The Firefly Festival will light up Dover as 80,000 music fans from all over the country swarm The Woodlands at Dover International Speedway this weekend. Festival goers will camp out and enjoy music from 106 of some of the hottest bands in the country. Jack Johnson, The Foo Fighters and Outkast top the bill this year, with Beck, Ziggy Marley, the Lumineers, Pretty Lights, Arctic Monkeys, Weezer, tUnE-yArDs, Chance the Rapper, Local Natives, Imagine Dragons, Cage the Elephant, Phosphorescent and more rounding out the festival line-up.
This festival isn't just about the music though. Other highlights include the festival's trademark hot air balloon, wooded campsites, an on-site brewery, arcade, coffee house, shopping, “Hammock Hangout” and the popular "Silent Disco," a DJ-fueled headphone dance party in the woods. More than a dozen restaurants will sell everything from hot dogs and cheesesteaks to vegan options, chicken, pizza, waffles and turkey burgers on-site throughout the weekend.
Firefly organizer, Red Frog Events, is partnering with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through their “Music Gives to St. Jude Kids Program”. Festival attendees can support the lifesaving work of St. Jude through a variety of digital, mobile and live donation opportunities. Donations will go towards a $25 million commitment to the St. Jude Red Frog Events Proton Therapy Center, opening in 2015 on St. Jude’s campus in Memphis.
Get answers to frequently asked questions here. For general information, including performance times, directions and more, visit FireflyFestival.com.
INSIDER TIPS
Expect tons of traffic - listen to WTMC 1380-AM or download DelDOT's free traffic app for real time traffic alerts. Since 70 percent of Firefly's traffic is anticipated from the north, officials urge festival-goers to continue on Delaware 1 south past Exit 104 and take the next exit (exit 95), just south of the speedway to avoid dreaded back-ups.
To cool off, head over to the air-conditioned Dogfish Brewery where Firefly performances and World Cup soccer matches will be shown on large-screen TVs.
The Scene
Two on-site "hubs" will provide shower facilities, group yoga, general store, food trucks, sound stages and more located on Delaware 1 and the speedway and on the north side in the forest. Seven "posts" throughout the camping areas will provide campers with access to ice, water refills and cell phone charging stations.
Firefly Music Festival
June 19 - 22
The Woodlands at Dover International Speedway
Dover, Delaware
