It’s springtime in Lynchburg, which could only mean one thing - Lynchstock 2016 is HERE. This Saturday April 23rd marks the 4th annual Lynchstock musical festival. Each year, the fest has grown exponentially, featuring MORE stages, MORE acts, and PLENTY more attendees. This year, Lynchstock boasts an impressive thirty musical guests performing at three separate stages, in addition to food trucks and vendors from around the area.
But enough with that - what’s important here is that YOU come ready to fest. Here’s a few quick do’s and don’t’s to get you through the day:
Do: Break out the Birks, Chacos, and other warm weather essentials
The weather forecast for Saturday predicts that the high will be around 80 degrees. This calls for first and foremost, proper festival footwear - something that you can dance and walk around in, but still gives off that rad Lynchstock vibe. Make sure your clothing is breathable, but can be transitioned to keep you warm once the sun goes down.
Some other things you might find helpful to bring are: blankets, a Camelbak, sunglasses, and of course the traditional hipster Polaroid camera (don’t forget the extra film!).
Don’t: Eat before you get there
It’s Lynchburg. It’s an outdoor event. This could only mean one thing - FOOD TRUCKS. So make sure to save your appetite for when you get to the festival. There’s sure to be other good food trucks as well, like Taco Shark, Upper Crust Pizza Company, and Open Porch, just to name a few.
Do: Prepare yourself with a playlist of Lynchstock favorites
Nobody likes to be that person who comes to a concert not knowing anything about the bands playing. It’s much more fun to be able to sing along with your friends. You’ve got the lineup here, so get going and do some research! Some of my favorite songs I’ll be looking to hear this Saturday are “A Toast and a Spirit” by Vacation Manor, “Here I’m Home” and “I’ll Be Gone Tomorrow” by Jeff Carl, and of course everyone’s favorite by Colony House - “Silhouettes.”
Don’t: Forget to hear incredible spoken word performances by The Listening
The Listening is a group of locals with a passion for poetry. This group will be performing from 3:50-4:40 at the Discover Stage. Take a moment to get some food, grab a seat on the grass, and listen to some powerful words spoken by people who aren’t afraid to talk about both the difficult things in life, as well as rejoice through their art. Make sure to schedule time into your day to stop by - you won’t regret it.
Do: Live free and have fun
Don’t sweat the little things. Festivals are a time to let go and HAVE FUN! So wear your flower crown and break out the Chubbies if that’s what your heart desires. Go barefoot. Gain 10lbs from Mama Crockett’s alone. Drown yourself in locally-brewed coffee. The day is yours! So have fun and enjoy it while it lasts - Lynchstock only comes once a year, so do your best to make the most of it.
For more information on Lynchstock Music Festival, go to www.lynchstockmusicfestival.com.
