Everything You Need to Know About Grandoozy

In case you’ve been living in a cave up in the mountains—and if you have, we’re a bit jealous—you’ve heard about the new, three-day music festival coming to Denver’s Overland Park this week. Grandoozy promises to be unlike any event we’ve seen here in the Mile High City, and it isn’t just about the music. While acclaimed artists like Kendrick Lamar, Florence & the Machine, and Stevie Wonder are headlining, the festival also offers delicious local food, themed parties, gear demos and shopping, yoga classes, and more.

That’s a whole lot of fun to keep up with, so we recommend you plan ahead. Here, everything you need to know to make this weekend a doozy.

The Details

Grandoozy was organized by Superfly, the festival producer behind such well-known events as Bonnaroo in Tennessee and Outside Lands in San Francisco. The festival takes place Friday through Sunday from 1:30 to 10 p.m. at Denver’s Overland Park Golf Course. Yes, there are still tickets available (both single day and three-day, GA and VIP; $110–$674.50), but they’re going fast.

You can stay up to date and organized by downloading the Grandoozy app before heading to the event. From a complete festival map (below) to a customizable food and drink planner, the app is your lifeline for making the most of the extravaganza.

The Experience

We Coloradans like our pop culture with a local flair, and it looks like Superfly got the message. The organizers were careful to add Colorado-centric touches to every aspect of the fest—from the food and drink offerings (read all about it here) to performances from Centennial State bands (read more here) and product demos from Colorado-based companies. Don’t overlook the happenings beyond the stage:

The Backyard

The festival is debuting The Backyard—a destination within the festival dedicated to celebrating Colorado’s outdoor culture.  Here, outdoor lifestyle brands like Colorado-based Topo Designs, Icelantic and Zeal Optics, among others, will showcase and sell their gear. The marketplace is curated by Icelantic’s experiential marketing director, Sam Warren.

The ’80s Ski Lodge

Adjacent to the Backyard, panelists will engage in conversations about climate change, environmental policy, conservation, and activism in Grandoozy’s 80s Ski Lodge. On Friday at 2:30 p.m., Andrew Pappas (Outdoor Industry Association), Mario Molina (Protect Our Winters), and Jon Miller (Backcountry United) will discuss the Trump administration’s position on environmental policy and how it affects national parks and public lands. On Saturday, Alex Boian (OIA), Annelise Loevlie (Icelantic), and Christian Knapp (Aspen Skiing Company) will speak about how the outdoor industry is becoming a political force. And finally on Sunday, winter sports athletes Bobby Brown, Gretchen Bleiler, Jeremy Bloom, and Julian Carr will wrap up the panels by talking about their love for the outdoors. Starting at 3:15 p.m. each day, the ’80s Ski Lodge will transform to a dance party, with DJ sets and metal cover bands throwing you back to the ’80s.

The Break Room

Facing the Florida Avenue entrance of the festival is the Break Room—Grandoozy’s all-day dance area. This open-air space invites attendees to dance along to electronic and house beats with a diverse lineup of artists such as Soul Clap, Weird Touch, and Kim Ann Foxman.

Don’t forget to wear your yoga pants because you can downward dog daily to get your body ready to party. The classes will be hosted by Sunny Trails on Friday and CorePower Yoga on both Saturday and Sunday starting at 2:15 p.m. in the Break Room.

The Jams

While all the other attractions are a bonus, you’re most likely going to Grandoozy for the performances. You can catch musicians on three different stages throughout each day—Rock Stage, Paper Stage, and the Scissors Stage. The hardest part will be deciding which shows to prioritize. (Pro tip: You can build your own personalized festival schedule using the app.) Just make sure you head to the Rock Stage every evening before the headliners begin at 8:30 p.m.

Check out the full concert schedule here. 

What You Can (and Can’t) Bring

Grandoozy is enforcing a Clear Bag Policy to enhance safety and entrance efficiency. Any non-clear bag larger than 6×8 inches and hydration packs larger than 2.5 liters are not allowed. To wit, if you’re planning on bringing a bag that isn’t see-through, make sure it’s roughly the same size as a fanny pack. Clear bags as large as 20x15x9 inches are allowed.

Although the festival will have many food and drink options, attendees looking to save some cash are allowed to bring two factory-sealed water bottles up to one liter each and any empty water bottles. For a full list of what’s allowed and prohibited, visit the event’s website.

Getting There

Plan ahead. Grandoozy isn’t providing event parking. If your friends are dropping you off and picking you up, there are two designated areas: North (on South Platte River Drive, between Santa Fe Drive and Sout Huron Street) and South (Grant Frontier Park, South Platte River Drive, off West Evans Avenue).

Take public transportation. The light rail is smart option for getting to and from Grandoozy. There are two RTD stations located near the festival. Southbound riders should get off at the I-25/Broadway Station and northbound riders should get off at Evans Station.

Need a ride? If you live in the Highlands, Capitol Hill, or downtown (or can get there), you can purchase a pass for the Grandoozy Official Express Shuttles. The festival has partnered with Joyrides to provide Grandoozy Offiical Express Shuttles to and from Overland Park (prices vary by location).

Still need a ride? Uber is the official ride-share partner of Grandoozy. The Jewell Avenue entrance is the quickest way in and out the festival. If you’re new to Uber, use the promo code UBERGDZ18 to get $15 off your first ride.

Have a bike? Located on the South Platte River, Overland Park is easily accessible by bike, and the festival will provide a complimentary bike valet service.