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Best Emerging Festival (2019)

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Each year, more and more festivals join the calendar across North America. From music festivals to food festivals, these 10 events represent some of the most promising to emerge in the last five years.

  • Baja Beach Fest

    Baja Beach Fest
    Rosarito, Mexico

    Baja Beach Fest brings the sounds of Reggaeton to the West Coast for the first time. This beachside event in October in Rosarito on the Baja Peninsula featured the likes of Bad Bunny, Farruko, Bryant Myers, and Yandel during its debut in 2018.
    Photo courtesy of Baja Beach Fest

  • Mile 0 Fest

    Mile 0 Fest
    Key West

    The stunningly beautiful island of Key West sets the scene for the Mile 0 Fest, now in its second year. This four-day event specializes in Red Dirt and Americana music, with talent like the Turnpike Troubadours, Randy Rogers Band, The Mavericks and Trampled by Turtles.
    Photo courtesy of Patrick Tewey / Mile 0 Fest

  • KAABOO Del Mar

    KAABOO Del Mar
    San Diego

    KAABOO calls itself “everything a typical music festival is not.” Curated for music lovers by music lovers, this event in San Diego was designed to appeal to all five senses through music, comedy, cuisine, contemporary art and comfortable amenities, including spa and relaxation zones.
    Photo courtesy of KAABOO Del Mar

  • Reggae Rise Up

    Reggae Rise Up
    St. Petersburg, Fla.

    What started as a small event in the parking lot of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in 2014 has transformed into one of the biggest reggae festivals in the nation. Reggae Rise Up, now in St. Petersburg, features three days of music, with headliners like Stick Figure, Slightly Stoopid and Rebelution.
    Photo courtesy of Jessica Bernstein / Reggae Rise Up

  • Fortress Festival

    Fortress Festival
    Fort Worth

    Fortress Festival has already made a big impression in its first two years of existence. This event in Fort Worth takes over the Cultural District for a weekend of music and art. The lineup at the 2019 event includes Leon Bridges, CHVRCHES, Rae Sremmurd and Khruangbin.
    Photo courtesy of Robert Hein / Fortress Festival

  • Hinterland Music Festival

    Hinterland Music Festival
    Saint Charles, Iowa

    Entering its fifth year in August of 2019, this Iowa festival has already earned a reputation for curating lineups of top acts in roots, Americana and indie rock genres. The upcoming lineup features Hozier, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and Brandi Carlile.
    Photo courtesy of Nadia Trimnell / Hinterland Music Festival

  • Dirtybird Campout

    Dirtybird Campout
    Modesto, Calif.

    If you’ve ever wanted to be a kid again, then Dirtybird Campout is for you. This festival is like a summer camp for adults, complete with world class DJs serving as counselors and fellow campers from around the globe. Live music, art, comedy shows, games, sports, swimming and great food are all on the menu.
    Photo courtesy of Dirtybird Campout

  • Sol Blume

    Sol Blume
    Sacramento

    The century-old Cesar Chavez Plaza in the heart of downtown Sacramento hosts this festival of R&B, soul and hip hop, now entering its second year. Headliners include Miguel and Jessie Reyez.
    Photo courtesy of @thecaffeinist / Sol Blume

  • CatCon

    CatCon
    Pasadena, Calif.

    Now entering its fifth year, CatCon in Pasadena draws some 16,000 cat lovers for a weekend of cat-centric pop culture that’s part expo and part symposium. In 2018, 174 cats found their forever homes at the CatCon Adoption Village.
    Photo courtesy of CatCon

  • Rolling Loud Festival

    Rolling Loud Festival
    Miami

    Rolling Loud celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2019 with three days of hip hop and rap at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens with a lineup that includes Migos, Cardi B, Travis Scott, Lil Wayne, 21 Savage, Kid Cudi, Gucci Mane and Lil Pump.
    Photo courtesy of iStock / gilaxia

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The top 10 winners in the category Best Emerging Festival are as follows:

  1. Baja Beach Fest - Rosarito, Mexico
  2. Mile 0 Fest - Key West
  3. KAABOO Del Mar - San Diego
  4. Reggae Rise Up - St. Petersburg, Fla.
  5. Fortress Festival - Fort Worth
  6. Hinterland Music Festival - Saint Charles, Iowa
  7. Dirtybird Campout - Modesto, Calif.
  8. Sol Blume - Sacramento
  9. CatCon - Pasadena, Calif.
  10. Rolling Loud Festival - Miami

A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.

Congratulations to all these winning festivals!

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