One Of The Largest Music Festivals In The U.S. Takes Place Each Year In This Tiny Town In Tennessee
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Meghan Kraft
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Tennessee is known for its music scene, especially in Nashville where every bar on every corner has some of the best live music you’ll find anywhere in the country. But for a truly one-of-a-kind musical extravaganza, you need to head a little outside Music City to the tiny town of Manchester, which transforms every summer into one of the biggest music festivals in the country. It’s called Bonnaroo, and if you’ve never been, you don’t know what you’re missing.
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, commonly just called Bonnaroo, is a four-day extravaganza that takes place every June outside the small town of Manchester. It's known for its excellent line up and often draws visitors from all over the world.
When we say this thing is massive, we mean it. The whole thing takes place on a 650-acre farm, and since it's out in the middle of the Tennessee countryside, most folks camp on the grounds of the festival.
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There are 9 official venues at the festival, most with confusing names like "What Stage," "This Tent," And "The Other." Don't worry -- if you go, you get the hang of it pretty quickly.
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Each night, there's a main headlining act on What Stage that is always a big name in music. Past headliners include Kanye West, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, and even the last-ever performance of the Beastie Boys.
The music typically starts at noon every day, with different things happening at all of the venues. Main stages can go until 2 or 3 in the morning!
The festival typically draws 50,000 - 100,000 people each year, which is 5-10 times the population of Manchester normally. Part of the reason it's so popular is that it's out in such a normally quiet place.
Tickets to Bonnaroo typically run around $300 for general admission for all 4 days, though the price varies based on how early you buy the tickets. You can find more information on the Bonnaroo website. Get your tickets soon, as they sell out fast!
While you’re out in the countryside of Tennessee, check out this brewery that’s in an old farm in the hills of Tennessee.
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