Hangout Music Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hangout Music Festival |
|
|---|---|
2013 Hangout Music Festival
|
|
| Genre | Rock, alternative, electronic dance music, indie, hip hop, jam bands, reggae |
| Location(s) | 101 East Beach Boulevard Gulf Shores, Alabama, USA |
| Years active | 2010–present (shows cancelled in 2020 and 2021) |
| Website | website |
The Hangout Music Festival (also called Hangout Fest or Hangout) is a fun three-day music festival. It happens every year on the beautiful white sand beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama. The main stages are the Hangout Stage and the Surf Stage, located at opposite ends of the beach. There's also the Boom Boom Tent and other cool spots. The festival usually takes place in the middle of May. It was the first big music festival ever held right on the beach in Gulf Shores!
Many famous artists have performed at Hangout Fest. These include Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lana Del Rey, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Foo Fighters, OutKast, Mumford & Sons, The Weeknd, The Killers, Jack White, Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots, Kings of Leon, Queens of the Stone Age, Florence and the Machine, The Black Keys, Slightly Stoopid, Paramore, Ellie Goulding, Chance the Rapper, The Chainsmokers, Halsey, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Khalid and Cardi B. Some bands, like the Trey Anastasio Band and Moon Taxi, have even played there many times!
Besides awesome music, the festival offers lots of other activities. You can enjoy a full-size roller rink, play beach volleyball, or swim in a pool right by the main stage. There are also comfy hammocks, delicious food, and DJs playing music.
Contents
How Hangout Fest Started
The Hangout Music Festival began in November 2009. It was created by A.J. Niland, Shaul Zislin, and Lilly Zislin. Lilly Zislin is also the creative director for the festival. The Zislins own "The Hangout" restaurant, which is where the festival gets its name. The city council of Gulf Shores approved the festival in December 2009. They even allowed the music to play a bit later than usual city rules.
Getting Tickets and What to Know
When you buy tickets for Hangout Fest, here are some important things to remember:
- Everyone is welcome!
- If you are 17 or younger, you need to be with an adult (age 21 or older) who also has a ticket.
- Kids aged five and under get in for free! But they must be with a parent or guardian who has a ticket. Each adult can bring up to two young children for free.
- The festival happens rain or shine, so be ready for any weather!
- The list of artists and the schedule might change.
- You need a special wristband to enter the festival. You should get your wristband in April after buying your ticket.
You can find a list of things you can't bring into the festival on the official Hangout Music Festival website. The website also has answers to common questions about transportation, places to stay, medical help, and how to pay for things.
Festival Growth and Challenges
When the festival first started in 2010, about 13,000 to 15,000 people attended each day. The area faced some environmental challenges around that time, which affected how many people came.
By 2011, the festival became very popular! They had to limit the number of people to 35,000 per day to keep everyone safe. This was a huge number for a festival only in its second year. The 2011 event brought in about $30 million for the Gulf Shores area.
Tickets for the 2012 festival, which also had a limit of 35,000 people per day, sold out super fast. The special early tickets sold out in just one hour! All general admission tickets were gone almost three months before the festival.
The 2013 festival also sold out. In 2014, 40,000 tickets were sold, which was more than the previous limit. That year, for the first time, festival-goers were allowed to go into the Gulf of Mexico right from the festival grounds. Before, only security and artists could go there.
In 2015, a company called Goldenvoice, which also puts on the famous Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, joined in to help produce Hangout Fest.
In 2020, Hangout Music Festival had its fastest ticket sellout ever! However, the festival had to be cancelled in May due to the coronavirus pandemic. People who bought tickets could get a full refund or transfer their tickets to a future event.
How the Festival Helps the Economy
The Hangout Music Festival brings a lot of money to the city of Gulf Shores. The city gets over $700,000 in tax money each year. Plus, they get a percentage of the money from ticket sales. This started at one percent in 2017 and went up to three percent in 2019. In 2014, the festival signed an agreement with the city to keep the event going until at least 2020.
A study in 2013 showed that the festival adds over $31 million to the local economy. It also reaches an estimated 564 million people through social media, TV, and live online videos. The 2014 festival was expected to bring in even more, about $47.5 million. The festival also helps create about 600 jobs!
Awards and Recognition
The Hangout Music Festival has been nominated many times for "Festival of the Year" at the Pollstar Awards, which are big awards for the concert industry. It even won this award in 2012! The festival has also been nominated multiple times for "Festival of the Year" at the IEBA awards.
