free outdoor stages. Single-day and 4-night stadium passes and passes for the Riverside Retreat are available. Please note that parking at Nissan Stadium will be limited due to ongoing construction. With this in mind, you should plan your transportation well.
Related: Best 2024 Spring Music Festivals
Fool in Love
Hollywood Park Grounds
1011 Stadium Dr.
Inglewood, CA 90305
Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024
This August, there will be not one but two summer music festivals at Hollywood Park. The first is the multi-genre Hard Summer, with featured performers like Disclosure, Zeds Dead, Fisher, and Major Lazer. However, the second event will showcase rare performances from some of the biggest names in funk, soul, and R&B. For example, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Nile Rogers & Chic, and Al Green are among the headliners. However, look who else will appear, like Dionne Warwick, The Jacksons, The Isley Brothers, The Spinners, and George Clinton with Parliament Funkadelic. Of course, there are many others like Santana, The O’Jays, The Commodores, Morris Day, and the legendary Gladys Knight on her farewell tour. For many fans, this will be the highlight of the summer music festival season, not just in LA but in the entire country.
Related: Theme Cafes in Tokyo, Japan
Governor’s Ball
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Grand Central Parkway and Van Wyck Expressway
Queens, NY 11354
www.governorsballmusicfestival.com
Dates: June 7-9, 2024
After drawing over 100,000 attendees last year, the Governor’s Ball is returning to Flushing Meadows Corona Park. In case you’re interested in going, there will be top acts like Post Malone, The Killers, Sza, Rauw Alejandro and Peso Pluma. In addition, there will be performances by other notable names like Carley Rae Jepsen, Labrinth, Sabrina Carpenter, Don Tolliver, and “Mean Girls” star Reneé Rapp. Tickets are still available for all levels, including single-day, 3-day, and VIP. Located in Queens, historic Flushing Meadows Corona Park is easily accessible by public transportation, including the MTA and Long Island Railroad.
Lollapalooza
Grant Park
337 E. Randolph St.|
Chicago, IL 6060
www.lollapalooza.com
Dates: August 1-4, 2024
Last year, things got a little hectic with NASCAR and Lollapalooza being held on the same weekend. Traffic was so bad that it was pretty challenging to get around Chicago, not only for racing fans and music lovers but also for all visitors and residents. Fortunately, these two events are not being held concurrently, with NASCAR Chicago arriving a month earlier. While there will be a great music festival for NASCAR with Keith Urban, The Chainsmokers, and The Black Keys, Lollapalooza is even more significant. If you’re coming to Chicago in August, you can see A-listers like Tyler, The Creator, SZA, The Killers, and Blink-182. If that’s not enough, there will also be Hozier, Stray Kids, Future X, Melanie Martinez, Kesha, and a special appearance by Skrillex. Tickets are on sale now for all levels, but don’t wait long to purchase.
Minnesota Yacht Club Festival
Harriet Island Regional Park
49 Harriet Island Road
St. Paul, MN 55107
www.minnesotayachtclubfestival.com
Dates: July 19-20, 2024
Although it’s brand new, the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival deserves to be on this list of top summer music events. After all, you can see Gwen Stefani, Alanis Morissette, The Black Crowes, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, to name a few. Other famous music artists like Gary Clark Jr., Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and Soul Asylum exist. There will be 20 performances across multiple stages, as well as great food and drink for purchase. Tickets, including Riverboat VIP passes, are available, featuring a 60-minute ride on the Mississippi River. Additional information about the festival will be available online in the coming weeks.
(credit: Lehigh Valley Live)
Musikfest 2024
101 Founders Way
Bethlehem, PA 18015
www.musikfest.org
Dates: August 1-11, 2024
Held over 11 days with multiple venues, Musikfest is known as the largest admission-free music festival in America. However, you’ll have to buy a ticket to see the featured acts, which include Greta Van Fleet, Slash, Black Eyed Peas, Old Dominion, and ZZ Top. That’s to say nothing of other famous acts like Ludacris, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and even the ‘70s British rock band Foghat. While the top acts will be at Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza, there are other things to do at Musikfest, including comedy shows and street performers. Not all information is available, but it will arrive well before August.
Outside Lands
Golden Gate Park
1232 John F. Kennedy Drive
San Francisco, CA 94121
www.sfoutsidelands.com
It doesn’t matter that tickets are not yet on sale, and no lineup has been announced for Outside Lands. That’s because this summer music festival is the largest paid event of its kind in the Bay Area and among America’s best. Last summer, it drew about 225,000 attendees to Golden Gate Park to see acts like Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, and Odesza. First held in 2008, Outside Lands has also brought in star performers like Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Metallica, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Green Day, and Post Malone. In case this is your first year, please consider taking public transportation as parking will be scarce. Be sure to check back with Outside Lands to determine who will perform this year. In addition, the headliners and other featured acts will be added to this story.
Related: Transportation Options to Outside Lands Music Festival
Pitchfork Chicago
Union Park
1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60606
www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com
Dates: July 19-21, 2024
Not nearly as large as Lollapalooza, Pitchfork still brings a sizable crowd to Chicago’s Union Park. Equally important is a standout group of music artists appearing across three days. Take, for example, Black Pumas and Jai Paul on Friday, followed by Jamie X and Carly Rae Jepsen on Saturday. The final days feature Alanis Morrissette, Brittany Howard, and others like Muna and the legendary Grandmaster Flash. By the same token, you have other familiar names like Jessie Ware, 100 GECS, Jeff Rosenstock, and De La Soul. Pitchfork draws about 60,000 attendees to enjoy great music and food. Union Park has easy access to the Chicago CTA, with the Ashland station just minutes away.
Summerfest 2024
Henry Maier Festival Park
200 N. Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
www.summerfest.com
Dates: June 20-22, June 27-29, July 4-6, 2024
Featuring 600 artists across nine days, Summerfest is always one of the highlights of the summer music season. After all, it still advertises itself as the World’s Largest Music Festival, sometimes drawing over 800,000 attendees. While their attendance record has been surpassed, Summerfest has brought in several heavyweights from the music industry. This includes Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. This year is no exception, with headliners like Mötley Crüe, Keith Urban, Illenium, Maroon 5, and Lil Uzi Vert. That’s to say nothing of familiar names like REO Speedwagon, Mike Campbell, The Wallflowers, Amy Grant, Three Dog Night, and Anne Wilson. General admission starts at just $28, but headliners will be shown at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater.
Bonus Selection: Ravinia Festival
200 Ravinia Park Road
Highland Park, IL 60035
www.ravinia.org
Dates: June to September, 2024
You may need to become more familiar with the Ravinia Festival, some 25 miles north of Chicago. However, it is the oldest music festival, not just in the U.S. but all over North America. Dating to 1904, it’s the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and features three outdoor venues and a spacious lawn seating area. Held from June through September, Ravinia is also notable for hosting several leading artists over its storied history. Among those who have appeared are Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Lady Gaga, Carrie Underwood, Gladys Knight, and Diana Ross. This year brings many more big-name acts, like James Taylor, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Little Feat, Roger Daltrey, and Daryl Hall with Lyle Lovett. Of course, many others will appear, including The Beach Boys, ZZ Top with Lynyrd Skynyrd, and The Flock, featuring original violinist Jerry Goodman.
About the Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, and Radio.com. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University.
