r/hulaween

Is Hulaween everything Bonnaroo used to be? We put the question to John, our EDM and jam-scene correspondent, and his answer says a lot about how both festivals have changed.

John makes the case for Hulaween, String Cheese Incident's own festival at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, where the daily lineups just dropped. We get into what makes it different from Bonnaroo: the jam-forward lineup with an electronic edge, the six-hour String Cheese / My Morning Jacket / STS9 runs, and the secret sets where anyone might sit in: Goose turning up to play with Cheese, that kind of unplanned magic. It leads to a real conversation about whether Bonnaroo's special moments have started to feel scheduled instead of spontaneous, and John doesn't hold back, including some honest thoughts on this year's very EDM-heavy Thursday.

Plus: John recaps his own Bonnaroo 2026 (great, but different, and quieter than years past), we looks ahead to ShoalsFest October 3-4 in Alabama, CaveFest at The Caverns October 10-11, and take a look at the surprisingly free EDM lineup at our own River Games in Chattanooga.

This episode is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts! If you struggle with attention span, there are timestamps in the description so you can jump to specific sections and we regularly post short form video clips of the podcast to TikTok and Instagram Reels!

The What Podcast is the longest-running and highest-rated weekly video podcast covering Bonnaroo and the broader music festival scene! Hosted by Barry Courter and Bryan Stone, two music industry veterans, the show started in 2018 as a celebration of everything Bonnaroo. Since then, it has grown to explore North America's festival landscape and the touring industry at large. Join Barry and Bryan each week for insider stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and the latest news from the world of live music.

Hi! I know this has been asked before but I wanted to ask specifically what type of bikes to bring to Hula? My husband and I want to get bikes anyways but we didn’t really want cruisers… we want something with multiple gears that we can use after Hula for exercise. Also not trying to spend too much money so I’ve been browsing fb marketplace… just wanting some opinions on what type of bike would be good to bring and if I can get away with a mountain/hybrid bike maybe? First time at Hula btw, so I don’t know what types of bikes people are riding around. TIA❤️

hellooo, im new to hulaweenie || going with my sister || im new to camping festivals, but a very seasoned raver/festival goer || here is my long list of questions || feel free to answer any number of them, or to give random tips. anything helps. tia!!! ʕ •ᴥ• ʔ

- my sister has never been camping, ive been camping a few times in the past, but never to a camping fest
- booooondockin it. getting tent that connects to my trunk

here's da list

1. shower situation

||

1. is going at 3/4am to the showers actually the move? also considering buying a mobile shower

2. camping tips

|| *EDIT will just scroll this sub

1. weather

||

*EDIT will not be putting space heater in tent!! weather is

1. very

hard to predict

1. ,

but has it been terribly cold in the past?

1. weather

||

1. any tips for if/when it rains. tent preparations + what your game plan is if it starts flooding (if that even happens)

2. charging stations

|| are there any

1. inside the fest? (found this online, not sure if it's true)

   tent ||

2. any tent recs (connects to trunk, willing to

3. spend $300, maybe $350 if worth)

   store ||

4. i heard that there's a store a few mins away from the campgrounds? just confirming if it exists haha. if so, are the items more gas station esqe, or is it more like a general store. can you park your car in the campgrounds n bike to it? or is it a lil too far

   bikes ||

5. might bring bikes, not too sure, i read that beach bikes are recommended for the fat tires

   food ||

6. i

m assuming food inside fest is the usual

1. 'slightly expensive fest food'

prices lol.

1. are there food options (canned/fresh/anything) at the store (the one that might exist lol)

coffee ||

1. do you guys do an instant coffee kinda thing? what's your coffee making preference
2. water stations

||

1. read about a looot of spigots being in the campgrounds, is this accurate?

   water. *EDIT it was 30L, not gallons LMFAO.

2. for 2 people, the internet says 30gals (going

wed

1. morning, leaving early

sunday

1. .

for

1. cooking/washing/drinking)

is this

1. enough?

thank you so much in advance. ive heard it's the most magical experience ever. i cant wait to see everyone (◕‿◕)♡

Tell me what you’re most excited to do; music you’re stoked to hear, food you’re ready to order again. Tell me about friends you haven’t seen since last year, whatever you are looking forward to the most I’d like to hear about it.

Hi!! It’s my boyfriend and I’s first Hulaween, I know they did a surprise b2b last year, I believe it was tape b B2B disco lines. Do they always do this?? If so, what are some guesses of what the surprise set will be this year?? Hoping for levity b2b griz??

Can we bring this back? Many fond memories in the Patch of ignoring cost, calories, all of it and eating an ignorant amount of food. Mr. Hula we need the return!

my wife and I got early passes and are interested in finding a spot with the most nearby late-night renegades and afters. Which section really keeps the party going? This is my 4th hula and her first. very excited to be back.

This will be our 1st festival with on premises camping. We have a 30' trailer and want only modest shade so our solar panels wil charge our batteries. We plan on doing primitive camping. Also what time is the planned music usually over. Thanks.

what time does the secret popup set on thursday usually happen at the off limit stage? 😁💕

When y’all make/take trinkets for festivals, how many do you usually take? At bonnaroo people were giving me trinkets and I felt so bad not having anything to trade back! I really want to make my own this time coming to hula. This will be my first time making my own trinkets, and I just wanted to know how many I should plan to make? I was thinking 50-60? Or should I make more??

any 5ks or runs happening at the fest?!

my friends and i bought early arrival and were wondering if there’s anything to do that tuesday/wednesday? any surprise sets or activities?