Okay, so I’ve always been a HUGE music fan, and I’ve made it a personal mission to hit up as many music festivals as humanly possible. This year, I’m planning for 2025, and I thought I’d share my research and planning process. It’s a bit messy, but hey, that’s how real planning goes, right?
Step 1: Brain Dump & Initial Research
First, I just sat down and brainstormed every festival I’d ever heard of, or vaguely remembered seeing on Instagram. No judgment, just a massive list. Then came the fun part – diving into the internet!
I started googling things like “best music festivals 2025,” “top international music festivals,” and even got specific with genres, like “best electronic music festivals Europe.” It was a rabbit hole, let me tell you! I opened tons of tabs, read blog posts, and watched some YouTube videos of past festival highlights.
Step 2: Making Sense of the Chaos
My browser was looking scary, so I knew I needed to organize things. I created a simple spreadsheet (yeah, I’m a spreadsheet nerd). Columns included:
- Festival Name
- Location
- Typical Dates (even if 2025 wasn’t confirmed)
- Genre(s)
- Vibe (my personal notes – is it chill, super intense, artsy, etc.?)
- Rough Cost (flights, tickets, accommodation – just ballpark figures)
This is when things started getting real. I started eliminating festivals that were way out of my budget, or in locations that were just too difficult to get to. I also crossed off anything that didn’t really fit my musical taste. I love discovering new music, but I’m not going to a heavy metal festival, you know?
Step 3: Digging Deeper
With a shorter, more manageable list, I went back to researching. This time, I focused on specific festivals that caught my eye. I looked at their official websites, scrolled through their past lineups, and checked out social media to get a feel for the crowd and the overall experience. I also paid attention to things like camping options, food vendors, and any extra activities they offered. Some festivals are about more than just the music – they’re a whole immersive experience!
Step 4: Making the (Tough) Decisions
This is the hardest part! I had my “shortlist,” but I still needed to narrow it down further. I considered my vacation time, my budget (again!), and what kind of experience I was really craving. Did I want a massive, multi-stage extravaganza, or a smaller, more intimate gathering? Did I want to be in a bustling city, or surrounded by nature?
It helps at least you know you already started.I even talked to some friends who had been to some of these festivals before, to get their firsthand opinions.
Step 5: Starting the Actual Planning (Flights, Accommodation, etc.)
Finally after all the reseach work, I picked out my top festivals that fit me. Once I’d made my final choices (which, let’s be honest, might still change!), I started looking at the practical stuff.
I used flight comparison websites to get an idea of prices.
And the accommodation, I started looking into nearby hotels, Airbnbs, or camping options, depending on the festival.
It’s still a work in progress, and I’m sure there will be more research and adjustments along the way. But that’s the fun of it, right? It’s all part of the adventure!
