After taking a gap year for 2019, Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival will return to its home of Sunshine Grove in South Florida, March 5-8, in a new partnership between the event’s founders, Soundslinger, and industry leader Insomniac. Okeechobee built a reputation across its first three years of 2016-2018 as a truly extraordinary exhibition of a variety of music genres in a fittingly expansive and diverse locale – making it a righteous project for the biggest festival producer in the country and its CEO, Pasquale Rotella, to take to the next level.
Shifting environments at a festival can induce a sense of surreal magnificence, and this element is part of what elevates Okeechobee into such a stunning event. OMF takes place amongst 800 acres of vibrant grasslands, lakes, woods and the jungle. The three main stages – Be, Here, and Now – are located in the central Grove area, while the Jungle 51 stage is separate, transporting attendees to a deep jungle zone from dusk till dawn with superb house and techno DJs. The jungle meets white sands at Aquachobee Beach, a gorgeous spot to swim, relax and enjoy music performances from noon to dusk.
Considering how Insomniac transforms concrete landscapes into neon wonderlands at with festivals like EDC, the natural beauty of this setting offers incredible potential for sublime, jaw-droppingly creative production design. You can bet the other, smaller stage spaces will receive an additional layer of awesome enhancements as well. Impressive art installations, engaging workshops and unique vendors fill the Chobeewobee Village with life each day. And one of OMF’s signatures, the PoWoW (similar to the SuperJam at Bonnaroo), unites an eclectic mix of notable musicians for a one-of-a-kind collaborative set sure to be a highlight of the weekend.
After fees, a 4-day GA pass starts at $314 without car camping and $368 with car camping. Layaway plans begin at $19.99. Next season will see many fests reaching big anniversary years (10 years of EDC in Vegas, 10 years of Electric Forest), so initiate plans now for an epic 2020 opening with Okeechobee!
