By: Ellie Salrin

After a few months in the festival swing of things, we can’t seem to get enough of these tight-knit boutique festivals with unique artists - some old favorites and some just emerging onto our radar. We are getting excited for a special one July 18-20 at Cook's Valley Campground in a beautifully wooded area of Mendocino in northern Cali. 

Northern Nights is in its second year, and has prepared a glittering lineup of renowned musicians, artists, yogis, promoters, and production teams coming together to provide an experience unlike any other amongst towering redwood trees. 

Intimate festival settings are the best for getting to see the likes of Beats Antique, Justin Martin, Odesza, Zion I, Giraffage, The Floozies, Two Fresh, Ana Sia, Dimond Saints, Nasty Nasty, and many more impressive underground acts. 

Tickets

Tickets are currently $164 and will jump to $179 on July 1. They include music, camping, and off-site parking. VIP tickets are currently $269 and will go up to $299. They also include preferred parking with easy access to your car, VIP bar and lounge, backside stage viewing, drink tokens, swag bag, canteen, inner tube, as well as exclusive beer and wine tastings. That’s a lot of bang for your buck. Tickets can be purchased here, or at several locations in San Francisco and surrounding areas of Mendocino.

Experience

In addition to a phenomenal group of musicians, there will be galleries and live art to explore, yoga and wellness workshops, standup comedy, and activity areas throughout the beautiful campgrounds. Silent Frisco-powered discos will kick off when the main music ends at 2 a.m. A swimming hole and river run through the woods, so of course there is a riverside stage and bar with craft beers and delectable wines. Plenty of food with organic, vegan, and gluten free options will also be available.

They have taken an excellent stance on their sustainability page, with plenty of information, some awesome (and hilarious) greening initiatives, and ecosystem knowledge. “We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do.” - Barbara Ward. A nice reminder.

This festival is a community of individuals that encourages all to participate. Whether you want to share your art, your wares, your ideas, or your time, check out their participant page and get involved.

Nowadays, some of us have grown weary of tired EDM lineups with attendees who seem to be there only because it’s trendy, acting like they are hippies who care about the earth then throw their trash in the dirt. It is nice to get down to a more grounded festival approach with like-minded individuals interested in discovering emerging musicians, connecting with nature and each other, and expressing themselves through a variety of outlets. Northern Nights is that kind of festival. Come experience a weekend with trendsetting artists at a forward-thinking event. We’ll see you there!