Thousands Flock to Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival 2017

Various+unannounced+%E2%80%9Csecret%E2%80%9D+shows+were+played+at+the+Incendia+stage+throughout+the+Okeechobee+Music+%26+Arts+Festival+2017.

Bri

Various unannounced “secret” shows were played at the Incendia stage throughout the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival 2017.

Sam Schaffer, Contributing Writer

Thousands of people flocked to Sunshine Grove in Okeechobee, Florida March 2 – March 5, to see artists like Wiz Khalifa and Young the Giant perform at Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival 2017. The event is a four-night camping festival where people gather from all over the continent to party and express themselves.

The main areas of the festival were called The Grove and Moonlight Oasis. The Grove held the three main stages at the festival; entitled “Be,” “Here” and “Now” stages. They hosted bigger names like Logic and Waka Flocka Flame. Moonlight Oasis contained the rest of the attractions including more food and art, Aquachobee Beach, and Chobeewobee Village.

Inside Chobeewobee Village, there was Pavillion Palace for artists like Honeycomb and No Bodies Crew. Also in Chobeewobee village, hidden in the trees, was the “Luscious Land Tea Lounge” where campers could relax and enjoy some calmer artists like Beans On Toast.

“Okeechobee Fest is always amazing, like last year was incredible, Skrillex killed,” explained a man known as Banana Man. He was standing on the side of one of the entrance roads, wearing nothing but a banana costume and greeting strangers with friendly jeers which they returned as they passed into the festival.

The atmosphere created at the festival is as original as the people who attend. People wear tie-dye body suits, minimal clothing, and even plungers as an accessory. “You just come here and you feel so free to be you,” explained Nicole Maselli, who’s been to many festivals.

“I’m out here with my best friend in the middle of South Florida seeing some of my favorite artists of all time,” Evan Crochet from New York said. “I’m excited about the awesome atmosphere, the beautiful people, the beautiful music, and really just letting loose after a really rough year so far.”

Evan’s best friend, Neil, was dancing along to the music on Aquachobee Beach with a pair of plungers in his hands.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A PICTORIAL OF OMF 2017. Photography credit: Brittany Bhulai/Valencia Voice President