Summer in the Bay Area doesn’t always promise golden sunshine, but it delivers its own kind of magic. From Aug. 8 to 10, Outside Lands Music Festival (OSL) weekend arrived draped in its signature microclimate: high 60s, low clouds hanging over Golden Gate Park, the occasional mist threading through the eucalyptus trees and sunbursts breaking through just often enough to spark cheers from the crowd. It felt like the city itself was curating the backdrop — part cool coastal haze, part golden-hour glow — setting the scene for three days of music, food and community.

Every stage promised a different mood, and deciding who to see felt as unpredictable as the weather itself. The stacked lineup boasted obvious draws like Doja Cat, Gracie Abrams and Hozier — but festivals are the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure. No two itineraries are ever the same. With multiple stages, overlapping set times and a crowd of 75,000 splitting in every direction, my friends and I rarely spent full days together. My own personal roadmap was scattered across genres and energy levels, from laid-back indie acts to electrifying rap to late-night house.

If there’s one thing Outside Lands does better than most festivals, it’s making space for exploration. You can spend your afternoon lounging in the grass at Sutro Stage, dash across the Polo Field for a bass-thumping headliner, detour for a sweet and a local IPA at Beerlands, then stumble before a smaller stage and discover your new favorite artist. For anyone in the Bay Area during the summer, Outside Lands isn’t just worth attending — it’s worth building your weekend around.

The music: My three-day OSL journey

Friday kicked off at Lands End stage with alternative artist Alemeda, who I hadn’t planned on seeing but set the tone beautifully with her soaring vocals — delivering the kind of performance that makes you stop in your tracks and draws you in. Her stage presence and vibrant outfit radiated confidence, leaving me with a mental note to dig deeper into her catalog.

On my way to scope out some of the festival merchandise, I stumbled across DJ Mama San’s set at the new FAKE and GAY @ Dolores’ stage. Within minutes, I realized the merch could wait. Their set was a kaleidoscope of sound — familiar hooks sliced and rebuilt into something entirely fresh. My personal favorite moment? Their remix of Kesha’s “We R Who We R,” which fused pop nostalgia with new beats and textures. It was early in the day, but they already had a hype crew dancing hard at the front, feeding off their infectious energy.

The indie-pop trio almost monday was another discovery, not just on stage, but backstage. I interviewed them before their set, learning they’d been together since 2015 — and that before they’d realized a local band in Syracuse shared the same name, they’d gone by “The Mondays.” Self-aware and endearingly humble, their set was pure sunshine. My favorite songs included “Cough Drops,” “Only Wanna Dance,” “She Like Sports,” “Sunburn,” “Sun Keeps On Shining” and “Life Goes By.” They reminded me of groups like Two Door Cinema Club, Wallows or The 1975. 

Over at SOMA stage, multi-genre bass and club DJ Notion had the crowd in full-body motion, jumping, swaying, shouting along. Some of my favorite moments came from Notion’s mixes of Kaytranada’s “Be Your Girl” and Alok’s “Deep Down,” alongside his own tracks “Hooked” and the crowd-silencing — then crowd-erupting — remix of Chrystal’s “The Days.” Notion later said it was the loudest he’d ever heard a crowd sing one of his songs. The set was so packed they stopped letting people in… at an outdoor venue!

Doechii was a force of nature. Having seen her at Frost Fest, I knew she’d bring it, but her Outside Lands performance, complete with choreography worthy of her self-styled “school of hip-hop,” felt like a headliner moment. And with a deeper discography for the crowd to sing along to, maybe she could have been. 

I ended my Friday with a performance by EDM artist John Summit. He opened with “Where You Are” and played it again near the end, seamlessly weaving in tracks like “What a Life” that sent literal waves of dopamine through my body. His set looked and sounded flawless, even though he repeatedly had to adjust his decks so they wouldn’t fall off of the table — that’s how much the stage was vibrating. I skipped major headliner Doja Cat, for this. Sometimes you have to choose the set you’ve been chasing.

My Saturday then kicked off with Bay Area native rapper and entrepreneur LaRussell, who, along with his DJ, delivered an effortlessly fun hometown set. His outfit was colorfully on point, and his gratitude toward the crowd (who he rapped and dapped with) was palpable.

Alternative artist Bakar brought his own flavor, saying “San Fran” at least fifteen times (I counted) and carrying a Palestinian flag on his mic stand for much of the set. When he performed “Hell N Back” not once but twice — wading into the crowd the second time around — it was pure festival joy.

Then came my biggest surprise of the weekend: Ludacris. I almost went to Wallows’ show instead, telling myself I didn’t know much of his music beyond a collaboration with Usher (“Yeah!”) and his “Fast & Furious” legacy. But from the first beats, he reminded the crowd, particularly the ’90s and ’00s babies, just how much of our musical DNA has his name on it. He hit “Yeah!” right on my predicted cue, then rolled through features like “Break Your Heart” with Taio Cruz, “Baby” with Justin Bieber, “Glamorous” with Fergie, and “All I Do Is Win” as a finale. His own classics — “Move B***,” “Act a Fool” and “My Chick Bad” — had the most diverse crowd I saw all weekend bouncing in unison. The energy reminded me of T-Pain’s nostalgic set at Coachella earlier this year, and it easily landed in my top three OSL 2025 acts. 

Tyler, the Creator closed the night for me with his usual mix of humor, raw energy and crowd work. While the theatrics were more subdued compared to previous performances (see Lollapalooza 2021), his energetic voice and charisma carried the set. I did feel for the fans who camped at the stage for eight hours expecting more of a spectacle, but his musical delivery was tight and playful. I loved his entire setlist, but I especially enjoyed his extended intros to “Darling, I,” “EARFQUAKE,” “WUSYANAME” and “See You Again.” 

Sunday began with one of the weekend’s most intimate acts: indie-pop artist Cassandra Coleman. With only one single on Spotify, she played a deeply emotional and raw set. 

“Now to be in a place where I’m sharing my deepest thoughts with the world is crazy,” Coleman said. “But I found that it is very beautiful because I now can connect with so many people I would have never had the opportunity to, you know, touch.”

She also reflected on her unusual path to music: “Though it was probably best that I was isolated from the music world when I was younger because… there was no comparison. It was just nature, and nature is what inspires me the most.”

Delivering a genre shift, Sammy Virji’s set at Sutro Stage set was pure wall-to-wall energy. The DJ jumped so much that I genuinely worried for his ankles; the crowd matched him beat for beat. Rebecca Black’s DJ set, meanwhile, was so packed it blocked walkways to Hozier’s nearby set. I’d seen her sing recently, but with her unstoppable energy, I think I prefer her behind the decks.

And then Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals closed my OSL 2025 with the kind of set that felt less like a performance and more like an experience. Paak told stories to the crowd, played drums, danced and sang, all with effortless charisma. Rappers E-40 and Cordae joined him for surprise appearances and the Mac Miller tribute that closed the night — “Dang” — was a gut punch impeccably delivered. My personal favorites included “Places to Be” with EDM-pop artist Fred again.., “Heart Don’t Stand a Chance,” “RNP” with Cordae and “Tell Me When to Go” with E-40.

Fashion and crowd: Be yourself, no judgement

But the thrill of OSL wasn’t just the music — it was the people. Though people pressed shoulder-to-shoulder during particularly popular main stage acts, it wasn’t the kind of intense energy that made you want to leave. It was the shared anticipation of thousands waiting for the same beatdrop. Even in the audience’s densest pockets, there was a surprising level of respect. Strangers turned to check on each other, offering a smile or a hand to help someone through. 

Fashion at Outside Lands was its own unspoken performance. Some attendees leaned into the festival look — glittered eyeshadow, statement jackets, thrifted treasures layered in inventive ways. Others, like me, opted for practicality: a warm jacket, sneakers that could handle twelve hours on your feet and a beanie for the inevitable Golden Gate Park chill. The beauty was that no one seemed to care which lane you chose.

Moving between stages, however, became incredibly difficult. SOMA, in particular, became a human traffic jam during peak sets. Navigating it meant surrendering to the slow shuffle. But even that came with its silver linings — catching the muffled bass from a set you didn’t plan to see, swapping knowing glances with fellow wanderers in the gridlock. It highlighted the fleeting magic of the weekend.

Food and extras: A festival feast

For the foodies, Outside Lands was nothing short of heaven. The variety of cuisine was astounding, reflecting San Francisco’s eclectic culinary landscape. Reem’s California quesabirria wrap, a festival first for me, was a creative fusion of Palestinian, Greek and Hispanic flavors. Sataysfied’s Indonesian offerings added an aromatic, spice-forward twist to my afternoon. And of course, I couldn’t resist Sharona’s Chocolate Shop, whose dark chocolate-covered brownie looked like a brick but tasted like pure indulgence.

For those craving heartier fare, Smokin’ Woods BBQ delivered one of the standout dishes for me: smoked brisket mac ’n’cheese. As someone from Kansas City, I can be particular about smoked meat, and this hit every note — rich, smoky, creamy and indulgent without being heavy. These meals weren’t just sustenance; they punctuated the weekend with moments of comfort, joy and discovery.

And what happens after guests are done eating? This year, the festival leaned into its identity as one of the most sustainable large-scale music events in the country. Compost and recycling bins were everywhere. Food vendors used compostable packaging. Large screens at the venue encouraged attendees to “leave no trace” at the festival. OSL’s sustainable ethos didn’t just sit in the background — it was woven into the rhythm of the weekend.

Ultimately, the food at Outside Lands was like the festival: diverse, creative and full of personality. Each meal, snack or sweet treat was a taste of the Bay Area’s rich culture that complemented the music. 

Pop-up vendor stands from Gap, Pacsun and Bacardi also offered playful distractions and a chance to step out of the crowds for a quick refresh. What I especially appreciated were the activist and nonprofit booths, woven seamlessly throughout the grounds rather than tucked into a corner. 

Daniel Jubelirer, who represents the voter registration nonprofit HeadCount, was one of many helping Outside Lands integrate civic engagement into its programming.

 “[HeadCount] wants to meet people where they are, and talk in a non-judgemental and friendly way,” said Jubelirer, sharing that HeadCount informs and empowers prospective voters. 

More than a music festival

My overall takeaway from this weekend it that Outside Lands is more than just a music festival — it’s a community. Locals, other Californians and out-of-staters all converge in Golden Gate Park, creating a vibrant mix of people celebrating music, culture and connection. There’s an authenticity here that feels rare at a large-scale festival: no forced influencer moments, no pretense — just people coming together to enjoy the moment.

If you’re in the Bay Area during the summer, Outside Lands is a must. You don’t need to see every headliner or explore every stage to have an unforgettable experience. This festival invites you to follow your own rhythm, whether that’s lounging on the grass during an indie set, chasing a DJ across the park or pausing to savor a birria bowl. Every corner offers something new to discover. Trust me, it’s worth it.