Welcome to the Bonnaroo Family
Welcome to your first experience at Bonnaroo! Get ready to experience something truly special. Bonnaroo isn’t just four days of incredible music — it’s a living, breathing community that comes together once a year to celebrate creativity, connection, and pure joy. We’re thrilled to welcome you home.
Bonnaroo takes place on 700 acres lovingly known as The Farm. While this land doesn’t grow crops or raise livestock anymore, it’s still home to something magical: Earth’s Greatest Party. You’ll see unforgettable shows from terrific artists, but the real magic of Bonnaroo happens between the sets — in the moments you’ll carry long after you leave The Farm.
History of Bonnaroo
Bonnaroo began in 2002 in the same location it’s held today in Manchester, Tennessee.
Those first festivals featured a lineup rooted in jam bands like The String Cheese Incident and Widespread Panic, setting a tone for a free-spirited vibe. Early years saw legendary performances from icons like Bob Dylan and James Brown, cementing Bonnaroo’s reputation as a destination for unforgettable live music.
Just as the lineups evolved to host artists of many genres, so did the community. Events ranging from parades to beer exchanges started popping up in what would later become the Outeroo camping area. Today, Outeroo is home to the festival’s Plazas — hubs packed with activities, music, and late-night adventures, just steps away from your campsite.
The Bonnaroovian Code
Learn it. Remember it. Live by it. Nobody knows where the code began. Some say the tenets of the Bonnaroovian Code just appeared one day beneath the Arch, others say some funky party-aliens dropped it off during their last visit. Either way — we have it now and it might just be the most important thing for you to know about being at Bonnaroo.
Prepare Thyself
A prepared Bonnaroovian is a happy Bonnaroovian. Multiple days camping in the Tennessee countryside isn’t something you should jump into without some planning. Plan ahead and you’ll be off to a great start.
Play as a Team
Whether you’re here with family or hanging with strangers, we are ALL on the same team at Bonnaroo. Help your neighbors when they need it, share that bottle of water when it’s hot, and work together to make everyone’s Bonnaroo experience the best it can be.
Radiate Positivity
Possibly the most well-known tenet of the Bonnaroovian Code, “Radiate Positivity” might sound simple, but it’s much more powerful than people realize. When we step foot on The Farm, we all do our best to be our best, and it makes all the difference. Be awesome to one another.
Respect the Farm
The Farm is our home, and just like we work to protect our Mother Earth we all need to pitch in to respect The Farm. Recycle when you can, compost too, and make sure you and the people around you are respectful of the space. There are some events where people leave a field of trash after every set — Bonnaroo is not one of those events. Do your part to keep Bonnaroo special.
Don’t Be That Person
We’ve all seen it, and it’s not pretty. Have a great time while you’re here, but make sure your idea of a great time never involves ruining someone else’s night or putting yourself in danger. Take things slow, be respectful, and remember your fellow Bonnaroovians.
Stay True Roo
The Bonnaroovian code isn’t just for 4 days a year in Tennessee — it’s for all Bonnaroovians, everywhere and all the time. Bring the spirit of Bonnaroo with you out into the world and let’s make life on this floating space-marble we call Earth just a little bit better for everyone.
Outeroo
Outeroo is your home away from home while you’re at Bonnaroo. It’s not just where you’ll find your campsite and meet new friends, but also where countless other activities and entertainment take place.
Not too far away from any camp is a Plaza. In addition to hosting different activities, Plazas also have the essentials: bathrooms, showers, a place to fill up with water, food vendors, and much more.
Plazas can host anything from dance parties to spas and shows. Make sure to visit as many as you can!
Once you’re ready to enter Centeroo from Outeroo, there are two main gates. You can enter from the Tower Entrance near the giant disco ball tower, or you can enter through the Arch Gate into the What Stage field.
Centeroo
Which, What, This, That, and The Other. Bonnaroo takes pride in things being a bit weird, and the names of the different stages certainly follow suit.
The main stage, known as the What Stage, hosts the headliners and the biggest crowds. It’s located in a wide open field that can hold thousands of fans for some of the most unforgettable performances.
The Which Stage is the second largest stage, and often hosts legendary late-night shows in addition to the amazing concerts throughout the day. There are also smaller tent stages called This Tent and That Tent. One of Bonnaroo’s newer stages is The Other, which hosts EDM all day and night.
Take time to look through the map, and to give yourself a tour of the grounds once you arrive. The wild names might sound confusing at first, but you’ll get the hang of it like a veteran in no time!
Camping Tips
When you arrive at Bonnaroo, friendly volunteers will help you find the area that will be your home for the long weekend. Be sure to meet your neighbors once you arrive, little simple gifts or even a high five will really make a great first impression!
Prepare by stocking up on the essentials in the time leading up to Bonnaroo. Aside from a tent, a canopy to protect you from the Tennessee sun is a must have. You’ll see veterans using flags and tapestries to help keep their camping area shaded. A camping cot can be a lifesaver, helping you get a good night’s sleep when you return to your home away from home after a long night of shows.
Traditions
Bonnaroo has been around for more than two decades, and many traditions have cropped up in that time.
On Friday, enter at the Arch Gate to participate in High Five Friday. As Roovians make their way to the entrance, everyone high fives each other and gives a big “Happy Roo” to one another.
If you hear “Oh Baby Youuu,” you’ll find yourself participating in a big sing-a-long of a Biz Markie classic. The words are easy, and you’ll learn soon enough!
There are many other traditions that you’ll learn very quickly, just ask a veteran Bonnaroovian and they’ll be more than happy to tell you their favorites. Just beware of the bees at the What Stage!
Learn More
Bonnaroo has become a massive worldwide community that stays in touch throughout the year, both online and in person.
As you prepare for your time at Bonnaroo, there are many places online where you can talk with other Roovians and get their advice on how to best prepare. The Festiverse Discord, the Bonnaroo Reddit, and Loophole to Reality on Facebook are some of the best places to talk with new friends and set yourself up for success.Remember, at Bonnaroo, you are family.
We are so excited to welcome you to our community and to have you at Earth’s Greatest Party.
Photos on this page from our TOTEM VP Evan Brown!
TOTEM Foundation 