Sober festivals are becoming increasingly popular as people search for healthier and more sustainable ways to enjoy music festivals. A sober festival is a type of social event that does not tolerate annoying drunks but abounds with creative choices for people in recovery. A sober music festival always attracts a crowd of thousands, thanks to the creativity of festival organisers whose idea of fun extends beyond beer cans and illicit substances. Learn more about these types of events and how attending music festivals sober can improve your mental, physical and emotional health.
What is a sober festival?
There’s a new live music movement sweeping the globe—and it’s all about staying sober. Yes, sober festivals are now all the rage. So we donned the fluoro to find out more about this fascinating trend that plenty of people are raving about.
Let's begin with a definition of terms. A sober music festival is designed for people who want to enjoy music and all aspects of a festival without the elements of alcohol or drugs. The abundance of substance abuse and drinking alcohol at music festivals is commonplace, but it's a big turnoff for non-drinkers. If you've never heard of or attended an annual festival where the attendees are either in recovery or have never had a drop of alcohol since birth, then keep reading to find out what to expect from the festival grounds of sober music events.
Sober festivals, conscious clubbing
Also called ‘conscious clubbing’, attending music festivals sober allows you to participate in a range of activities such as hot music acts and other forms of entertainment, as well as more unique offerings like smoothie bars, free massages, motivational seminars, yoga, meditation and even mindful drawing workshops.
In the UK, festivals like Citadel, Green Man and Glastonbury are either entirely sober – or offer areas or activities that are drug and alcohol-free.
In Australia, we’re seeing sober events popping up every day – from Morning Gloryville (touted as ‘the original morning rave’) to Wake Up Sydney, Conscious NightClub Experience and Soul Sessions held across the country.
How do sober festivals work?
On the outside, sober festivals look virtually the same as a normal clubbing or festival experience. But, try to peep behind a pop-up sober tent, and you’ll find a crowd of conscious revellers who favour new connections and experiences over boozy benders.
Often, they feature an intriguing and inspiring line-up of guest speakers. For instance, Wake Up Sydney had David Ireland (the former headline act for Aerosmith) and a Buddhist nun (once the Dalai Lama’s bodyguard) appear on the same night.
Sober festivals are typically smaller in scale and have a more intimate feel. This allows artists to spend time with people in recovery by performing songs with a strong emphasis on health and wellness. Instead of beer tents, which are common at the biggest festivals, sober festivals offer yoga and meditation sessions, healthy food options, and a community of caring people who share your goal.
Why go to a sober festival?
If you dislike drugs and alcohol—or are in recovery—sober festivals offer you the chance to let your hair down and have fun without getting wasted. You can go with friends who are sober (or working to be so) for support, rather than old friends whose only goal is to drown in booze. It can also help to research various sober festivals; check out the artists lined up, their music genre, and other wellness activities in store.
Source: Resources to Recover
The beauty of attending a sober festival is, you’re surrounded by sober peers who all feel the same way and share the same values. And because sober festivals often include a full program of music, movies, meditation, fitness, workshops, and conscious living events, you can enjoy a soulful experience without the hangover.
So, keep an eye out for sober festivals in your city—and enjoy rocking out in a safe, supportive, and utterly fun environment.
Originally published on Jul 20, 2018
