Summer is approaching, and people are ready and excited for the plans set up for their break, whether that is taking vacations, relaxing at home, or attending some of the biggest festivals ever. Various music festivals are top-rated and exciting throughout the entire summer. A large line-up of artists perform for millions of people for a weekend of thrilling fun. Tickets for these events go on sale months in advance of the actual weekend, and line ups are published to prepare visitors for what shows there will be. Some of the most popular festivals are Coachella in Indio, California; Lollapalooza in Chicago, Illinois; Hangout Fest, in Gulf Shores, Alabama; and many more nationwide. However, there are quite a few smaller festivals that hold fewer people such as Hinterland in Des Moines, Iowa, which holds about 15,000 visitors. Many fests have a few headliners who are very well-known artists and many smaller performers as well. As popular as these music festivals are today, many do not know when they started and how big they truly were years ago.
The first recorded music festival was way before many would think. It occurred in Ancient Greece in 582 BC and was called The Pythian Games. These games were very similar to the modern Olympics. They occurred every four years and people would compete in a variety of different competitions. At the end of these games, everyone would gather to listen and enjoy instrumental performances dedicated to Apollo, the god of arts and music. Although this festival is quite different from the ones today, it truly was a big deal to the people of this time, so they enjoy themself and live in the moment, just like today. Over the years, these festivals became more exclusive and became very large all over the world.
By the 1960s, music was different, which meant festivals were also completely different. This time was the birth of modern music festivals. One of the most popular and well-known festivals from that time was Woodstock. This festival occurred between August 15 and August 18, 1969. They referred to it as “three days of peace and music,” according to History.com. There were about 460,000 attendees between the three days. People from all over the country prepared for their trip to New York City, just for a couple of days of music. This is similar to today. Over 200,000 people come to music festivals worldwide, whether they buy tickets of their own money or are sent by a brand or company to promote at these festivals.
Around 2016, famous YouTubers changed the festival world for people. Their videos would include the artists performing, their day-to-day routine and outfit, and the events they would partake in. Teenagers during that time would tune in to a series of vlogs made by these YouTubers about their weekends at these festivals and were introduced to this exciting time, which made them want to go even more. Now, influencers on TikTok post their exciting weekends at the festivals and show behind-the-scenes events, just like the YouTubers back in the 2010s. TikTok is the new streaming platform for teenagers to watch videos like that, so the same kind of videos are posted on the app for people to have the same feel as years ago when watching the original festival vlogs. In the end, all the videos made at music festivals are to make viewers feel like they are with these influencers, while they’re just watching at home.
Music festivals grow more popular every year and will continue to for a long time. Who wouldn’t love a weekend getaway in a beautiful place to enjoy their favorite jams? These festivals have taken a long journey and have changed significantly over the years, but the main goal of these festivals hasn’t changed: letting people be free and have a peaceful fun weekend away.
