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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.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Emerging Festival are as follows:
- Same Same But Different Music and Arts Festival - Perris, Calif.
- The Lights Fest - Multiple Cities
- Twin Cities Summer Jam - Shakopee, Minn.
- Powabunga Music Festival - Lake Tahoe, Calif. & Vail, Colo.
- Dreamville Music Festival - Raleigh, N.C.
- Mempho Music Festival - Memphis
- Buckeye Country Superfest - Columbus, Ohio
- Secret Project - Los Angeles
- Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival - Okeechobee, Fla.
- Lost Lands Music Festival - Thornville, Ohio
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning events!
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The Experts
Andrew Gretchko
A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Andrew... Read More
A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Andrew has nearly a decade of experience in journalism, public relations and content marketing spanning his time in Pittsburgh, New York City and Chicago. Andrew now incorporates the lessons learned from his time working directly with some of music’s top acts at The Chamber Group, as well as building out New York City-based premium audio brand Master & Dynamic, to craft stories across music, sports, theater, comedy and more at North America’s most trusted ticket marketplace: Vivid Seats.
Andrew Gretchko

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Andrew has nearly a decade of experience in journalism, public relations and content marketing spanning his time in Pittsburgh, New York City and Chicago. Andrew now incorporates the lessons learned from his time working directly with some of music’s top acts at The Chamber Group, as well as building out New York City-based premium audio brand Master & Dynamic, to craft stories across music, sports, theater, comedy and more at North America’s most trusted ticket marketplace: Vivid Seats.
Gareth Hornberger
As Director of Consumer at Eventbrite, Gareth is... Read More
As Director of Consumer at Eventbrite, Gareth is responsible for establishing Eventbrite as the best place to discover live experiences. Gareth has spent more than a decade developing innovative strategies and award-winning campaigns for iconic global brands including Google and Levi Strauss & Co. He currently lives in San Francisco and in his spare time you’ll find him at a yoga class or hunting down the best electronic music shows.
Gareth Hornberger

As Director of Consumer at Eventbrite, Gareth is responsible for establishing Eventbrite as the best place to discover live experiences. Gareth has spent more than a decade developing innovative strategies and award-winning campaigns for iconic global brands including Google and Levi Strauss & Co. He currently lives in San Francisco and in his spare time you’ll find him at a yoga class or hunting down the best electronic music shows.
Barry Kahn
When newly minted Everfest CEO Barry Kahn saw the... Read More
When newly minted Everfest CEO Barry Kahn saw the opportunity to merge Everfest into Qcue, the company he has run for more than a decade, there was no hesitation. Both companies shared a common history as successful Austin software startups that received worldwide recognition for reimagining the live entertainment space. Since its founding in 2014, Everfest has grown into the market leader in festival discovery, showcasing more than 20,000 festivals and hosting the renowned festival guide and magazine, Fest300. The Everfest platform hosts an online community for festival fans globally and gives festival organizers another channel for ticket sales, while connecting vendors, artists, sponsors and volunteers to new opportunities.
Barry Kahn

When newly minted Everfest CEO Barry Kahn saw the opportunity to merge Everfest into Qcue, the company he has run for more than a decade, there was no hesitation. Both companies shared a common history as successful Austin software startups that received worldwide recognition for reimagining the live entertainment space. Since its founding in 2014, Everfest has grown into the market leader in festival discovery, showcasing more than 20,000 festivals and hosting the renowned festival guide and magazine, Fest300. The Everfest platform hosts an online community for festival fans globally and gives festival organizers another channel for ticket sales, while connecting vendors, artists, sponsors and volunteers to new opportunities.
10Best Editors
10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased... Read More
10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors

10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.