After a couple of years of postponed events and cancellations, concert fans are returning to large festivals nationwide.
While the festivals themselves are incredible, the hit they take on your finances isn’t. Travel, lodging, food, admission and extras can pile up fast.
Take a peek at 2022 ticket costs for several well-known music festivals around the U.S.:
- Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee: $350 and up for four days
- Coachella in Indio, California: $449 and up for three days
- Lollapalooza in Chicago, Illinois: $350 and up for four days
- Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, Nevada: $359 and up for three days
- Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival in Okeechobee, Florida: $350 and up for four days
Most ticket rates don’t cover extras like parking, camping, meals or other add-ons, not to mention VIP upgrades or glow-in-the-dark rave accessories.
When you add everything together, it’s easy to drop $1,000 per person at a festival by getting caught up in the moment — or making newbie mistakes.
Protect your wallet and still have a blast with these expert tips on affording music festivals.
Cut Costs on Tickets
The earlier you buy festival tickets, the better. Planning ahead is key to snagging the lowest price.
Presale Tickets
Presale tickets are usually the cheapest option. They often become available anywhere from nine months to a year before the event.
You’ll typically need a presale code to access the lower price. Some festivals, like Coachella, allow you to register for their presale on their site.
Provide your name, phone number and email, and you’ll receive a code when the presale begins so you can grab early tickets.
You can also find presale codes online by searching the festival name + presale code.
Tiered Pricing
Missed the presale? Buy your tickets as soon as you can. Prices usually climb as the date approaches.
Most festivals sell tickets in “tiers.” When one tier sells out, the next tier opens at a higher price.
For instance, when Bonnaroo 2022 tickets first went on sale, a four-day pass cost $299. But two weeks before the festival, the same passes were $350. And that was before an extra $67 in taxes and fees were added at checkout.
Is Layaway Worth It?
Many music festivals, like Ultra and EDC, allow you to use a payment plan so you can spread the ticket cost over several months.
Most layaway options charge small fees, typically between $15 and $30.
If your monthly finances can’t handle a $200 to $400 hit all at once, dividing the cost into four or five interest-free payments can be a good alternative.
Just be sure to include the installment payments in your monthly budget so you’re not surprised by automatic withdrawals.
Grab Last-Minute Deals
If you’re willing to take a chance, you can sometimes find last-minute tickets at rock-bottom prices the day of the festival.
Scalpers and attendees who can’t make it may sell tickets at steep discounts to recoup some of their money.
Patricio Solano, 35, has picked up reduced-price passes for friends through festival Facebook groups and message boards.
“In the days before events, people can’t make it, and often you can get passes online from others at a fraction of the cost,” Solano said.
It’s not guaranteed though, and festivals are notorious for scams. So be cautious.
Create a Festival Budget and Plan Ahead
Begin outlining your festival budget as soon as you purchase tickets.
Which costs are your responsibility? Which can you share with friends?
Decide how much you’re comfortable spending overall and divide that amount across each day.
Overestimate your spending. Festivals are full of surprises — both pleasant and not — so you don’t want to run short of funds due to unexpected circumstances. No one likes borrowing from friends or racking up credit card balances.
Keep Your Money Secure
Some people prefer bringing cash to festivals because it’s simple to use and can help them stick to a budget.
But cash is easy to lose, especially in a crowded, unfamiliar environment and maybe under the influence of a lively festival atmosphere.
Festivals are also magnets for opportunists who take advantage of good vibes by stealing phones, wallets and other belongings.
If you’re wary of carrying cash, consider a prepaid credit card or an app-based bank card loaded with a preset budget instead.
Whether you use cash or card, keep your money on you at all times. Buy a fanny pack or a money belt and make a habit of checking your belongings throughout the day.
Save Money While Enjoying the Festival
You bought your ticket — now you need to figure out how to get there, where to sleep and what to eat without blowing your budget.
Getting There
- The ideal time to buy plane tickets is about 76 days in advance, according to a study.
- No matter the season, avoid booking flights on a Friday. Choose a different day instead.
- If you fly, consider budget carriers like Frontier, Southwest and Spirit. Use tips to score the best deals on cheap airlines.
- If renting a car to reach the festival, this savvy travel trick can help you dodge an excessive deposit.
- Driving? Check out these 29 tips for a thrifty road trip.
- Gas can seriously eat into your festival funds — especially this year. Ease the pain at the pump with money-saving gas tips and look into gas rewards programs.
- Buying bus tickets on BoltBus or MegaBus? Here’s how to snag rides for just a dollar.
- Carpool with friends to and from the venue. Or see if you can park at a friend’s place to skip parking fees entirely.
Where to Stay
- Many festivals offer on-site camping but you’ll typically need to bring your own tent and gear. Check ahead for camping pass prices and rules so you know whether items like firewood and portable stoves are allowed.
- If you’re traveling with a group, consider pooling funds to rent an RV.
- An Airbnb can be a budget-friendly alternative to costly hotels near the venue.
- If you don’t mind sharing a room with strangers, hostels can be a huge money-saver. You might even get free breakfast and meet new people.
Food and Drinks
- If you’re not camping onsite, look for lodging that includes a kitchen so you can buy groceries, cook your meals and save money while in town for the event.
- It’s easy to overspend on food and drinks at a festival. Bring a CamelBak or a couple of water bottles, and check out other straightforward tips for saving on food while traveling.
- If you decide to leave festival grounds for a sit-down meal, search for online food deals beforehand.
- Set a food and drink budget for the festival and withdraw cash before the event so you don’t overspend.
- Make a friendly wager at the beer tent — if you win, the other person buys you a drink.
- Prepare hummus, DIY Lunchables, granola and other snacks to bring along.
- Double-check festival rules about food and alcohol before you go. You don’t want to buy booze only to have it confiscated at the gate.
- If you’re staying off-site, eat before you go to avoid that $12 hot dog or $15 slice of pizza.
How Savinly Readers Save Money at Music Festivals
To learn the best tactics, ask the people who actually attend music events — they’re the real experts.
We asked devoted festival-goers in Facebook groups for their top money-saving hacks.
- “Basically just be willing to barter,” said Brenton Rhein, of Orlando, Florida. “Talk to your neighbors and see what you can pool together. Most people are open to this, and it saves everyone money over time.”
- “Make things and get creative for each festival,” recommended Jeremy V., also from Orlando. “I always craft items as a side gig so I can trade them or sell them. I end up leaving festivals with cash in my pocket.”
- “Plan meals with your crew and all chip in for groceries and cooking. We made stir fry, bacon grilled cheese and a huge breakfast every day. We didn’t spend much inside the festival and spent maybe $80–$100 per couple on groceries,” said Alex Gallo of Woodstock, Georgia.
- “Don’t blow money on souvenirs and merch at the festival,” advised Solano. “Most of that stuff is cheaper online and you risk losing purchases at the event.”
- “We had a huge group,” said Courtney Lord of Florida. “[We] assigned certain snacks and drinks to singles and couples brought food. Everyone was in charge of bringing their own case of water.”
- “Thrift and DIY for outfits,” suggested Alexa Mucci from New York City. “A lot of people drop big money on festival fashion, but you can repurpose thrift finds or craft creative looks from inexpensive materials and dollar-store supplies.”
Think Creatively
Here are a few additional ways to cut costs at music festivals.
Volunteer
Festivals often need volunteers for tasks like distributing wristbands, selling programs and cleaning up after the event.
In exchange, you’ll usually get free festival access. You may also receive perks like complimentary food and tips.
“You typically work about five to six hours per day and get the rest of the time to enjoy the festival,” says Kelli Wheeler from Orlando.
Sign up to volunteer as early as possible because spots fill quickly.
Write About the Festival
Think of a compelling story angle and pitch it to a site that might cover part of your expenses to send a freelance writer to report on the event.
Enter Giveaways
When other options run out, sometimes you need to create your own luck.
Bands, venues and radio stations often give away festival tickets. You might have to be caller number X to win a pair on the radio.
“I went to Okeechobee for free because I entered about 10 different online contests,” Mucci said.
Search online and follow your favorite artists on social media to learn about giveaways and contests.
Rachel Christian is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for Savinly. Lisa McGreevy is a former staff writer at Savinly.
