If your idea of a great vacation involves swaying to the sweet sounds of your favorite music alongside thousands of like-minded folks, then consider planning a trip around a music festival. With many free concerts and activities, plus plenty of reasonably priced accommodations nearby, certain summer festivals pack in a lot of value. Be sure to bookmark the more popular festival websites and check back often for performer and ticket sale updates, as many shows—like Rhode Island’s popular Newport Folk Festival—sell out months in advance.
Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, August 1–11, 2024
Since its launch in 1984, the community-run Musikfest has been among the largest and most diverse music festivals in the U.S., with more than 500 shows on nearly 20 stages around the city. Stages are called “platzes”—a nod to Bethlehem’s German roots. It’s also the largest free music festival in the nation, featuring musical, dance and comedic performers from around the globe. Wherever your musical tastes lie, Musikfest has them covered: Choose from alternative, blues, classical, folk, country, funk, indie, jazz, oldies, polka, pop, soul, hip-hop, rock and world music.
This year’s fest will see the likes of the Black Eyed Peas, Slash, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Greta Van Fleet, Ludacris and Old Dominion, to name a few. There’s also plenty of non-musical fun, such as inflatable art installations, kids’ camps and arts classes. All proceeds from Musikfest are redirected into programming for local nonprofit organizations.
NEA member travel benefits: The closest airport to Bethlehem is the Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE). You can search for tickets through NEA Travel: Flights and earn travel dollars. On the hotels page, you’ll see deals like an average of $159 a night for Wind Creek Bethlehem, which is a resort and casino complete with an indoor pool, spa and seven different restaurants and bars. For something quieter, there’s the Hampton Inn & Suites Bethlehem, which averages $120 a night and includes breakfast.
Plan your itinerary: Discover Lehigh Valley | Visit Bethlehem | VisitPA
Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 20–22, 27–29 and July 4–6, 2024
Set on Lake Michigan in downtown Milwaukee, Summerfest is known as the world’s largest music festival, with 600+ artists, more than 1,000 performances and 13 stages. Established in 1968, Summerfest’s multi-weekend event showcases country, reggae, pop, R&B, rock and alternative music. This year’s lineup will include Keith Urban, Mötley Crüe, Carly Rae Jepson, Lil Uzi Vert, O.A.R., Amy Grant and Cold War Kids.
Local eateries serve up a variety of treats to keep attendees’ energy up, and music-themed items are sold at four markets. Magicians, puppeteers and jugglers are also on hand for youngsters.
NEA member travel benefits: Through the NEA Travel Program, you can search for deals on flights to Milwaukee International Airport (MKE). Once your flight is booked, head to the NEA hotels page, where you’ll find deals like an average of $71 a night at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, which has large rooms and a 24-hour fitness center, or for something with more character, check out the Brewhouse Inn & Suites, which averages $275 a night and is inside the original Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewery.
Plan your itinerary: Visit Milwaukee | Travel Wisconsin
ESSENCE Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana, July 4–7, 2024
Billed as the “Party with a Purpose,” ESSENCE fest is the largest event celebrating African-American culture and music in the U.S.—a platform for writers, artists and craftspeople to showcase their talents and sell their wares, and 2024 is the festival’s 30th anniversary. Free inspirational daytime events feature authors, celebrities and scholars presenting motivational seminars, beauty clinics and tastings from NOLA’s renowned cuisine. Each year, 500,000 people come together to soak up four days of entertainment and empowerment, culminating in evening concerts across five stages at the Louisiana Superdome, including four intimate Superlounges.
Past guests included Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, Erykah Badu, Ice Cube and Magic Johnson.
NEA member travel benefits: Through the NEA Travel Program, you can search for flights to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). Then on NEA Travel: Hotels look for affordable lodging options such as Le Pavillon New Orleans, a four-star, centrally located boutique hotel which averages just $95 a night. To be in the French Quarter, try the Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans French Quarter, which has spacious rooms and a pool for an average of $102 a night.
Plan your itinerary: Visit New Orleans | Louisiana Travel
Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, Colorado, June 20–23, 2024
Attendees who return to Telluride’s four-day Bluegrass Festival year after year call themselves “Festivarians,” and throngs of them camp outside in this historic mountain town in southwestern Colorado to immerse themselves in nature and the magical sound of bluegrass virtuosos. Past musicians included Bonnie Raitt, Lyle Lovett, Mumford & Sons and Counting Crows. The 2024 lineup includes Chris Thile, Sierra Hull, Elephant Revival, Chatham County Line, Punch Brothers and Sistastrings.
Artists are encouraged to push the boundaries of roots music, often forming impromptu “Telluride House Bands.” The main stage hosts concerts all day, while intimate workshops take place in town, along with songwriting contests and late-night jam sessions throughout Telluride’s indoor venues and campgrounds.
NEA member travel benefits: To fly directly into Telluride, select the Telluride Regional Airport (TEX) on NEA Travel: Flights. For more flight options, try Denver International Airport (DEN), which is about a 6-hour drive away. For accommodations, search for hotels via NEA Travel: Hotels to find options like the Victorian Inn, a charming inn where breakfast is included and there is a hot tub and sauna, for an average of $236/night, or try the Mountain Lodge Telluride for an average of $314/night for a classic mountain lodge stay, with an outdoor pool and hot tub.
Plan your itinerary: Visit Telluride | Colorado Tourism
Fool in Love in Los Angeles, California, August 31, 2024
The Fool in Love festival debuts in 2024 for the first time ever on the 300-acre Hollywood Park grounds, adjacent to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. There will be one powerhouse day of R&B, funk and soul musicians, many of them legends, across multiple stages. Big names include headliners Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie, as well as Santana, Al Green, Gladys Knight, Nile Rodgers, Smokey Robinson, George Clinton and the Isley Brothers.
NEA member travel benefits: There are plenty of flights to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) so search for the best ones via NEA Travel: Flights. Find a hotel on NEA Travel’s hotels page to get great prices like an average of $148 a night at the Dixie Hollywood, which is fairly basic but does have an outdoor pool and a central location, or the towering Hotel Angeleno in West Los Angeles, which has modern rooms, a gym, and an outdoor pool for an average of $160 a night. To be closer to the festival and the airport, book a stay at Trend Hotel at LAX Airport for an average of $157 a night, and you’ll find spacious, clean rooms.
Plan your itinerary: Discover Los Angeles| Visit California
Sea.Hear.Now in Asbury Park, New Jersey, September 14–15, 2024
The beachfront Sea.Hear.Now festival features two days of indie and classic rock music with more than 25 bands on three stages: two in the sand and one in the park. Founded in 2018, past guests of the now-annual festival have included Blondie, Green Day, Stevie Knicks, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews Band, Joan Jett, Billy Idol, Pearl Jam and the Smashing Pumpkins. Because it’s Asbury Park, this year hometown boy Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band are headlining day one (his second appearance since playing the very first festival), while Noah Kahan heads up day two. Other musicians scheduled to play include the Black Crowes, Norah Jones, Trey Anastasio, Action Bronson, Peaches and Sierra Ferrell. Typically, local bars and venues hold their own late-night concerts each night after the festival ends.
There are also surfing contests, food along the boardwalk from vendors out of New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York City, and exhibits featuring art made by some of the performers.
NEA member travel benefits: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is the closest airport to Asbury Park, or you can also fly into John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or LaGuardia International Airport (LGA) in New York. Book through NEA Travel: Flights to earn or use Travel Dollars. Figure out the best place to stay by clicking on NEA Travel: Hotels, where you’ll see deals like an average of $269 per night at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, a charming hotel on the boardwalk with an outdoor pool. Or stay in neighboring Eatontown at the recently renovated Sheraton Eatontown for an average of $251 per night, which has both an indoor and outdoor pool and an on-site restaurant.
Plan your itinerary: Monmouth County NJ Tourism | Visit New Jersey
Tips to stay healthy at summer festivals:
It’s easy to lose yourself in the music and forget about taking care of yourself. However, spending full days dancing in the sun requires some festival smarts. Don’t forget to:
- Reapply SPF30 sunscreen every few hours.
- Wear a hat or take breaks in the shade.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Wear comfortable, breathable footwear.
- Sanitize your hands before eating.
- Avoid eating too much fatty food.
- Protect your ears at concerts by wearing earplugs.
