It is confirmed: the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival will take a year off. Soundlinger, the live music company that has produced the festival and that owns Sunshine Grove, the 800-acre property in south-central Florida where the festival has always taken place, told music festival news outlet Festive Owl: “We are working hard to keep OMF close to its original roots in a big way and reignite the sparks. Those formative years were special to all of us. Hang tight and remember to always Be, Here, Now.”
The festival kicked off in 2016 with pop, rap and rock artists such as Mumford & Sons, Kendrick Lamar, Robert Plant and Hall & Oates, then transitioned into more electronic and funk vibes. Last year, it brought on stage artists like EDM iconic duo Odesza, Chicago-native multi-genre group Earth, Wind & Fire, and hip-hop stars like Baby Keem and Big Boi. According to some, this was one of the most memorable line-ups in years. Yet, despite the well-received lineup, OMF organizers felt it was time to change.
Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival has historically had art installations emphasizing the importance of wholeness and integrity, like a giant wooden structure representing a woman (perhaps, Mother Nature), and is known for its community of okeechobeeings, joyful festival goers you can find playing volleyball at the Aquachobee Beach or having fun on a Twister Game board in the Chobeewobee Village. You can find our preview of last year’s festival here.
In the meantime, you can listen to the festival’s official playlist while you wait for the next Okeechobee party. You might not be able to go to the Festival this year, but Florida is still a great vacation spot, especially when you’re trying to escape the cold. Here’s Fifty Grande’s guide to the best things to do in Florida’s forgotten coast.
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