Outside Lands, a diverse music festival held for three days each August in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, is objectively one of the major Bay Area events of the year. This summer, it attracted over 75,000 people a day.

Starting in 2008, Outside Lands was originally targeted at an older crowd. For instance, consider that 2008’s setlist featured both Radiohead and Bon Iver — not your typical high school heartthrobs. But as its popularity grew, it began catering to a younger demographic; this year’s festival features artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Lana Del Rey, Megan Thee Stallion and Beabadoobee. The stacked line-up caught my attention — and the attention of thousands of high school students from around the Bay Area. 

This was my first time at Outside Lands, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, junior Ella McHenry and freshman John McHenry have attended Outside Lands for the past ten years and this year, I joined them, leading to one of the best experiences of my life.

“[When it first started] it used to be a bunch of old people bands. But now it’s a lot more appealing to younger people which is better because I’ll enjoy the music a lot more and it’s way more fun,” Ella McHenry said. 

At Outside Lands, it’s not vital to know all the songs or artists playing and part of the festival’s appeal is that people are able to immerse themselves in new songs and music they were never aware of prior to Outside Lands.

“I think my favorite part was just all the diverse music there because it gives you the opportunity to discover new music that you haven’t listened to before,” junior Victoria Delucchi said. 

But bigger artists will always attract a bigger crowd, and the lineup definitely affects the crowds that arrive. Because of that, Outside Lands has two main stages known as Lands’ End and Twin Peaks, where the more popular artists are set to perform. 

“I spent a lot of time at Lands’ End since there were more artists who were actually popular on the lineup. This was the first year I was actually interested in seeing who was playing,” John McHenry said. 

Similarly, sophomore Bella Brosnan has been attending Outside Lands for the past two years, but this year, with the surge in high school attendance, Brosnan found herself among many peers. 

“This year, I felt a lot more independent, because my dad and I went to different stages. Like for example on Friday, I went with my friends to see Shaq and Kendrick,” Brosnan said. “[At Outside Lands] you can see everyone at once, which I think is really cool for people who like the concert experience.” 

Outside Lands serves as the ideal event for teenagers who are also trying to save some money. A day pass comes out to around $195 to see multiple fan-favorite artists, making it relatively affordable. 

“You’re seeing so many artists for like $400 [for all three days] but to see all those artists individually it’d be like the price of one ticket,” senior Sasha Rossen said. 

But Outside Lands is more than just music – there are food stalls, clothes and a certain culture to it. Festival goers often embrace a diverse range of fashion styles ranging from vintage to more artistic and colorful outfits. Embracing one’s style is a vital part of the atmosphere. 

“There’s so much to do because there’s a bunch of people who dress up for it, seeing their outfits is super interesting and [there are] all kinds of tents with people selling unique stuff,” Ella McHenry said. 

As it is an event that is meant for adults, it’s not organized in a manner for high schoolers. Delucci, for instance, acknowledged that it can be a struggle to keep track of friends in a large venue like Golden Gate Park.

“I did get that feeling, like I didn’t really fit in with the huge crowd because there were a lot of older people, but it’s an event everyone wants to go to, so I still had a great time,” Delucchi said.

Despite that, Outside Lands is a genuine reflection of what is valued most around the Bay Area, as it blends music, art and good food all into a lively and inclusive festival experience.