California to the Carolinas: The 8 Best Beach Music Festivals in the US

A Look at the 8 Best Beach Music Festivals in the US

If you love the beach and you love music, it’s pretty simple: you’d enjoy a beach music festival. Like we mentioned, there are quite a few beach music festivals in the US to choose from, but we wanted to profile some of the best.

Get thinking of the sand and sun, and maybe even get out your wallet, because we’re going to walk you through 8 of the best beach music festivals in the US. We’ll take a look at an overview of all of them, where they’re held, what music they feature, other fun and features they have, and even where you can purchase tickets (hence the wallet suggestion!).

In no particular order, here are the 8 best beach music festivals in the US!

1 – Carolina Beach Music Festival

This beach music festival is something special for more reasons than one. The Carolina Beach Music Festival calls itself “the longest-running beach music festival in the United States still on the beach.” That’s right – the music isn’t performed by the beach, near the beach, or elsewhere – the music is played right on the beach.

And, as a bonus, this beach music festival really is one of the longest-running in the United States. The Carolina Beach Music Festival started its legacy back in 1985 and has been rocking around the first weekend in June ever since.

Where It’s At

The Carolina Beach Music Festival is held right on Carolina Beach and on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk in North Carolina. The Carolina Beach Fishing Pier isn’t far away, and Wilmington Beach is close by.

The Carolina Beach Music Festival is also near Carolina Beach State Park and the Cape Fear River. When you’re all finished dancing and prancing on the beach, there are plenty of other places to visit!

Music It Features

There’s a unique blend of music at the Carolina Beach Music Festival. The mix has come from music that evolved from ‘50’s soul, R&B, and pop. This year, the bands that were featured brought a mix of laid-back blues and rhythms that all have roots from the Carolina Coast.

The bands that were featured at the 2019 Carolina Music Beach Festival were Band of Oz, Black Water Rhythm & Blues Band, and Jim Quick & Coastline.

Other Fun and Features

At the Carolina Beach Music Festival, festival goers are allowed to bring in coolers, beer, and other outside food and drink. Festival goers are also allowed to bring chairs and umbrellas for maximum relaxation on the beach while listening to the music.

The festival has been known to do contests and giveaways, like bringing an Anheuser-Busch product to receive free Budweiser swag. Other than that, all the fun is centered right where it should be: on the music and on the beach.

Festival goers can take a dip in the water, dance in the sand, lounge in their chairs – whatever they desire at this fun and laid back event.

Why It’s One of the Best

An article about the best beach music festivals just wouldn’t be right if it didn’t feature one of the longest standing beach music festivals in the US. The Carolina Music Festival is one of the best because of its 34 (and counting) year run, coupled with the fact that the festival is still held right on the beach.

The Carolina Beach Music Festival is also one of the best for the fact that festival goers are allowed to bring outside food and drink – including beer. Those who go are able to save money and snack on all the things they really love.

Where You Can Buy Tickets

This beach festival is hosted by the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce in North Carolina. For locals, tickets can be purchased right at the Chamber of Commerce in person. Tickets can also be bought online at eventbrite.

2 – Atlantic Beach Music Festival

Get ready for this beach music festival, which features an entire Beach Music Week with music and beach events leading up to the day of the festival.

Where It’s At

Atlantic Beach Music Festival is held at the boardwalk at the Circle on Atlantic Boulevard in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.

The Atlantic Beach Seafood and Market isn’t far away, and neither are Money Island and Money Island Bay for adventures when the music festival is over.

Music It Features

Much like the Carolina Beach Music Festival, the Atlantic Beach Music Festival features music with roots in the south and in North Carolina. Those with a feel for blues, rhythm, and soul music will really love the Atlantic Beach Music Festival.

This year, the lineup of bands at the Atlantic Beach Music Festival featured Steve Owens & Summertime Band, The Embers, Jim Quick & Coastline, Blackwater Rhythm & Blues, and Mighty Saints of Soul.

Other Fun and Features

This beach music festival doesn’t only feature awesome music and a great atmosphere. Several local food trucks and beer carts make an appearance at the festival.

The Atlantic Beach Music Festival is special because not only does it host a beach music festival, but it also hosts related events for a whole week leading up to the festival day! During Beach Music Weeks, festival goers can participate in club and reception parties, pub crawls, and even dancing lessons.

Why It’s One of the Best

Something that sets Atlantic Beach Music Festival apart from the rest is the fact that it offers free admission! Anyone really can take part in this awesome beach music festival. It’s also one of the best due to the fact that the fun really goes on an entire week – not just the day of the festival.

Where You Can Buy Tickets

Admission to the Atlantic Beach Music Festival is FREE – so there’s no need to buy tickets!

3 – Hangout Music Festival

This huge beach music festival is so good, some festival goers make an entire music vacation out of it. Hangout Music Festival officially started in 2010, and has been a riot ever since. Featuring large names in music, tons of events, and three days of fun, this beach music festival really upped the ante.

Hangout Music Festival was born back in 2009, when three proprietors of “The Hangout” Restaurant (the restaurant sharing the beach music festival’s namesake) decided they wanted to start and host the festival. Hangout Music Festival got the go ahead from the Gulf Shores City Council in 2009, and the festival’s creators got to work on putting it together.

Where It’s At

Hangout Music Festival is held on Beach Boulevard in Gulf Shores Alabama. There’s a ton to do around the area, too: shops, restaurants, and even Gulf State Park, which features a pier, a dog park, and lakes!

Music it Features

Hangout Music Festival features some of the biggest names in mainstream hip hop, pop, alternative and electronic dance music today for a huge variety of great tunes. Some big names from Hangout Music Festival’s 2019 Lineup were:

• Khalid
• Travis Scott
• Diplo
• Jimmy Eat World
• Walk the Moon
• Hozier
• Cardi B
• Judah & the Lion
• The 1975
• Kygo

Other Fun and Features

There’s no shortage of fun to be had at Hangout Music Festival. The three day event hosts fun activities and perks every single day, like a beach house, a camp hangout, a roller disco, a beach club, a sailing adventure, a spa, yoga, beach volleyball, and even a puppy kissing booth.

Hangout Music Festival also boasts its very own Wedding Chapel for festival goers who decide they want to get hitched (or re-hitched) at the festival. There are even more fun and activities that Hangout Music Festival features, and you can read more about all of them at this link.

Why It’s One of the Best

The sheer size and accommodations of this beach music festival make it one of the best. Hangout Music Festival lasts for three days with jam-packed events and music all day long each day. The options for music that can be listened to and fun that can be had is almost limitless, and that’s amazing!

Where You Can Buy Tickets

The next dates for Hangout Music Festival are coming up in May 2020, and you can find tickets on their website here. Hangout Music Festival even offers payment plans for its tickets; for only $41.66 and 5 more payments of $41.66, you can have your own GA ticket to Hangout Music Festival!

4 – Gulf Coast Jam

Next on our list of best beach music festivals is Gulf Coast Jam in sunny Florida. This huge three day festival over Labor Day Weekend boasts lineups of some of country music’s biggest stars, as well as a setting at one of the most popular and beautiful beaches in Florida. Let’s get into it!

Where It’s At

Gulf Coast Jam is held on Panama City Beach Parkway in Panama City Beach, Florida. This beach is a classic for beach vacations and music festivals alike, as well as the occasional spring break college celebration.

There’s definitely no shortage of things to do and see in Panama City Beach, like Shipwreck Island Waterpark and Grand Lagoon. You may not even want to leave the beach, though!

Music It Features

Gulf Coast Jam features some of the biggest country music artists. Gulf Coast Jam 2019 is featuring the following artists:

• Tim McGraw
• Jason Aldean
• Kid Rock
• Big and Rich
• Midland
• Gretchen Wilson
• The Cadillac Three
• The Outlaw

There will be even more country music artists at Gulf Coast Jam 2019!

Other Fun and Features

Gulf Coast Jam festival goers can expect to see food and drink vendors at the three days of the festival. The best perk, though, is being right on the beach! Festival goers can swim in the water, play in the sand, and get their suntan at beautiful Panama City Beach.

For those who like to seek out some nightlife after the music is over, there are plenty of clubs and bars around for more ongoing fun.

Why It’s One of the Best

Gulf Coast Jam is one of the best because it’s one of the beach music festivals that brings together the two worlds of country music and the beach. Not a lot of beach music festivals do that anymore!

Gulf Coast Jam’s spectacular location and views also make it one of the best beach music festivals.

Where You Can Buy Tickets

You can buy tickets for Gulf Coast Jam 2019 right at their website, using this link. There are plenty of ticket options to choose from, from early admission, to general admission, to VIP. Time to get that wallet out!

5 – Sea.Hear.Now Festival

We’re heading up the coastline to New Jersey now for number 5 on our list of best beach music festivals. Next up is the Sea.Hear.Now Festival. This autumn alternative beach music festival has a huge amount of artists to keep the music going all day and night long – and it’s right on the beach.

Where It’s At

Sea.Hear.Now Festival will take you to the shores of Ocean Avenue in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The two day festival takes up space along the Asbury streets, as well as the boardwalk and Bradley Park. As for the music stages, those are right on the beach – literally in the sand!

Music It Features

Sea.Hear.Now Festival features big names in the alternative, indie and pop music genres, as well as some smaller and lesser-known artists. No matter who the artists are, Sea.Hear.Now has such a jam-packed lineup, there’s no way you won’t hear something you love during the music that plays all day (and night).

Some of the artists that will be playing at Sea.Hear.Now this fall are:

• The Lumineers
• Dave Matthews Band
• Cat Power
• Dispatch
• Rainbow Kitten Surprise
• Bad Religion
• The Struts

And lots more!

Other Fun and Features

Not only will Sea.Hear.Now feature music all day long, but it will also feature cool events like surf sessions, art experiences, yoga, delicious food, drinks, and premium lounges.

Festival goers can walk the streets or hang out at the park for more activities, but the main attraction will be right on the beach, where festival goers can dance in the sand and swim in the waves. Not much sounds better than that, right?

Why It’s One of the Best

Sea.Hear.Now is one of the best music festivals for something you may not expect: its sustainability. The festival has committed itself to raising awareness about issues that face our wonderful ocean environment.

Musician Jack Johnson even awarded Sea.Hear.Now Festival with his “All At Once Sustainability Award” for festivals – meaning Sea.Hear.Now is one of the leaders in environmentally aware and friendly festivals.

Where You Can Buy Tickets

Purchase your tickets or full vacation experience to Sea.Hear.Now Festival at their website by visiting this link.

6 – Kaaboo

Time to jump across the coast to sweet, sunny California for our next best beach music festival in the US. Kaaboo is even more than just a beach music festival – it has so many events and experiences, you may not be able to choose all your favorites.

Kaaboo says they’re “everything a typical music festival is not,” and that’s what makes them one of the best.

Where It’s At

Kaaboo is held in Del Mar (San Diego), California. The music festival runs for three days under the California sun.

Music It Features

Kaaboo features many famous artists from the alternative, indie, hop hop and pop music scenes. Some artists from the lineup for 2019 are:

• Kings of Leon
• Dave Matthews Band
• Mumford & Sons
• Sheryl Crow
• The Black Eyed Peas
• Snoop Dogg + Wu Tang Clan
• Onerepublic
• Sublime with Rome
• The Plain White T’s
• Cheat Codes
• Boyz II Men

And a lot more!

Other Fun and Features

Kaaboo offers so many other features and experiences, you just may get pulled away from the music for a while (and that’s perfectly okay!). Kaaboo hosts palate chefs, comedians, VIP dining, food and drink and alcohol vendors, art exhibits, a spa and beauty salon, pool parties, private cabanas, and even exclusive VIP areas.

Why It’s One of the Best

Kaaboo is one of the best not only because of all the music and events it offers, but also because of its hospitality. One dollar from every pass sold to Kaaboo is distributed among the San Diego Community through Kaaboo’s charitable program, KINDNESS.

Where You Can Buy Tickets

You can get your hands on your own tickets and passes to Kaaboo through their website by clicking this link. Single day and three day passes are available, along with some other options.

7 – Ohana Festival

This California beach music festival is next on our list of the best beach music festivals in the US. Ohana sprawls the sunny, sandy beaches of Dana Point, California, and for a good cause, too: Ohana donates a portion of its proceeds to the California State Parks.

Where It’s At

To go to Ohana Music Festival, you’ll need to be at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, California. The Dana Point Harbor is near by, packed with amazing boats to look at and plenty of restaurants and bars to try.

Doheny State Beach also has beach camping right near the Ohana Music Festival, for one of the best and most unique camping experiences. You can even take a trip to go whale watching if you’re up for it!

Music It Features

Ohana features artists from the alternative, indie and pop music scenes. Its 2019 lineup includes:

• The Strokes
• Tash Sultana
• Incubus
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• White Reaper
• Eddie Vedder
• Jacob Banks

And a lot more.

Other Fun and Features

You can’t beat Doheny State Beach and Dana Point and all they have to offer as it is, but Ohana Festival adds to the fun and experiences. Festival goers can check out VIP bleachers, several different stages, a bike valet, food and beverage vendors, and – of course – the beach.

Why It’s One of the Best

Ohana Festival is one of the best beach music festivals in the US for a few reasons: one, because of its amazing location right in Dana Point, and two, because of its hospitality. Ohana Festival gives right back to California’s State Parks to “develop, preserve and enhance the recreation and experience of California’s unique and beautiful coastal parks.”

Where You Can Buy Tickets

You can get your tickets and passes to Ohana Festival online at their website by visiting this link. You can get a single day pass, a two day pass, or a weekend pass. Ohana Festival is coming up quick – at the end of September – so get your passes while you can!

8 – Miami Beach Pop Festival

Back to the amazing beaches of Florida for last on our list of best beach music festivals in the US. This fall festival held on classic Miami Beach blends together pop, hip-hop and dance music with great experiences and a beautiful location for the beach music festival trifecta!

Where It’s At

Festival goers at the Miami Beach Pop Festival will be right where it sounds: Miami Beach in Florida. There’s a lot to see and do around classic Miami Beach, so even getting out and walking is sure to be an adventure. You may not want to even leave the beach, though: it’s that good.

Music It Features

Miami Beach Pop Festival mainly features some big mainstream pop artists, but there are some hip-hop and dance artists popping up in the festival as well. The November beach music festival is set to feature:

• Jack Johnson
• Chance the Rapper
• Kygo
• Leon Bridges
• T-Pain
• Sean Paul
• Daddy Yankee
• Gryffin
• Quin XCII
• Chelsea Cutler
• Two Feet

And tons more.

Other Fun and Features

As if the amazing sandy beach of Miami Beach wasn’t enough, Miami Beach Pop Festival will also feature food and beverage vendors, culinary cuisines, health and wellness practices like yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, and an overall taste of America’s tropical paradise.

Why It’s One of the Best

Miami Beach Pop Festival is one of the best beach music festivals because location, location, location. Miami Beach is notorious for some of the best fun and parties the United States has seen, so it’s only fitting to have a beach music festival there.

Where You Can Buy Tickets

You can buy your tickets to Miami Beach Pop Festival by visiting their website here. There are different levels of three day passes, as well as payment plans and discounts for Miami Beach residents.

How Should I Dress for a Beach Music Festival?

Now that you know about 8 of the best beach music festivals in the United States, you may have your eyes (and ears) set on one or two in particular. Good for you! Now, you may have something else on your mind: how should I dress for a beach music festival?

Dressing for beach music festivals is insanely fun and pretty easy for both ladies and gentlemen. We’ll walk you through what to wear to your very own beach music festival.

Gals

All you ladies out there probably know some of the beach music festival wardrobe staples: a swimsuit, a hat, sandals, and sunglasses. There are some other things you’ll want to add to your wardrobe too, though!

The Essentials

You’ll need some essentials to wear to your beach music festival. They are:

• Sunscreen!
• A swimsuit
• Shorts or a swimsuit cover (if you wish)
• Sandals (sandals with an ankle strap or other straps are best so you don’t lose them!)
• A sun hat or ball cap (if you wish)
• A backpack, small purse or fanny pack to carry your things

Really… that’s it! Pretty easy, right? You can customize your essentials in any way you wish, and add other things like jewelry, shirts, and hair accessories into the mix. Have fun with it!

Guys

Let’s be honest, guys seem to have it easy when it comes to dressing in general, let alone at beach music festivals. They’re lucky! Consider adding some of these things to your beach music festival wardrobe.

The Essentials

Guys, don’t forget to pack these essentials when deciding what to wear to your beach music festival:

• Sunscreen
• Swim shorts
• A shirt or tank top (just in case a sunburn starts to arise)
• Sandals or beach-friendly tennis shoes (sandals with straps are best if you have them)
• A sun hat or ball cap (if you wish)
• Something to carry your belongings in (if pockets aren’t working out)

It’s as simple as that!