Wow, this past weekend was probably the best I’ve had in a long time, and if it’s any indicator on how the rest of my summer is going to go then I’m pretty damn stoked, but let’s jump into what made my weekend so extravagant, so exciting, and so entertaining. Well, I’ve got three words for you...Hangout Music Festival.

Any festival lovers out there? Those of you who are huge music junkies like myself understand where I’m coming from when I say that there’s nothing better than a 3-4 day festival full of good music, good food, and good vibes all around. This was my first music festival but after attending Hangout this past weekend, you can bet I’m already planning which one I’m going to be at next; here are my favorite highlights from the festival.

1. Food stations GALORE, so so many options of different cuisine.

I honestly lost count on how many food stations there exactly were, but with an attendance of about 35,000+ people per day, you can imagine there were a lot, however plenty of food stations to satisfy everyone’s cravings—Jamaican cuisine, Greek cuisine, Mexican cuisine, and so much more! I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as the food went but I quickly learned and was pleasantly surprised and satisfied with all of the food options I chose. Day 1, I settled for an all-time comfort food...pizza, but it was definitely on my list of best pizzas I’ve had, it was this ooey-gooey, cheesy perfection. Fast forward to the last day and I rested my taste buds for grilled teriyaki chicken with white rice and veggies from one of the Asian cuisine booths, which honestly quite pricey, but oh so worth every dollar; the chicken was tender, juicy and pairing it with the veggies and rice made for a great combo.

2. I had the opportunity to meet new people and make friends.

Now, it’s no surprise that everyone there was there for one major reason—to have a good time. And if there was anything I had in common with the people surrounding me it was the love and appreciation for some great music. I’ve never been one to talk to strangers, much less make friends with them, but surprisingly this is what my 3 days at Hangout Fest consisted of and all it took was a simple compliment on someone’s fanny-pak or the common interest in what song(s) we were looking forward to hearing each person perform.

3. Fashionable statements were a must each day.

With music festivals, there’s no holding back what to/not to wear. There are no limitations, restrictions, or rules on what you can pair together. I kid you not, the second day of the festival I recall seeing a girl with no top, just glitter stars covering her top area, a bikini bottom, and sandals...that was her whole outfit. Definitely not judging the slightest bit, I think it was exciting seeing people be creative and express themselves with their choice of clothing each day, and there were definitely people who played it safe and then those who took it to extremes—i.e. glitter star boob girl.

4. There were Iconic performances from talented artists.

Each day brought forth a different performer that I was thrilled to see. That Friday included The Killers and all of their electric, rock hits with awesome background visuals to really set the tone. The day after, my heart burst with excitement as I sang my heart out to each of Halsey's songs, and finally that Sunday I was able to catch some major R&B and Hip-Hop vibes to SZA and Kendrick Lamar. Each artist, all from different genres, brought something unique to their performances, so unique and special that I'm currently still on a bit of a "music high" from seeing all of them perform some of my favorite tunes live.

I think attending a music festival is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. I mean the cool thing about them is that you're able to see a multitude of artists for a couple hundred dollars and each festival has it's own vibe and if you ask me I'd say that it's totally worth it!