Best Emerging Festival (2019)

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

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 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

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 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

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

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

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

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 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