Forbes Lifestyle Travel Celebrating 10 Years, BottleRock Shows Why It’s A Top-Tier
California music Festival Will McGough Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I write about travel destinations and the people I meet along the way. Following Jun 7, 2023, 01:06pm EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to
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Twitter Share to Linkedin The Red Hot Chili Peppers headline at BottleRock 2023 in Napa Valley. BottleRock California is no stranger to music festivals, headlined by Coachella, which draws massive crowds and national headlines each year. But have you heard of BottleRock Festival in Napa? It celebrated its 10th anniversary this Memorial Day weekend, drawing 120,000 fans over its three-day lineup. This year, the theme mixed modern pop and 90s rock, featuring a lineup with nightly dueling headliners that included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Smashing Pumpkins, Post Malone, and Lizzo. The music is what sells tickets prior to the event, but how and where you hear it is what separates one festival from another. BottleRock has proven that it can attract big names, but this year it showed something equally as important. Despite its massive growth, the on-site experience is as organized, fun, and local as they come, and the surrounding area provides unique opportunities that make the weekend one worth traveling for. Locally Inspired, Well-Executed Food and Beverage The makeup of the crowd is usually dependent upon the acts, and this year BottleRock hit the nail on the head with a pleasant, all-ages crowd with a wide-span of musical interests, from Duran Duran to Sheryl Crow to Billy Strings to the Wu-Tang Clan. MORE FOR YOU At The Bleeding Edge Of Ukraine’s Counteroffensive, The Ukrainian Marine Corps Switches Up Its Tactics Twitch Hit With Backlash And Boycott Threats—As Streamers Say New Rules Threaten Their Income Tucker Carlson Launches New Twitter Show Weeks After
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Ukraine And UFOs One of the top comments overheard during the festival was how small and manageable it was compared to, say, Coachella, and how well it was organized. Public spaces were constantly being cleaned, including the port-a-potties, which were flushable and generally well-maintained. Another highly-impressive aspect was how BottleRock has kept its food and beverage program mostly local despite its growth over the last decade. About a dozen local wineries had booths you could visit (with more served by the glass or carafe at beverage vendors), there was a dedicated craft beer bar, and the quality of the food was impressive, with area vendors making up the majority of the offerings. The festival even had a culinary stage that hosted small shows, cooking demos, and celebrity appearances, such as Giada De Laurentiis. The entrance to Monkey Shoulder's Port-a-Party speakeasy at BottleRock 2023. Wake and Wander Media Interactive Spaces and Word-of-Mouth Secrets Throughout the festival grounds, one could find many interactive spaces that were openly advertised, as well as harder-to-find hidden gems that operated on word-of-mouth. A standout was Monkey Shoulder’s “Port-a-Party,” which was hidden in plain site adjacent to one of the restroom areas. What looked like a normal bathroom line was actually the entrance to a speakeasy, accessed by walking through a fake port-a-pottie. Once inside, guests were treated to secret DJ sets (such as Trackstar) and specialty cocktails made with the featured whiskey. Other interactive spaces were more easily accessed, such as the multi-story Hendricks Gin Bar and the JamPad Stage . The latter hosted sideshow performances from the likes of Warren G and Pete Yorn, and had a first-come, first-serve wine bar that allowed anyone to watch the show from backstage. If you were looking to see your favorite artist in a smaller setting, BottleRock has official aftershows. The Afterdark series takes place at a local theater with many of the big acts, including the Smashing Pumpkins and the Struts. Aside from its proximity to many relaxing experiences (see below), BottleRock also introduced something different this year - an emphasis on wellness headlined by a morning concert and ceremony from East Forest, known for his psilocybin soundtrack, Music For Mushrooms: A Soundtrack For the Psychedelic Practitioner . The 130-foot landmark pool at the Solage in Calistoga, California. Solage Relaxing Wine Country and Refreshing Participating Properties Youthful festival goers may need little more than a tent and campground to survive a multi-day festival. But California’s wine country provides a lot more for those who want a comfortable, serene, relaxing place to refresh each night (and there is no on-site camping option, by the way). Small hotels, inns, B&Bs, and vacation rentals are all options in Napa and the surrounding wine country towns, including Sonoma, Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga, among others. While downtown Napa carries the buzz of the festival, the countryside offers a quiet, peaceful place to come down each night. But escaping to a quiet respite doesn’t mean you have to turn your back on the festival. The Solage in Calistoga , for example, is perfect for both detoxing and retoxing. The 4-star property embraces the BottleRock weekend by providing a free festival shuttle (worth its weight in gold!) and hosting poolside barbecues and late-night, post-festival events for those that want to keep the party going. Take advantage of these perks while you’re in festival mode, and when you wake up the next morning, visit the expansive outdoor spa for a (free) wellness circuit between the five geothermal soaking pools , which vary in temperature and minerals. After, relax on your quaint outdoor patio (every room, no matter the size, has one) or take a nap on the plush bedding beside the in-room fireplace. When you’re ready to get going again, visit the 130-foot pool and adjacent restaurant, Solbar, for a cocktail and fresh, globally-inspired dishes that feature local Napa Valley produce. Nearby Activities to Keep Yourself in Balance Within a short drive from the BottleRock Festival grounds, one can visit a seemingly infinite number of wineries. Before long, you find yourself transported from a high-energy gathering to a deep-breath inducing agricultural region where you can taste some of America’s most revered wine. The importance of this opportunity and transformation cannot be overstated for those looking to refresh during the long weekend. Need a break from drinking? No problem. Stay fresh with a hike at one of the many natural areas, visit the surrounding state parks (such as Bothe-Napa Valley State Park) , or visit the natural hot springs in Calistoga . Visit downtown Napa or any of the other aforementioned towns for boutique shopping, browsing, and local restaurants. Check out my website . Will McGough Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions