The Bonnaroovian Code 🌈

Below is the full Bonnaroovian Code as published by Bonnarroo Music and Arts Festival, followed by their tips for comfort at camping music festivals. Directly from Roo to me to you.

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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.  

Staying comfortable – tips from experienced Bonnaroovians

Four days of camping in Tennessee is no simple task. Add in a few hundred musical acts and more than a few thousand new friends and it gets even more complicated. Here are some tips to keep yourself comfy and healthy while at Bonnaroo. 

It’s a marathon, not a sprint

It’s a cliche, we know. But seriously, no human being can go at 100% for all of Bonnaroo. That’s not a challenge, it’s just a fact.

Plan rest breaks during the day, stay hydrated and well fed, and be honest with yourself if/when you’re not feeling well. We all hate to admit it, but sometimes you gotta miss one set to make it to a bunch more. Listen to your body! 

Refill your water often, and keep stocked on ice

There are water stations throughout the festival for a reason. Keep those water bottles filled, and keep yourself hydrated. Also be sure to pick up some extra ice from the vendors in the campgrounds each morning to keep your food and drinks cold at the campsite. 

Some folks like to freeze some water bottles before they leave for the farm. That way you have ice for a day or two, then a drink after that! 

Eat Smart

If you were about to run a 10k, you’d eat more than some Cheetos and Kool-aid, right? Same goes for Bonnaroo. Make sure you bring some healthy snacks to keep you energized throughout the day, and visit our food vendors for some hearty meals too. Dancing and partying take a lot of energy – make sure you have what you need!

Ask for help if you need it!

Not feeling well? Don’t be afraid to ask our staff for directions to the nearest medical tent. The Bonnaroo team (and other Bonnaroovians too) are always happy to help, but we aren’t mind readers (yet) so don’t be afraid to ask for support if you need it. 

No need to “rough it”: showers, water, and bathrooms are your friends

There are showers at most plazas that you can use for a small fee, as well as nicer trailer bathrooms and water stations around the campgrounds (you’ll likely be closer to a porta-potty, but sometimes the extra walk is worth the effort). Take some time to take care of yourself. Brush your teeth, drink your water, and do all those other things your mom would be saying if she were here. You’ll feel better and you’ll be better prepared to take on the day. 

Extra batteries and chargers for your phone are great to have

Nobody wants to run the car engine just to charge their phone – plus the exhaust from the car can be a serious carbon monoxide hazard (be careful!). If you have one, bringing a battery to charge your phone every once and a while will help keep you comfortable. 

Shade & airflow make all the difference:

When planning your campsite, keep in mind that you will be in an open grassy field in Tennessee. It’s gonna get hot, and you won’t want to be in direct sunlight when chilling at your campsite.   

Bring a shade canopy to cover your area, and even consider another to add more shade on top of your tent. No Bonnaroovian has ever said “we have too much shade at this campsite”. Many Bonnaroovians hang cloth tapestries from the edge of their shade tents too, which help block the sun at lower angles but also wont block too much airflow. 

Also, be wary of tightly enclosed spaces (like the inside of a zipped-up tent). They are great to keep warm at night, but when the sun is out, they will become a greenhouse, and you won’t want to be inside of them for any longer than you have to be. Consider a smaller tent to sleep inside of to maximize the shaded area outside your tent during the day. Some people even simply set up a sleeping cot under a shade canopy and call it a day (though do be sure to have a plan for rain if this is the way you choose to go).

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