Nothing screams summer quite like hanging out in a huge field, lounging in a camp chair, andlistening to your favorite musicians rock out. Whether it’s tucked into the woods of Michigan or on a beachin Rhode Island, the summer months hold a thousand ways to blendlove of the outdoors and good tunes.
Mountain Jam:Hunter, New York
Perched on a hillside of Hunter Mountain in the Northern Catskills, offers rides on one of the country’s highest and longest ziplines. If you’re looking for a mellower way to experience things fromabove, there are lift rides available to the top of the mountain. The festival also offers vendor exhibits of local nonprofits and environmental groups.
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Electric Forest:Rothbury Michigan
At EDM-centric,expect to be totally immersed in a carefully curated selection of music, art, and panel discussions in the forests outsideRothbury, Michigan. There are numerousvolunteer opportunities, if you want to expand your festival experience beyond entertainment. Or justkick your feet up for a while in one ofthe dedicated hammock zones.
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Newport Folk Festival:Newport, Rhode Island
Held in Fort Adams State Park at the mouth of Newport Harbor, the offers awe-inspiring views of the water—and an incredible lineup. The festival has two beer gardens and four stages of music, and is easy to access by bike, bus, or even boat.
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Forecastle Music Festival:Louisville, Kentucky
started out as a humble neighborhood gathering and has grown into a staple of the southeast's music scene, drawing thousands of fans to Louisville’s waterfront park each year. The organizers’ dedication to the environment is more than just a tagline on the website: for every ticket sold,$1 goes to theForecastle Foundation, whichworks to protect ecologically diverse areas by partnering with such nonprofits as the Kentucky Natural Lands Trust, the Nature Conservancy, and the Guayaki Foundation.
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Pickathon Music Festival:Happy Valley, Oregon
Too much sunin front of the main stage? Pendarvis Farm, home to the Portland, Oregon,,has plenty of shade available in the adjacent forest. Unlike most festival campsites, which are usuallypacked together ina field without any privacy, Pickathon’sare cool and comfortable, and the pristine environment is complimented by adedication to sustainability, including a ban on single-use plasticsince 2010. (Festival attendees are given a plate and a cup to use over the entire weekend.) And with all the local food trucks and microbrews available, your plate and cup will never be empty.
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