Revelers congregate around a colossal mushroom sprinkler at the 2016 Bonnaroo Music Festival, held in Manchester, Tennessee.
Bonnaroo Festival: A Celebration of Music, Food, and Sustainability
Nestled in the heart of Tennessee, Bonnaroo has been one of the country's most celebrated camping music festivals for over a decade. Held on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, this vibrant event attracts artists from various genres and offers a unique blend of music, education, and sustainability.
The festival's third year occurred when the writer was 21 years old, and the excitement was palpable. Even the loss of a flip-flop in the mud couldn't dampen the spirit, such was the thrill of being at Bonnaroo.
Manchester, the town where Bonnaroo takes place, handles the influx of 75,000 annual attendees professionally. The town is located near several state parks, including Old Stone Fort, a historically significant Native American site, and The Whiskey Trail, a new attraction that connects distilleries like Jack Daniel's, George Dickel, and Short Mountain.
Bonnaroo is more than just a music festival. It offers educational workshops and talks on culinary instruction, food policy, and education. Chef Hugh Acheson, a renowned chef, offers cooking classes out of the Planet Roo Academy at Bonnaroo, and collaborates with Seed Life Skills, a non-profit he founded.
Food enthusiasts are in for a treat with over 50 food options, including vendors like the Amish Baking Company and Prater's BBQ. Baconland, a popular spot, offers flights of bacon for attendees, served by Henri, a 4000-pound, fire-breathing steel pig.
Environmental consciousness is a key aspect of Bonnaroo. The festival has initiatives like solar installations, the Refill Revolution, a comprehensive waste management program, and Root for Roo, an ongoing effort to plant tulip poplar or oak trees on the farm.
The Broo'ers Festival offers beers and ciders from 25 different breweries. Fitness-related activities like Acro workshops, 5K fun runs, Twerk It Out with Big Freedia dance party, and Yoga-Roo are also part of the festival's offerings.
Artists who have graced the Bonnaroo stage in recent years include Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, the Creator, Hozier, Luke Combs, Queens of the Stone Age, Megadeth, Justice, Avril Lavigne, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Tyla, Goose, Modest Mouse, Glass Animals, Beabadoobee, Foster the People, JPEGMAFIA, Nelly, Natasha Bedingfield, and Insane Clown Posse among others.
Local businesses in Manchester, like West Main Brick Oven, High Cotton Vintage Furnishings, and the Mercantile, add to the festival's charm. Even the Minnesota bluegrass band Wailing Loons found a place on the Bonnaroo stage.
As the sun sets and the music fades, Bonnaroo continues to be a testament to the power of music, food, and sustainability, a celebration that brings together people from all walks of life.
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