Image Source: Shawna Mason For Bonnaroo
When tens of thousands of people are camping together — as they are at Bonnaroo [1] — inclusion is even more important than at other music festivals. The organizers of Bonnaroo want everyone to feel safe, whether they are women, nonbinary people, other LGBTQ+ individuals, solo travelers, or sober festivalgoers.
Taking place June 13-19 in Manchester, TN, Bonnaroo is one of my favorite music festivals [2], because the vibe is so positive and inclusive. (The motto, after all, is "Radiate Positivity.") The fact that campers are essentially living on "The Farm" [3] for four days means that diverse programming is essential.
That's the job of Sophie Lobl, a talent buyer for C3 Presents [5], who books all of the programming at Bonnaroo's camping plazas. "Bonnaroo is so different from any other festival," Lobl said. "We have campers staying there for four days, so we really want to create a safe space and a fun world."
How Does Camping Work at Bonnaroo?
Bonnaroo's main campground is organized around themed plazas [6], which not only have essential elements like showers and toilets but also feature public venues curated with different bands, artists, comedians, and so on.
This year, Plaza Nine is called Bayou Libre and hosted by a New Orleans entertainment collective called Freewater. Plaza Two will be curated by Hayley Williams of Paramore and known as The Sanctuary of Self Love, with sessions on everything from mental health to reiki.
How Is Bonnaroo Celebrating Pride?
For the second year in a row, Plaza Three will be hosted by House of Yes [7], a Brooklyn nightlife institution known as an inclusive and safe space for LGBTQ+ people. This year, House of Yes will be hosting Bonnaroo's first-ever Pride Parade at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Described as a "radical roaming dance party" and featuring NOLA's New Breed Brass Band, the parade will start at the Eastern Campgrounds and work its way through various camping plazas and end at Centeroo, the center of the festival grounds. "Part of Bonnaroo's message is radiate positivity, and this is bringing that into the 21st century," said Lobl, who hopes to bring back the Pride Parade every year.
Image Source: Andrew Jorgensen For Bonnaroo
How Else Is Bonnaroo Creating Safe Spaces?
Bonnaroo also features a group campground called SheRoo "for female-identified and/or gender non-binary Bonnaroovians." This year, SheRoo is curated by Mothership [8], known for its women's empowerment festival and other events. Sober festivalgoers can join a preexisting campground community called SoberRoo, while Solo Roo is designed for people coming to the festival alone. "You can really choose your own adventure," Lobl said.