You read that right. I put on my big-girl glitter and went to a music festival COMPLETELY solo. And it was one of the best things I’ve ever done.
Sea.Hear.Now, a festival celebrating live music, art, and surf culture, has been running for years on the iconic Asbury Park boardwalk and beach in New Jersey. This year’s festival featured performances from artists such as Foo Fighters, The Killers, Greta Van Fleet, Weezer, Sheryl Crow, The Beach Boys, and more.
Just under an hour and a half from Philadelphia, I commuted from home. The festival does not have designated parking, but parking on the surrounding streets was free. I did end up parking pretty far away each day, but, of course, the earlier you arrive at the festival, the easier parking is to find. At night, I made the trek to my car alone, but I was walking amongst hordes of festival attendees heading to their own cars. Music and singing filled the streets from locals partying late into the night on their decks, and it was like a scene from a movie. There was also a designated rideshare pickup spot outside festival gates, a bike valet for local traffic, and a train station right in Asbury Park, so there are multiple transportation options available for festival goers from near and far.
With clear bags being the only option allowed in the festival, I sported my clear backpack from Amazon, and stocked it with a refillable water bottle, a sweatshirt, a beach blanket, a portable phone charger, hand sanitizer, playing cards, lip balm, sunscreen, sunglasses, my ID, and Tylenol. Leave your cash at home, as this festival is cashless, accepting payments from cards, phone wallets, or your festival wristband if you choose to link your card. For the drive home, I kept a cooler bag in my car filled with a jug of water to refill my bottle, snacks, and energy drinks. I also packed a change of clothes, socks, and shoes in case it rained. I recommend this for any festival and have been doing this for Firefly Music Festival since 2018.
My experience inside the festival was fantastic. The grounds were well-lit at night, the staff was extremely friendly, the festival accommodated folks with accessibility and dietary needs, and it was easy to locate security or emergency services throughout the grounds. With plenty of things to do besides the music, this festival was family-friendly and solo-traveler friendly. I met tons of interesting people who were eager to chat, I watched pro surfers shred waves, and I walked through all of the shopping bazaars and art galleries. My secret to breaking the ice with strangers? Bring a blanket and a deck of cards! Playing a game of cards between sets made for a rockin’ time with people of all ages. And during performances, I got to dance my butt off with my new-found friends.
Would I recommend going to a music festival alone? Well, everything is more fun with your friends by your side, but if they are dragging their feet with buying tickets, go get yourself a ticket, honey! Life will pass you by if you spend all your time waiting on other people, and this experience exemplified the truth in that statement. Check out my other articles for a music-based festival review and an artist spotlight on Greta Van Fleet!
