There’s a new kid on the SoCal festival scene thanks to Goldenvoice, the promoters behind the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals at Indio’s Empire Polo Club.
That new “kid” is Ocean Way Festival, an event that will be held on Sept. 26 and 27 at The Beach at Santa Monica. The lineup was released on Thursday, July 16, along with the news of a single catch: there’s no on-site parking provided.
Here’s everything you need to know about Goldenvoice’s new music festival.
Who’s on the Ocean Way Festival lineup?
Saturday, Sept. 26:
Sunday, Sept. 27:
Why is it called Ocean Way?
According to the event’s website, the name Ocean Way Festival “begins at the corner of Ocean Way and Bay Street, just steps from the sand in Santa Monica. In the 1970s, Allen Sides transformed a small garage on Ocean Way into a recording studio that would become one of the most respected names in sound. Just blocks from where the festival now takes place, that legacy of creativity, craftsmanship, and musical discovery became an inspiration for Ocean Way Festival.”
What makes Santa Monica Ocean Way Festival different?
In addition to a unique blend of music genres on its inaugural lineup, Ocean Way Festival appears to be Goldenvoice’s first attempt at a public transit-focused music festival. But what does that actually mean?
The festival’s website states that there is no on-site parking, and that they “encourage everyone to utilize public transit, biking, or walking. It helps reduce traffic, lowers emissions, and keeps things flowing smoothly for the entire community. No parking permitted in the coastal zone or Downtown Santa Monica area.”
Those of us who are used to going to Goldenvoice’s events at the Empire Polo Club know that parking is a challenge because of how far away the lots are from the main entrance, and how long it takes to leave the festival at night, but at its desert festivals, the promoter at least supplies enough day parking for nearly everyone attending (and provides shuttles to off-site locations when said day lots fill up).
For Ocean Way, Goldenvoice is heavily promoting the Metro, calling it the “best way to get here,” and adding that extra trains will run after each night of the two-day festival. The website also notes the venue is “just a short 0.4-mile walk from the station.”
Oceanwayfestival.com offers a breakdown of what line to use (E) and what to do in advance to skip the line (buy a round-trip fair). It also gives instructions on how to bike, scooter or take a rideshare to the festival (“use the official rideshare drop-off lot in Lot 5 South via Ocean Park Blvd & Barnard Way”).
However, if a rideshare, bike or public transit isn’t going to work for you, there is technically a loophole: Though it’s not on-site, the festival has arranged several off-site parking areas with their own shuttles: “Anyone driving to the festival must park in an offsite location and utilize the complimentary shuttle provided to/from the event. Visit our Tickets page for pricing and to purchase.”
Off-site parking passes are $60 per day, and must be purchased as an add-on when purchasing your festival pass.
How much are Ocean Way Festival Santa Monica passes?
Two-day, single-day and premium pit passes are all available for Ocean Way. The general on-sale begins at 11 a.m. PT Thursday, July 23, and you can register at oceanwayfestival.com/#register.
Here’s the price breakdown:
2-Day GA
Saturday or Sunday (aka One-Day) GA
Two-Day Premium Pit passes start at $749, and One-Day Premium Pit passes start at $499.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella promoter’s new fest to feature Olivia Dean, but no parking
Reporting by Niki Kottmann, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Niki Kottmann, Palm Springs Desert Sun | USA TODAY Network
