They've been going to Bonnaroo for more than 10 years. Why these 'roo veterans keep going back: 'It'll change you'
On June 12-15, tens of thousands of people from all corners of the Earth will once again convene on a 700-acre farm in Coffee County, Tennessee for four days of non-stop music and a grand celebration of art and culture.
Since its inception in 2002, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has welcomed some of the biggest names in music to the small town of Manchester. In 2025, the festival will feature one of music's most influential young artists, three-time Grammy Award winner Olivia Rodrigo and CMA Award winner, Luke Combs — Bonnaroo's first ever country music headliner.
For many festival goers, the annual lineup of artists alone is reason enough to camp out for four days and endure the often-unpredictable Tennessee weather.
But for seasoned Bonnaroovians, the appeal behind the festival extends far beyond the music and centers around the connections made at the festival — connections which exceed a vibrant weekend filled with dancing and running from stage to stage.
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"Bonnaroo is gonna present to you a lot of people that are gonna become friends and loved ones for the rest of your life," said Matt Chapman, a 13-year Bonnaroo veteran from Atlanta, Georgia. "It brings together people who share the same interests and the same positive energy."
Chapman met his best friend at the festival in 2014 and four years later the two were able to meet and interview electro-funk duo, Chromeo. A few years later he met his current long-distance partner, Shaina Bradley, an 8-year Bonnaroo veteran from Chicago, Illinois.
The two first locked eyes when their "groop" camps were neighbors during the brutal heat wave of 2022.
That same year, Steven Stedry — a Manchester local and 17-year veteran — along with a friend, was able to bring joy and a reignited sense of community to other attendees by posing for photos wearing chrome replica Daft Punk helmets after two cancelled festival years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and flooding.
"I think it set a vibe going forward like, 'Hey, we survived this, we made it through this, and we're all going to be okay,'" he said.
Together, these three festival goers have nearly four decades of Bonnaroo experience, dating back to the early years of the festival — earning them the title of veterans. Here's what's kept them coming back year after year and the lessons they've learned along the way.
Stedry remembers the long lines and Wal-Mart parking lot waiting periods of 2007, when all of Manchester would be brought to a halt due to the debilitating traffic caused by the festival.
Having hundreds of thousands of people in his hometown was unlike anything he had ever seen before. Stepping into the festival grounds was a whole different beast; blacktop roads, paved paths, and gravel spots were nowhere to be found.
"Back then it definitely looked like you were on a farm in a sense, it was so new. But the collection of people is something that has held true from year one to now," said Stedry. "You can look at all these people that have come together and they all coincidentally come to this for the love of music and the pure thrill of entertainment.
"I think that's what's made it such a magical place."
Growing up as a music lover in the South, Chapman had never experienced anything quite as "insane" as Bonnaroo. His first time on the farm in 2008 was mind-blowing, he said.
"The first day was overwhelming but it quickly turned into something really exciting and fun," he added. "That overwhelmed feeling went away thanks to how awesome everyone around me and the crowds were."
The 10-year anniversary of Bonnaroo in 2011 was a highly anticipated event with rap icon Eminem set to take the stage. As the crowd eagerly prepared for the show, an intense thunderstorm rolled in sending festival goers scrambling for cover, diving under tents and seeking shelter wherever they could.
With unreliable cell service at the time, many were left unaware of the storm's severity, heightening the sense of panic as it seemed like all of Manchester would be drenched throughout Eminem's entire set, said Stedry.
The storm hit hardest between 10:20 and 10:45, just moments before Eminem was scheduled to perform at 11. Then almost miraculously, the downpour ceased right on cue.
As the skies cleared, waves of people sprinted toward the main stage. In the rush, Stedry's friend lost his flip-flops. Determined to reach the stage together, Stedry scooped him up and carried him through the frenzied surge of fans. When Eminem and his crew finally appeared, the crowd erupted, surging forward in a wave of energy.
"You don't see a lot of rap artists live up to their name, and that show truly did," said Stedry. "Just seeing the whole crowd interaction was truly a magical moment."
During her first Bonnaroo in 2016, Bradley found herself unexpectedly separated from her group, leaving her to navigate the festival alone. However, fate had other plans.
In the crowded, buzzing energy of the farm, Bradley crossed paths with four strangers who, by sheer coincidence, were attending all the same sets. What began as a chance encounter quickly turned into an impromptu friendship, as the group navigated the festival together — helping each other refill CamelBaks, grabbing food and soaking in the experience.
Later that evening, Bradley was reunited with her original group. As the Chainsmokers took the stage at 1 a.m., she spotted them just five feet ahead.
Despite Bonnaroo being a once-a-year event, the experiences had on the farm and the connections made extend far beyond a single weekend in June, often transcending into life lessons carried for years to come.
Chapman said the inclusive space has transformed him into a better, more positive person and has allowed him to find happiness among like-minded individuals.
'Let the farm in, let the festival in," said Chapman. "Let the place and the people there change you, because it'll change you for the better, so long as you focus on the right things.'
For Bradley, the annual festival provides an escape from the chaos of the outside world and has instilled in her a deep sense of gratitude. Similarly, the festival has allowed Stedry to develop a deeper appreciation for life and its fleeting nature.
"Enjoy it, love it and live in that moment in its full entirety because you never know when that time is up," said Stedry.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Bonnaroo: Why they keep going to the farm, 'it'll change you'
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