Your Ultimate Survival Guide For Michigan’s 2023 Breakaway Festival

If you love dance music, this weekend in Grand Rapids you're going to have the time of your life.

The Breakaway Festival is returning to Belknap Park here in Grand Rapids on August 18-19th with some of the biggest acts in dance music and EDM including RL Grimes, Tiësto, Deadmau5 and Porter Robinson.

If you already have your tickets, you're probably excited. (If not, you can still pick them up on their website or at the gate until the event sells out.) and if you're curious about going, here are a few tips I can give you as a festival veteran on how to survive the weekend with the least resistance.

Plan your day before you go

There is a ton going on throughout the festival, and with new additions this year you want to make the most of your time.

Make sure you check the stage schedule and see who is playing which stages at which times so you don't miss your favorite artist.

You'll also want to make sure you find time to wait in line for food and check out some of the cool new additions like their silent disco and the all new ROLLER disco

Dress to impress

Most music festivals you can rock a t-shirt and jeans to fit in with the dress code, but the fun of an EDM festival is getting crazy with your attire. Wear a ton, or very little- either way, you'll fit in fine.

And if you do, don't be afraid to snap a cool photo on the train tracks outside the venue. They're not really used anymore, and they'll make a great instagram post that isn't just a blurry stage photo that no one is impressed with.

Follow their socials

Sometimes things happen and schedules change. The best way to keep in the loop for things happening the day of the show

Weather, cancellations, or fun additions are always posted on social media the day of the show, so keep an eye on them and don't miss out on that last minute need to know info.

Stay Hydrated and wear sunscreen

I'm not trying to be your mom, but this is the best advice you can follow on this list. It's been one of the hottest summers on record, and if you're dancing you're going to need water to replace all of that sweat you're working up.

And as for the sunscreen, you're going to be spending a lot of time in the sun, so if you want to have fun on the second day, make sure you aren't roasted from the day one.

Have a plan for meeting up after the show

Sometimes cell phone service just SUCKS at concerts. We all know it, so make a plan of where you want to meet up with your crew after the show

Pick a car, recognizable location, or have a general plan so no one gets lost amongst the chaos of heading home after the show. Because lets be honest, if someone has had a few drinks, that can make a big difference to help them make it home safely.

Most importantly of all, have fun and be kind to everyone. Breakaway is one of the most fun weekends of the year in Grand Rapids and we're all lucky to have it right here in our backyard.