Music festivals are a beautiful place to be. It is somewhere that you're surrounded by free-spirited people and can forget about the stresses of the real world for a while. Many of my friends have called me a hippie or a wanna-be Woodstock-goer, but I think everyone should experience the loving nature of a music festival at least once in their life. Even if you don't think it's for you, just go! It's an adventure, an experience; life is only so long and you need to get in all the experiences you can.

This past year I was lucky enough to attend the Movin' On Festival at Penn State, Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Delaware, and Made in America Festival in Philadelphia. Each one has their own vibe and feeling, but each one leaves me wanting more and feeling happier than before I'd gone.

When you're at an overnight festival, you're camping on top of each other.



There's no room for privacy, and no one cares. Everyone is in their bikini pouring a jug of water on themselves to "shower." Seems problematic and intrusive, right? Nope. This is one of the best parts of attending. This condensed style of camping forces you to make new friends with your neighbors. There are people I met at Firefly and only spent four days with but still talk to today. You share stories--and extra eggs in the morning--with these people and you'll always have a special bond with them.

You can dress however you'd like and no one judges you because music festivals are a place for good vibes only. Wanna wear cut-off shorts, a sports bra, and a flannel? Cool. Wanna wear just pants and pasties? Cool. Paint your body and put your hair in mini Miley-buns? Cool. I can promise you that any music festival will be the most accepting and body-positive environment you'll ever find yourself in.

You can't forget the real reason you're attending amongst all the other fun you're having--the music. Nothing makes a person more happy than live music; hearing that song you played on repeat for two weeks straight performed by your favorite band with 100,000 other people who love it just as much as you is incredible. It's the best feeling and you can be immersed in that feeling for days at a festival, not just a two hour concert.

If you're still worried that a music festival still might not be for you, think about it this way: it's honestly cost-effective! I spent roughly $300 for my ticket to Firefly. Seems expensive until you realize it was four days of amazing artists like Ellie Goulding and Mumford and Sons, whose tickets would cost around $120 each anyway. Plus, it's an experience of a lifetime to be surrounded by positive people, good vibes, and great music. Once you go to one, you'll find yourself going back for more, and not only for the music but the experience as well!