5 Amazing Music Festivals in May You Won't Want to Miss

It’s no wonder so many music festivals take place during the month of May. Fantastic weather across the US sets the stage for a great time.

Before you fill up your schedule, you’ll want to know all your options.

Join us for five of the best must-hit events of the spring season.

Let’s rock!

Group of friends on the lawn of an outdoor music festival

May’s Many Music Festivals Signal Springtime Fun

May brings warm temperatures, glorious sunshine, and plenty of fun for folks around the country. Music festivals spread seasonal cheer from California to Florida and remind us that summer vacation isn’t just for kids.

Whether you’re into classic rock, metal, hip-hop, or pop, there’s an event happening somewhere that’ll satisfy your sonic cravings. In fact, they might just meet needs you didn’t even know you had. If you never thought Killer Mike and Giada De Laurentiis would share a stage, let us fill you in.

Before we get into the dog days of summer, let’s celebrate the sunshine at some of May’s best music festivals!

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#1 SunFest

Every year, during the first weekend in May, West Palm Beach, Florida, hosts the state’s largest waterfront music and arts festival. SunFest has been going strong since 1983. These days, it draws over 175,000 to the Intracoastal Waterway downtown.

The 2024 lineup includes headliners like Nelly, Billy Idol, Third Eye Blind, the Revivalists, Dashboard Confessional, Matisyahu, and Rebelution. Famous acts from previous years include the Counting Crows, Killers, Jack Johnson, Diplo, and Keith Urban. There’s truly a show for every taste here.

But it isn’t just about the music. For an immersive experience, you can stroll the Creative Arts Village and meet the masters who paint, sculpt, and otherwise form fantastic hand-crafted goods. You can even take part in hands-on arts and crafts.

You’ll also find plenty of SunFestivities to keep you entertained. Floating bars are the most popular place to shake your booty, while drink sponsors like White Claw and Wines of Germany might have activity hubs throughout the venue. And if that’s not enough, The Eatery will feature tons of delicious food to enjoy all weekend.

You can snag one-, two-, and three-day passes to this beloved May music festival. Additionally, several VIP options let you live it up in style. You can get front-row seats, access to private hangout spots, and free food and beverages.

#2 Cruel World Festival

On the other side of the country, Brookside at the Rose Bowl becomes home to another unbeatable event. This serene, grassy golf course transforms into an unusual concert venue for the Cruel World Festival.

Check out this California music festival if you want to rock out to iconic performers like Blondie, Duran Duran, and Interpol. Past performers include Iggy Pop, Morrissey, Echo & the Bunnymen, and Siouxie.

Two main stages flank the property along Pasadena’s Rosemont Avenue. You can grab a general admission ticket if you only need the essentials. However, other options give you faster entry, air-conditioned restrooms, and exclusive food and drink offerings.

If you want to go all out, grab a Clubhouse pass. This high-end experience is only for folks 21 and up. You’ll not only have the best seats in the house, but you’ll also get free boozy beverages, complimentary snacks from the chef, and access to the highly coveted Clubhouse.

The Cruel World Festival occurs the second weekend in May. Tickets sell out fast, so get yours early!

#3 Sonic Temple Festival

Rock lovers and metalheads will rejoice when they see the Sonic Temple Festival’s 2024 lineup. The schedule features big names like Slipknot, Pantera, Seether, Disturbed, 311, Rise Against, and Judas Priest. Hip-hop royalty Cypress Hill will even make an appearance.

Formerly known as Rock on the Range, this event’s previous headliners include Tool, Godsmack, Avenged Sevenfold, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Kiss, Metallica, Korn, Primus, and Rob Zombie.

You might not expect all these top performers to descend upon Columbus, Ohio, but that’s exactly where this event takes place. For four days in mid-May, Historic Crew Stadium becomes ground zero for this hard rock music festival. The stadium hosts the main stage, with several others scattered throughout the property.

You can find food and drink stations all over the venue. They’ll keep you fed and quench your thirst during the epic extravaganza. You’ll also see art installations to dazzle your senses.

This is a cashless event, so load up your wristband before heading to the venue. If you don’t have your own plastic, reverse ATMs, which issue prepaid Visa cards, are available.

Plan a whole trip around these OHIO WATERFALLS: 7 Secret Gems in the Buckeye State!

#4 Hangout Music Festival

If you prefer a little more fun in the sun, consider heading south to the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

This three-day event takes place on the beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The May 2024 music festival features headliners like Lana del Rey, Odesza, The Chainsmokers, Zach Bryan, Cage the Elephant, and Dominic Fike. Previous performers include the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Outkast, Post Malone, Skrillex, Billie Eilish, Weezer, and Lenny Kravitz.

Hangout isn’t just a music festival. It’s a lifestyle. As soon as you land on the sunny shores, you’ll see what keeps people coming back year after year. Enjoy exciting art installations, take a dip at Monster Beach Club, or play a little volleyball with your new best friends. Then, unwind at Hammock Beach, where the breeze will recharge your batteries.

A man playing guitar at an outdoor music festival

You can even get hitched at the wedding chapel!

You’ll also find tons of food options to keep you full all weekend. In addition to the official Hangout Restaurant, loads of food trucks line the streets. You might snack on crunchy avocado tacos or cool, creamy popsicles.

This music festival occurs each year in mid-May. Get your tickets early! We suggest upgrading to a VIP pass for pool access and air-conditioned restrooms.

Need a place to stay? Check out these 5 Amazing Gulf Shores Campgrounds!

#5 BottleRock Napa Valley

Our final music festival is a California favorite. Napa Valley’s BottleRock blends music and wine like nowhere else. This three-day event just north of San Francisco takes place on Memorial Day weekend and features some of the biggest names in music.

During the 2024 event, Pearl Jam, Stevie Nicks, Ed Sheeran, Maná, Megan Thee Stallion, Norah Jones, My Morning Jacket, Miike Snow, Gogol Bordello, and Queens of the Stone Age take the stage, along with dozens of other performers.

Past shows included Smashing Pumpkins, Bruno Mars, Muse, Twenty One Pilots, Guns N’ Roses, Miley Cyrus, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Stevie Wonder, and more.

However, BottleRock is a complete sensory experience. In 2023, Food Network goddess Giada De Laurentiis and famed rapper Killer Mike led a cooking demonstration together. You might get a blowout at the luxurious on-site spa or treat yourself to an IV hydration session to recover from the night before.

And don’t even get us started on the food! You can grab delicious eats from some of Wine Country’s finest restaurants. Nosh on hand-rolled sushi, fully stacked burgers, wood-fired pizza, or fresh paella all weekend. Plus, regional wines flow until the barrels run dry.

Finally, BottleRock After Dark features tons of musicians at venues around the Bay Area. The party only ends when you decide to call it quits.

Explore the area while you’re there! Fodor’s Napa & Sonoma Travel Guide

May Music Festivals Promise a Good Time for All

May’s many music festivals keep the beats bopping all month long. You can enjoy some of the hottest names in music from coast to coast. No matter what genre you prefer, you’ll have plenty of options to rock out to.

Don’t sleep on these major events. We suggest planning your itinerary well in advance and staying hydrated from the jump. Once the tunes start up, you won’t want to stop!