Nelsonville Music Festival

Primitive camping shares the same campground as RV campground, nestled in the Hocking Hills alongside the Hocking River. RV campsites off electric hookups only, so don’t forget to fill up your freshwater tank before entering for the weekend! Generators are not allowed. All RV’s, including their tow vehicles, must fit in a 20’ x 40’ space. RV camping passes must be purchased by each person, not per vehicle, so make sure everyone in your party has obtained their own pass for camping.

Coolers and provisions are allowed in the campground, but may not be taken into the festival. No glass bottles of any kind are permitted. Ice and firewood are available at the main camping gate. No outside firewood is allowed. Small grills and camping stoves are permitted. Fires within fire rings are also allowed. Fire rings are not provided, but you can bring your own. As a Zero Waste festival, Nelsonville Music Festival requires the use of biodegradable plastic bags for garbage, and phosphate and sulfate free soaps.

Nearby campgrounds are situated less than 30 minutes in several directions from Hocking College. RV parks with full amenities, as well as quieter, more primitive campgrounds, are nearby waiting to be your home base for the weekend. Nelsonville area natural attractions include Wayne National Forest, Burr Oak State Park, and the Wallace H. O’Dowd Wildlife Area.

For a greener festival experience, consider riding your bike to the Nelsonville Music Festival. If traveling from Athens, OH, hop on the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway and make the 21-mile trek to Nelsonville. Bicycle parking in the bike corral is safe and efficient. Minor bicycle repairs are available with help from Athens Bicycle. The bike corral has set hours and locks up at night, so you can rest easy knowing your bicycle is safe and secure. Skateboards are welcome the NMF skate ramps may not be ridden anywhere else in the venue during the festival.

Temperatures for an Ohio Summer are often between 70 and 80 degrees during the day. Some areas of the venue do not have shaded audience seating, so be prepared to protect yourself from the sun with items like hooded clothing, sunscreen, a hat, a bandana, and sunglasses. At night, temperatures drop into the 50’s, so bring layers to bundle up if you’d like to sit around the fire or attend an evening concert.

As a security precaution, only clear bags, clear backpacks, small clutches, and fanny packs are allowed into the festival. No large purses or other bags will be allowed on site. Bags must not exceed the designated size limits. As an alternative, you can bring a one-gallon clear zip-top bag.

If you are bringing water into the festival, it must be a factory sealed water bottle. Non-glass containers like a stainless steel tumbler or a camelback are also allowed but must be empty upon entering the festival. Drinking water is provided on the festival grounds.

Don’t forget a headlamp and backup flashlights. Campers often find it helpful to identify their site with a flag or balloon, safely staked down outside their camper or tent. Camping chairs are also allowed into the festival areas. Umbrellas are prohibited as they obstruct viewing of the stage. Other prohibited items include weapons, drugs, drones, outside food, sky lanterns, fireworks, and glass of any kind. Access to ATMs within the festival is limited, so bring cash for the weekend.

When leaving your campsite, make sure all valuables are locked up, either in your tent, RV, or vehicle. Drinking water is available once inside the festival. Portable toilets and hand washing stations are also located throughout the festival. Limited showers stations are available for campers in some campgrounds.

Small camp stoves, grills, and fire rings (if you bring one) are permitted at the festival campground. You may want to plan to bring food with you so you do not have to leave the event, but grocery options are located within three to five miles of Hocking College if needed. If you cook with a wood burning fire, remember that outside firewood is not allowed. Firewood may be purchased on site but not scavenged from the area.

As a college town, Nelsonville is home to a variety of convenient dining options. You’ll find chain eats and fast food choices lining the streets within five miles of the college area. All restaurants sit along the main drag of Canal Street, a vigorous walk from the festival grounds via the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway. You will have your pick of meal options in this small but busy community in Southern Ohio.

Food vendors are onsite at the festival and offer a variety of cuisines. In the morning you can find bagels, coffee, and espresso. You’ll also find festy eats like shaved ice, BBQ, hot dogs, pizza, and burritos. Vendors change from year to year but are usually local businesses with plenty of new items to try.