Okeechobee Music Festival - Fifth year of unique florida magic

 

BY Matthew Demarko

There’s a tier of festivals that evoke emotional responses from people who’ve attended them. While magic is a part of any music festival gathering, some are able to tap into a deeper spiritual connection with the crowd. Okeechobee is most certainly one of those festivals.

Coming back for only its fifth year, the hype surrounding this South Florida love fest is at an all time high. Okeechobee is famous for a lot of reasons. It was the last festival to happen before the pandemic of 2020. It is the first major festival of the 2022 season. It’s stage names “Be” “Here” and “Now” elicit undertones of true presence and gratitude. And don’t get me started on Aquachobee, the outside-of-traditional-security beach stage that has more bags of wine per capita than even the surrounding SEC schools.

This being its fifth year (and second under Insomniac’s ownership) the size, scope, and lineup are all coalescing into what is sure to set a high standard for the rest of the season. Even if it was only the lineup you’d be hard pressed to find a more exciting occasion.

Thursday night star Rezz is fresh off an explosive year headlining almost all the festivals from 2021. Her unique blend of hypnotic nightmare EDM will be sure to haunt the Grove in a way only South Florida could present. Friday Tame Impala will bring the vibes back to transcendent with their own hypnotic set, trading nightmares for psychedelic dreams. Saturday is gonna change it up yet again as Megan Thee Stallion brings her insane blend of attitude to the stage, while Griz presents an encore to his 2020 performance that still has people talking. And Sunday all the genres will blend under Porter Robinson closing out the fest.

And while the headliners are amazing, the only way to explain the undercard is stacked. Earthgang, Pepper, Troyboi, Jai Wolf, The Glitch Mob, Washed Out, Papadosio, Jungle, Flying Lotus, Clozee, Manic Focus. And with a Powow! Presents with freaking George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic?! Do you get any cooler than that?

But Okeechobee has always been about so much more than just the music. it’s built around several communities housed within Chobeewobee Village that offer unique amenities and activities for people to wind up or down before or after the fest.

Yogachobee Village offers the chance to stretch that body good each and every day to ensure your physical self can sustain the pressure put onto it across a hectic 4-day festival.

It’s accompanying Wellness Forest offers “Hair Braiders, Massage Therapists, Soundbath, Portal Facepaint, Essential Oil Bar, Tarot Readings” from 10am to 7pm each day!

The Bamboo Garden is a sustainable arts and crafts haven, offering everything from a “Secret Succulent Gardens” workshop to a Tye Dye event.

And last but most certainly 1000% not least, Aquachobee, the aforementioned beach haven paradise, offers sports and physical activities, its own unique stage, and the perfect view of sunset daily.

For a full schedule of all activities, check out this link.

Photo Courtesy of Okeechobee

It’s not too late to purchase tickets and experience the magic that is Okeechobee! Click the link below for tickets, and we can’t wait to see you there!