The Bonnaroovian Code

Behold the Code. No one wrote it. It just always was and now it is. It just kind of evolved within the Bonnaroo Community over the years, out of the real-life experiences of hundreds of thousands of Bonnaroovians. We pulled it out of the air finally put it down in writing. Follow it and you’ll make the most of your Bonnaroo adventure and possibly even help change the world (in a good way).

BE PREPARED Bonnaroo is closer to Survivorman than your favorite resort (Sandals). Bring what you need (and some extra to share). Prepare for all contingencies and be self-sufficient. Think personal responsibility, which includes hydration. Just to be safe you should consume water at a similar rate at which a fire hydrant produces it.

BE IN HERE Your Bonnaroo is a snowflake that will soon melt. Leave the world Out There out there, and while you’re In Here, take advantage of your one shot to make the most of your experience. Savor every flavorful moment.

PLAY AS A TEAM Out There it’s an I’ve-got-mine, dog-eat-dog world of animals fighting and rats a racin’. Not In Here. Bonnaroo is the antidote to the common life, a real community built on helping each other, learning from each other and, yes, loving each other. Share your heart and also your stuff to contribute to a healthy ecosystem thriving on an economy of generosity. Use a buddy system to make sure your friends are doing as well as you are. Look out for those around you as well and don’t be afraid to help out which by definition makes you a hero.

DON’T BE THAT GUY / GAL  Inevitably, someone is going to do something unsafe, illegal or stupid and put a dent in everyone else’s good time. Don’t let it be you. Besides, your memories are 17x more powerful if you actually remember them. Is That Guy having much fun any way? If you are that guy/gal, our medical and safety staff are there to help you. Go to the nearest medical tent (in the Main Venue, Centeroo and located at every pod) or find a staff person with a radio for help!

RADIATE POSITIVITY Don’t just sponge up the good times, kick them back to others. Embrace new people, art and ideas, and help others do the same. Making it better for everyone makes it better for you, which makes it better for everyone and yet even better for you. It’s a ping pong match of amplified positivity.

BUILD IT Think of Bonnaroo as a giant communal art project. Now think of yourself as an artist, which you are. Come on mini Picasso paint the wall, invent a dance, clap along, bang the drum of your creativity, and together we can all create a life-altering performance.

LEAVE NO TRACE More like create no trace. All that should be left behind are the echoes of your sweet sweet memories. Just because it’s a farm doesn’t mean you have to live in a pigsty. Keep it clean, alright? Reduce waste, and help and encourage others to do the same, both on the farm and Out There.

KEEP IT ALIVE Nurture your Bonnaroo experience like a seedling and it will grow into a massive oak whose oxygen and shade will nourish your community all year long. In other words, live the Code, and ye shall be rewarded. Plus the world will thank you and such grand kudos will do wonders for your self image.

SPREAD THE WORD Bonnaroo isn’t just a show. It’s a vibe, a spirit, a way. And when you spread the gospel, you multiply the Bonnaroo community and help others slip into the groove. Go forth and recruit other inspiration-seekers who might bring something cool to our amazing little world. You’ve just been Knighted now go represent, badass.

What is Bonnaroo?

4 of the best days ever. 80,000 happy campers. 700 Acres of Tennessee Nature. 150 epic performances. 10+ stages of music. Several dozen comedians. An escape into Excitement. Music. Art. Discoveries. Trees. Fresh Air. Green Grass. A mini film fest. Friends (Old / New). Adventure. Overwhelming happiness. Hugging a stranger by accident. Sharing and Generosity. Bonnaroovian Dancing. Hyperbolic verbiage. System overload. The perfect bite of ice cream. Sandals. Fallovers. Chirping Birds. Flashing Lights. Food and Drink. Variety. Singing. Laughing. Short shorts. High-Fives. Rocky IV in the cinema tent at 3am. Spicy Pie. Memories. Someone dressed up like Teen Wolf. Holy Cow(!) Moments. Interesting factoids. Egg sandwiches. More music. Adventure. Deep Breaths. Big smiles. This. That. The Other. Hellos and Goodbyes and reminders of all that we have to celebrate and look forward to next year and in the future.

Terms

Bonnaroovian – A person that has had their mind blown by the full Bonnaroo whammy and has a great passion for finding and celebrating good stuff

Centeroo – The festival nucleus.  Here you’ll experience a cornucopia of music, food and fairly priced craft vendors. Centeroo is home to Which Stage, That Tent, This Tent, Comedy Theatre, Cinema and the Other Tent.

The Main Venue – The area immediately adjacent to Centeroo.  It’s where the What Stage has lived since the dawn of civilization. Please note that due to its extreme age, this area has different waking hours than the rest of the festival.

The Fountain – While its appearance morphs, yearly, the fountain is a perpetual source of happy times.  Whether you’re using the 60-foot lighted fountain as a refreshing coolant for your systems or as ocular stimulation (aka eye candy) you are enjoying it exactly in the way it was intended (which is to say however you like).

Campgrounds – The primary Bonnaroovian habitat where happy campers live, sleep, and play in blissful harmony like it’s permanent recess. This area stays open day and night, even if Centeroo and the Main Venue are on siesta.

Pods – Think of these as Bonnaroo community centers located throughout the campground. From medical assistance to vehicle issues, lost friends, relationship advice or concert and activity schedule info. POD Ambassadors and medical/safety staff are available 24/7 here to lend a helping hand in your campground community. Each POD has a designated number which floats above it on a large balloon that can help you navigate toward your campground from a distance.

Tollbooth – We have three General Admission entrances or “Toolbooths” as well as a VIP Toolbooth for VIP ticket holders. In order to get everyone in as quickly as possible, we carefully balance the number of vehicles coming into each Toolbooth.

The Arch-  The portal or gateway into the hallowed grounds of the What Stage.

Wristbands – This fabric document is your magic passport during the festival that will allow access between Centeroo/Main Venue and the campgrounds as often as you please. However, all of its magic disappears if you take it off, lose it or accidentally consume it at snack time.

Superjam – A Bonnaroo tradition that brings artists together to collaborate in a one-time, thrilling performance.  Like Bonnaroo itself, y’never know what can happen.

Bonnaroo365 – Your year round magic teleportation device to the farm.  This is an all you can eat Buffet of the ‘Good Stuff’ that we celebrate at the festival.  Access this portal on the “internet” at www.youtube.com/bonnaroo365!