Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival
In the sunny town of Okeechobee, Florida, you can enjoy your favorite music, RV camping, and fun festivities at the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival.
Event information
At the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival in Okeechobee, Florida, you can listen to tons of great jams by some of the top artists while enjoying the amazing warm spring weather of southern Florida.
You just cannot beat 80-degree days and 70-degree nights in March when you are spending all that time outdoors. Sunshine Grove is the perfect place for this music event, with 800 acres of forests (almost jungle-like), Lake Okeechobee, and mature pines to help with shade. You can even spend time at the white sand beach getting some sun and cooling off in the lake.
Other attractions at the concert include merchandise vendors, drink lounges, and delicious food of all kinds. Music choices vary from year to year but in the past have included bands like Halsey, Khalid, Billie Eilish, Skrillex, Bassnectar, and Ween. And for longer-standing music lovers, Hall & Oates and Robert Plant have made appearances.
You just never know who may show up at this fun four-day festival. In the past few years, there have been about 100,000 visitors to the festival each year to hang out together, eat, drink, and listen to music. Some unique additions to the festival include lasers, spotlights, color-changing trees, and giant art sculptures as well as yoga and chakra workshops.
So, point your RV toward southeastern Florida and the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival in March for a fun four days of music, food, and drink celebration.
Tickets
Tickets for the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival typically range from just over $250 for general admission to approximately $550+ for the four-day RV Parking VIP tickets. They even have other packages that include souvenirs, lakeside camping, and car camping.
Some of the packages can be as much as $10,000 for a VIP RV Glamping package for five people. The most popular one for RVers is the RV Camping Package, which includes a 20’x45’ parking spot, RV servicing (30 or 50-amp electric), and access to the park for all four days. Prices vary depending on parking spots and availability, but you can skip the highest rates with your own rig.
Explore Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival RV Rentals
Transportation
Driving
Only 70 miles from Palm Beach, less than an hour from Port St. Lucie, and a couple of hours from Orlando and Tampa, you can find the beautiful Sunshine Grove in Okeechobee. The roads to Sunshine Grove are wide and easily maneuverable for the most part, depending on where you are coming from along your route.
The main highways I-95, FL-70, US-27, US-98, and US-441 are some of the major throughways you may take to arrive at the site. However, always check road conditions and closures before heading out on the road.
Parking areas
To park your RV at Sunshine Grove for onsite camping, you will need to purchase an RV camping package in advance. If you are staying at one of the local campgrounds or RV parks, you can make your way to the park on foot, bike, or with public transportation or a ride-sharing app.
Public Transportation
Public transportation in the area includes the Greyhound bus line, Palm Beach Free Ride, Metrobus, and taxi services. You can also use one of the ride-sharing apps or rent a car. There are many options you can choose from depending on your budget and preferences. Some of these options may not drop off directly at Sunset Grove but usually offer transportation to within a 30-minute drive.
Where to stay
Onsite
Onsite camping availability is limited, so make sure you get your tickets way ahead of time. They typically go on sale about six months in advance, usually in September, and you can put a deposit down to hold your spot. Spots vary from groves with mature pines for shade to lakeside spots, or you can get one that is close to the action so you don’t have to walk as far between activities.
Nearby
Camp nearby at one of the Lake Okeechobee campgrounds so you can enjoy the lake and all it has to offer. Over 40 species of fish, 110 miles of hiking and biking trails, and white sand beaches. There are dozens of campgrounds offering amenities such as full hookups, swimming pools, dog parks, game rooms, and even Wi-Fi so you can stay connected.
Getting around
You will be walking wherever you go during the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival, so wear comfortable shoes. They do not allow scooters, motorbikes, skates, skateboards, or bikes. However, wheelchairs and strollers are definitely welcome. If you have any special needs that may require assistance, please contact the event planners at Sunshine Grove.
What to pack
Clothing
Florida is hot, even in March, so make sure you pack accordingly. The weather is typically warm and sticky, so dress lightly but be prepared for anything. Bring extra layers in case the temperature drops or if it rains, which it tends to do almost every afternoon in Southern Florida this time of year. It is best to pack shorts, tanks, tees, and jeans as well as a light jacket just in case.
Gear
Backpacks and bags are allowed but will be searched by security as you enter the event area. Most people use fanny packs because they are easier on your back and free you up for dancing. You are also allowed to bring a personal fan, earplugs for sleeping through noisy neighbors, a flashlight, snacks, and a refillable water bottle.
Health & Safety
Make sure you bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to keep the sun off your face and head. Although there are trees for shade in some places, most of the area is not shaded. You will also need bug spray because the Florida insects get hungry after the sun goes down. And always drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Where to eat
Cooking
If you camp at Sunshine Grove, many of the sites have options for electric hookups for cooking in your RV, but they do not have water or sewer, so prepare for that. Bring a camp stove just in case hookups are not available. However, if you are camping off-site at one of the surrounding campgrounds, many of these provide full hookups as well as a grill or BBQ pit for cooking.
Restaurants
Okeechobee sits about a 25-minute drive from Sunshine Grove and offers plenty of choices for hungry festival fans. If you want to eat at one of the area restaurants, you have your choice between burgers and fries to steaks and shrimp, sushi, BBQ, Chinese, or seafood. Enjoy a meal and the lake on your way to or from the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival.
Vendors
The food at Okeechobee Fest has been exceptional in the past and visitors have had nothing but good things to say about the prices, portions, and taste. The variety of different kinds of food has also been quite eclectic. Some of the past vendors include Amish Baking Company, Gouda Boys, Bearclaw Coffee, Falafel, T-shirts, and so much more. Bring some cash along because some vendors may not accept plastic. In addition, they have had port-a-potties, showers, and a general store available 24 hours a day during the festival.
Safety
Security
There is a zero-tolerance law for drugs and weapons, which is strictly enforced. Some fans have observed a large police presence at the Okeechobee Music and Art Festival in the past, which in some cases made people feel uncomfortable. However, most visitors appreciate the safety and security measures and feel much safer with police officers visible in almost every area.
Weather
The averages in Florida for the first week of March are between 73 and 88 degrees for the high and low to mid-50s for the low. However, you may find temps that blast past 90 or drop below 50 at that time of year. Rain and thunderstorms are common in the late afternoon, but the festival is a rain or shine event, so you don’t have to worry about cancellation. Just bring a raincoat or poncho.
Medical
The Okeechobee Music and Art Festival will have EMTs on site as well as first-aid tents. If you have an emergency and nobody is nearby, you can always call 911, but be prepared to describe where you are in the park. Raulerson Hospital is about 20 minutes away on US-441 in Okeechobee.
