SweetWater Fest 420 is one festival that has its priorities straight, highlighting a set of values that embrace nature, an appreciation for a diverse range of music, and a dedication to amazing craft beer. This may sound like a dream festival come true, and, in a sense, it is. SweetWater Fest 420 takes place in April in Atlanta, Georgia, over the grounds at Centennial Olympic Park. The festival is not limited to just live music and also delivers on a range of experiences for its attendees including an extensive stand-up comedy lineup, a special kid’s zone, a tailored craft beer experience, and a village of tents dedicated to non-profits and environmentally conscious businesses.
Where To Stay & Getting To The Festival
Festivalgoers can choose to drive to the venue and pay a small $10 fee to park for the day or opt for taking the public transportation system, Marta, taking a train and dropping you off at either the Peachtree Center or CNN Center Marta Station. Locals also use a service called SafeRide to make a reservation in advance for a driver to pick you up at a certain time and place, and then drive your car home for you after the festival if you have driven.
In terms of where to stay, the festival takes place in the metropolis of Atlanta, which makes it easy to find and book hotels. Check out sites like Expedia, Travelocity or Airbnb to find a hotel or rental that matches your needs.
Environmental Respect
One of the most important principals to the festival is the support and consideration of the environment and nature. The festival’s founders are committed to raising environmental cognizance and put together a village of tents with a variety of charities, non-profits and environmental workshops to build awareness.
Along the same lines of wanting to perpetuate a healthy lifestyle for not only the environment, but also each other, the festival puts together the SweetWater 420 Fest 5K race on the Saturday morning of the festival weekend. The route takes festivalgoers through a course through the park and surrounding neighborhood. The reward at the end of your race? Of course, a delicious beer provided by the festival.
Want even more proof this festival is dedicated to the environment? They consciously schedule the festival on the weekend closest to Earth Day every year. There is no better way to observe this holiday than with a great music festival celebration!
Music and Entertainment Diversity
Now in its eleventh year, SweetWater Fest 420 does not limit itself by catering to one music genre or sound. Artists are a mix of rock, rap, and electronic acts – anything that will make you want to dance! Performers from past years include Steel Pulse, Sublime, Galactic, G. Love and Special Sauce in 2014, and George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic and Robert Randolph & The Family Band in 2013.
The lineup for 2015 is completely stacked. Hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg, American rockers 311, and electronic trip-hop group, Thievery Corporation, promise to deliver memorable experiences as they headline the festival. Other big names include Primus, Cage the Elephant, Slightly Stoopid, moe., Gov’t Mule, Beats Antique, and Cold War Kids.
Not forgetting electronic music fans, the festival recently added their Not-So-Silent Disco stage to the lineup in 2013 and it has been thriving ever since. Complete with awesome lightshows, interactive performers, and a fantastic sound system, electronic fanatics are able to get their groove on. This year features top talent including Anna Lunoe, Black Tiger Sex Machine, Cassian, David Heartbreak, and Plastic Plates among several others.
Adding one last spin on things, the festival also supports a special comedy tent with improve workshops for all ages and professional shows by stand up comedians. Make sure to take a break from dancing to relax a minute and enjoy a good laugh!
Good Beer and Good Food!
SweetWater Fest 420 was founded in 2004 by the SweetWater Brewing Company. The festival actually first took place in Oakhurst, Georgia before moving to Little Five Points’ Candler Park until 2013, and then to the heart of Atlanta where it now resides. The beer company saw the festival as a means to bring together their three passions of music, beer, and environmental awareness in one giant celebration.
The festival offers a specialized SweetWater craft beer experience in addition to local food trucks and an artist market. SweetWater creates a full experience that goes beyond just music, exuding a distinct sensible, responsible identity for the festival and creating a true sense of community.
Jam bands, DJs and rappers alike embrace the spirit of this unique festival. The festival expands with new elements every year, this year adding a new stage dedicated to developing and up-and-coming artists. As the festival has grown, they’ve supported the increase in talent with a new second main stage they have added for a lineup that continues to expand year-over-year. Now is the perfect time to enjoy this festival as it comes into its real prime. Three-day tickets are $55 and give you access to 4 stages of music, 45+ bands, get yours on their festival website here.
Written by FestPop Staff Writer
Sarah Chorey
twitter: @schorey
Email comments to: [email protected]
