DOVER, DE –In less than two hours by car, you can
make it to one of the region’s largest summer concert festivals, the Firefly
Music Festival at The Woodlands of Dover International Speedway, taking place
from June 21 to June 23.
Featuring the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty and
the Heartbreakers, Vampire Weekend, and 68 other performers, Firefly offers a
wide variety of musical artists to please its tens of thousands of attendees. According
to a press release from the Firefly Music Festival and Red Frog Events, in its
inaugural year of 2012, over 30,000 people crowded the eighty-seven acres of
festival grounds each day.
“We set out to make Firefly the East Coast’s premier
music festival and delivered in our inaugural year, with more than 30,000
individuals experiencing 48 performances over three days,” says Firefly Music
Festival Director Greg Bostrom. “We couldn’t be more excited to add to last
year’s success as we bring Firefly to life for a second year. Between our
star-studded lineup, enthusiastic fans and great partners at Dover International
Speedway, we plan to bring an even bigger and better festival to The Woodlands
this June.”
Each day, bands play at one of four locations on the
festival’s grounds, providing a constant stream of music from noon to midnight.
If in need of a break from the music, concertgoers
have no shortage of options for a change of pace. According to its website (http://fireflyfestival.com/),
Firefly will introduce this year the “Forest Cinema,” where attendees can watch
black and white, silent films in a secluded location in The Woodlands. The
festival also features an arcade; a hot air balloon; an attraction known as
“The Pathway,” which features a light show in a forest clearing; and “Hammock
Hangouts,” where you can take a respite from rocking out and lounge with
friends. The “Heineken Domes” showcase DJs and VJ who will “perform amidst
refreshing AC and an incredible 360° audio visual experience,” Firefly’s
website says.
Collaborating with TOMS Shoes, Firefly offers TOMS
available for purchase, with artists on hand to customize your shoes. For every
pair of TOMS bought at Firefly, a child in need will receive a pair of shoes
through the One for One Movement.
According to the festival’s website, Firefly will
expand its community and global impact through its “Sustainable Beats” program,
which creates carbon neutral environment by offsetting its energy usage with
the help of the Green Mountain Energy Company. Last year, Firefly successfully
offset over 945,100 pounds of carbon dioxide. (http://bit.ly/K5rHCy)
Partnering with St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital and their Music Gives to St. Jude Kids initiative, Firefly raised $4.6
million last year towards the fight against childhood cancer and they’re “thrilled
to raise even more money in 2013,” as stated on their website. (http://bit.ly/11yocXD)
When it comes to feeding the tens of thousands of
guests, Firefly makes it easy to find something to please every palate.
Although outside food is prohibited, the festival features numerous food stands
as part of its Farmers Market, offering items ranging from vegan and healthy
food to burgers and pizza. The festival also boasts a winery presenting popular
local wines known as “The Vineyard,” Bearclaw Coffee at The Coffee House, and Dogfish
Head beer at The Brewery.
Thousands will camp out at the three-day long
festival, renting out space in designated locations for tent camping, RV
camping, and what Firefly’s website refers to as “glamping,” or “glamorous
camping” in air-conditioned tents. (http://bit.ly/K5rHCy)
For those less inclined to roughing it outdoors, the
festival grounds are less than an hour from Newark and Wilmington, each with
plenty of options for hotel accommodations. Follow this link to find hotel
rooms available in the area:
http://www.t3travel.com/booking/events/firefly-music-festival.
While three-day passes to the Firefly Music Festival
are sold out, single day passes are still available at a cost of $98 per day. If
you are driving to the festival, there will be parking space available and a
shuttle that runs to and from the parking lot to the main festival area.
For local residents interested in attending but not
interested in driving to the festival, Greyhound bus services are available
from Philadelphia directly to Dover. SEPTA regional rail lines offer
transportation to Wilmington, from where Greyhound buses provide route to
Dover. For more information, visit Greyhound’s website at: http://www.greyhound.com/ and SEPTA’s
website at: http://www.septa.org/.
Another option for locals is Firefly’s Rock &
Bus, a bus service that picks up concert-goers at locations all along the East
Coast and drops off directly at the Festival. Information on the Rock & Bus
can be found by following this link: http://fireflymusicfestival.rockandbus.com/
If planning to extend your time in Dover beyond the
festival, Kent County offers museums, including the Biggs Museum of American
Art and the Air Mobility Command Museum; art galleries; wineries; two casinos,
the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino and the Harrington Raceway & Casino; and
free historical walking tours. Delaware’s beach resorts are not a far drive
from the festival, offering a tranquil escape after the high-energy concerts. Details
on local attractions can be found at: http://www.visitdover.com/
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