san francisco CA the USA
Written by Sason Bishope Parry
The 15th annual Outside Lands Music Festival is almost here and takes place August 11-13, 2023. Can you believe it’s already been 15 years? If you’re a veteran, then you remember the first year with Radiohead playing a mesmerizing set on the Land’s End main stage. If you’ve also been before, you understand how important it is to plan your journey in advance so you’re not one of the ones freezing at night, watching your favourite headliner. There is so much great music to experience that it’s impossible to see everything, but you can give it a shot! There is no question that part of the fun is running between all the stages, but it’s essential to map out who you want to see and what time they play. It doesn’t matter if you’re coming for one day or all three, it’s best to map out your journey to get the most out of it. Depending on where you’re coming from, you also know that you’ve spent a decent amount of your savings, so plan, plan, and plan.
Here are 6 tips to help make your experience the best:
1. Download the Outside Lands app here:
Outside Lands has a fantastic app you can download for FREE on Apple or Android phones. It has everything mapped out and all the information you need to make your experience memorable. Whether you plan on attending one day or all three, you’ll never miss a minute of the unique experiences with the official Outside Lands festival app. It’s the absolute best place to find up-to-date set times, browse the lineup and use the My Schedule feature to create your schedule. Yes, you can create your own schedule of who you want to see in advance so you don’t miss your favourite artists! You can also use the app to explore every curated experience that Outside Lands offers, from Grass Lands to Cocktail Magic to the Soma Tent and so much more. This app is an absolute must for everyone attending, especially for newbies who might miss out on an exciting section of the festival. There is also a great FAQ section for info on the best way to get to the festival, Outside Lands bag policy, health and safety information, and what you can and cannot bring to save you time. You don’t want to wait in line just to realize you can’t take something in.
2. Be an Early Bird:
Whether you’re from out of town or local, I’m sure you’re used to the Friday afternoon rush traffic. It’s the norm everywhere, but with Outside Lands smack dab in the heart of San Francisco’s treasure Golden Gate Park, you def want to arrive early. The excitement on the 1st day is always high, and this is OSL’s 15th anniversary, so expect big lines to get in. Even if you’re among the high rollers and lucky enough to score VIP, you still want to get in as early as possible. There are great opening acts that could be future headliners, and this is the best time to see them shine! Not to mention, you’ll need to plan for travel time, getting dropped off if you’re taking Uber, and of course, waiting to get in. I personally like to arrive super early, especially on Day One, and stroll around the festival, checking out all the stages, vendors, and cool arts and crafts. So again, arrive early – Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
3. Public Transport Is a Must:
If you’re planning on driving to the festival, think again. Parking is a nightmare around the avenues on either side of the park, so you will be driving around for hours, stressing and losing time, and probably won’t find anything. And even if you do, you don’t want to return and find your car ticketed or towed and ruin your good vibe experience. Your best bet is public transport. You can opt to take an Uber, Lyft, or Taxi and have them drop you as close to the entrance as possible and then walk the rest of the day. The challenge is getting a car when you leave because if you plan to stay for the encores, expect long wait times. Outside lands usually offer bus and shuttle service from a convenient destination to and from the festival. You will need to check the app or the website for pickup and drop times, locations, and fares. There are also 3rd party bus services that you can sometimes find. Busses are a very convenient and easy way to get to the festival. If you really want to have a hassle-free experience and are up for the adventure, you can bike it into the festival. This is incredibly convenient for those living locally or renting a hotel. You can ride your own or rent a bike for the day and get in and out of the festival quickly and easily. There are plenty of areas to park your bike. Just make sure you bring a good lock!
4. What are you going to eat?
This usually isn’t a big deal for most, as there are tons of great options for food at the festival. There is something for almost every palate, from carnivores to veggies, to vegans. You will want to plan ahead if you’re a fussy eater and vegan like me. This is another reason to download the app, as it gives you a complete run-down of all the fantastic food vendors that will be onsite. Last year’s food selection included food trucks from local favourites like Senor Sisig, Vegan Mobb, and other vendors like Jo’s Modern Thai and El Garage. Many offered vegan or veggie options and were happy to accommodate food allergies and other swaps when possible. There are usually over 70+ food vendors, so more than enough to find what you’re looking for and maybe what you’re not looking for!
5. Prepare for Warm and Cold Weather.
If you’re unfamiliar with San Francisco’s weather and, more so, the Richmond district, let me tell you the weather conditions can be up and down. I’ve seen people sweating up a storm to teeth-chattering cold and usually because they were unprepared. Each day is generally the same, with generally warm weather in the early day and afternoons. Expect foggy to somewhat sunny skies throughout. Later in the afternoon, it can still be nice out, but maybe a little breezier. Then at night, if you didn’t bring that extra hoodie and beanie, you could be one of the teeth-chattering crew. You can almost expect it to get damp and chilly at night, so bring warm clothes or extra cash, to pick up a nice Outside Lands hoodie at the merch tents!
6. Good vibes and Attitude of Gratitude:
There is nothing worse that can ruin a good experience and time than a bad attitude. Maybe you had a bad day, are just stressed out for some reason, or are just a negative thinker and worry wort. Perhaps you didn’t plan ahead and spent hours trying to get in, or you left your wallet at home and have no money to eat. Whatever the reason, always, always maintain a positive attitude. Part of the experience and forging great memories is your mindset. The best part about music festivals is if you don’t like one area or one act is not your fancy, you can move to another location as there is plenty to experience for everyone. So don’t be a party pooper for the rest of the crowd by shouting out shenanigans or frowning on whatever the experience is because it didn’t suit you. Remember, you are amongst thousands of others, all looking to have a great time, so be respectful, polite, and friendly. Let go, enjoy, be free and have an open mind to everything. Of course, that means being safe for yourself, but the goal is to create your experience and your journey. Remember, you’re the captain of your ship, and Outside Lands can be the best festival ever, but if you have a negative or poor attitude, you will miss out on all the fun and good vibes and ruin it for yourself and others. So, smile a lot, make new friends, create long-lasting memories, explore everything, and show up each day with an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE. Enjoy every moment, and don’t miss one beat!
For complete info on Outside Lands go to: www.sfoutsidelands.com
