The Bay Area plays host to many thrilling events year-round, but perhaps none are as grand as Outside Lands, the annual summer extravaganza that combines music, art, and culinary delights. Expect a monumental showcase this year, featuring a massive lineup and much to see and do, undoubtedly drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators to the Bay Area.
Outside Lands began in 2008 as a great success, with tens of thousands of visitors. It has since grown steadily to become the largest independently owned music festival in the U.S., with an average attendance of more than 200,000. Outside Lands is held yearly at Golden Gate Park, the massive urban park in San Francisco. This year, the festival will take place on August 11th–13th, bringing three days of entertainment featuring some of the biggest names in music.
Outside Lands has gained prominence as a massive festival by drawing major music superstars across a diverse array of genres. During its debut, the festival made a splash by featuring Radiohead as its headliner, and it has since continued to secure top-tier acts spanning rap, pop, rock, R&B, EDM, and nearly every genre in between.
This year’s lineup is positively stacked with talent and brings something for every musical taste. The schedule highlights Kendrick Lamar as the headliner for Friday, Foo Fighters for Saturday, and Odesza for Sunday. But this is only scratching the surface. In addition to dozens of other immensely popular musicians, some of the monumental artists featured will include Megan Thee Stallion, Lana Del Rey, Fisher, The 1975, Janelle Monáe, Zedd, and Lil Yachty.
While the music is the big draw, Outside Lands is an experience, and the festival curates a one-of-a-kind atmosphere by ensuring there is plenty for attendees to do. We’ll look at just some of what Outside Lands has to offer.
To grab gear from your favorite artists, Outside Lands will have festival merch stands throughout the park. And festivalgoers can meet and support local Bay Area artisans by shopping for a variety of handmade wares at the Outside Lands Marketplace.
The festival’s food and drink scene will have plenty to offer. Wine Lands will feature delectable wines from across Napa Valley and beyond; Beer Lands will offer brews from 30 of California’s best breweries and cideries; and Cocktail Magic will create quite the experience with crafted cocktails and mocktails, magic, and culinary pairings. Taste of the Bay Area will feature more than 95 local chefs and restaurants serving up the best they have to offer. You will find an eclectic array of dishes, from tacos and Korean fried chicken to boba and banh mi.
Tickets for Outside Lands are available online. Pricing varies based on the additional perks buyers want to include in their packages. Prices start at $199 for a single-day general admission ticket.
