Ohana Fest 2025 Pollstar Music Festival of the Year

Spiritual_Chaos said:

Is there a lot of crime and stuff in that part of the US? Is it scary/spooky at night?

Responses to this ought to be fun

Spiritual_Chaos said:

Is there a lot of crime and stuff in that part of the US? Is it scary/spooky at night?

nope. ive done almost all of the full weekends at ohana and never had an issue. #1 theres a ton of police around since they are directing traffic after the festival lets out. #2 tons of festival goers hanging around so you're with the same people you were just watching the bands with. #3 plenty of well lit restaurants/shops/gas stations still open right across the street. ive waited over an hour basically each time for an uber to show and its completely fine.

also for the record i live in marina del rey an hour or so north and theres more nonsense going at night by me than in dana point

The most dangerous criminals you’ll see are the flippers at the merch stand.

norman_nasser said:

Hi all! This'll be our first Ohana. How does it work for the headliners? Would they both likely be on the same stage? I'm there for PJ, my wife for Alanis. I've never been, so are there better places to watch from and not get into the thick of the drunken mob? (I assume there's gonna be one, ya?) What time is reasonable to head to the venue during the days? We're going on Saturday and Sunday. Thanks!!!

Alanis will be on the main stage right before Pearl Jam. She will play for an hour most likely. There are two stages, but they are right next to each other, so the acts alternate until the last two acts (the leaders into the headliners). Once the schedule is out it will also say who is performing where and when. This setup makes it easy to move back and forth, kind of camp in-between, walk around, whatever. 

If you can hack it, I'd try to spend as much time inside and listening as possible. You will find some cool acts you didn't know about and it isn't as crowded earlier so you will get a little more freedom to move around and kind of soak it all in.

I haven't really experienced a drunken mob there, but for Pearl Jam people will gather in the front of the main stage earlier than for other acts, so it will fill quickly. There will be plenty that get in as soon as they can so they can get the rail and then camp there all day. By the time the leadins are performing it will be pretty full directly center of the main stage. It still may be the easiest you will ever be able to get close, but if you want to do so I'd do so before Alanis starts. We got pretty close at Encore and did that before Beck played. It will get crowded, though, if that bothers you. If so maybe hang out more to the side or back near the walkway.

There are also bleachers that aren't bad at all. We did that the second night at Encore. Also just chose to do it last year every night. Those will fill too, but it will be slower. Also easier to find your spot if you need to go to the bathroom or something.

It's a simple setup overall and you will be able to figure it out and navigate it pretty quickly. 

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RedMosquitoSmile28 said:

norman_nasser said:

Hi all! This'll be our first Ohana. How does it work for the headliners? Would they both likely be on the same stage? I'm there for PJ, my wife for Alanis. I've never been, so are there better places to watch from and not get into the thick of the drunken mob? (I assume there's gonna be one, ya?) What time is reasonable to head to the venue during the days? We're going on Saturday and Sunday. Thanks!!!

Alanis will be on the main stage right before Pearl Jam. She will play for an hour most likely. There are two stages, but they are right next to each other, so the acts alternate until the last two acts (the leaders into the headliners). Once the schedule is out it will also say who is performing where and when. This setup makes it easy to move back and forth, kind of camp in-between, walk around, whatever. 

If you can hack it, I'd try to spend as much time inside and listening as possible. You will find some cool acts you didn't know about and it isn't as crowded earlier so you will get a little more freedom to move around and kind of soak it all in.

I haven't really experienced a drunken mob there, but for Pearl Jam people will gather in the front of the main stage earlier than for other acts, so it will fill quickly. There will be plenty that get in as soon as they can so they can get the rail and then camp there all day. By the time the leadins are performing it will be pretty full directly center of the main stage. It still may be the easiest you will ever be able to get close, but if you want to do so I'd do so before Alanis starts. We got pretty close at Encore and did that before Beck played. It will get crowded, though, if that bothers you. If so maybe hang out more to the side or back near the walkway.

There are also bleachers that aren't bad at all. We did that the second night at Encore. Also just chose to do it last year every night. Those will fill too, but it will be slower. Also easier to find your spot if you need to go to the bathroom or something.

It's a simple setup overall and you will be able to figure it out and navigate it pretty quickly. 

Good advice. And yes, if you want to be fairly close to the main stage, you need to get your spot before the last act at the side stage ends. Since the stages are next to each other and not at opposite ends of the venue, when the last second stage act finishes, all those people mush directly to the left into the group that’s already at the main stage. 

Go Beavers said:

PhilLeotardo said:

RedMosquitoSmile28 said:

norman_nasser said:

Hi all! This'll be our first Ohana. How does it work for the headliners? Would they both likely be on the same stage? I'm there for PJ, my wife for Alanis. I've never been, so are there better places to watch from and not get into the thick of the drunken mob? (I assume there's gonna be one, ya?) What time is reasonable to head to the venue during the days? We're going on Saturday and Sunday. Thanks!!!

I haven't really experienced a drunken mob there

Yeah, no drunken mobs. PJ fans are kinda old now. My daughter went to Ohana ‘21, week one, separately from my wife and I, with the intention of meeting up. She texted the other siblings, saying she couldn’t find us because “they all look like Mom and Dad.” Gray haired emojis in the replies.

When Grandpa Neil comes on expect a mass exodus of the under 30 crowd. 

I felt like the under 30 crowd mixed in with Stevie Nicks fans

Go Beavers said:

PhilLeotardo said:

Go Beavers said:

PhilLeotardo said:

RedMosquitoSmile28 said:

norman_nasser said:

Hi all! This'll be our first Ohana. How does it work for the headliners? Would they both likely be on the same stage? I'm there for PJ, my wife for Alanis. I've never been, so are there better places to watch from and not get into the thick of the drunken mob? (I assume there's gonna be one, ya?) What time is reasonable to head to the venue during the days? We're going on Saturday and Sunday. Thanks!!!

I haven't really experienced a drunken mob there

Yeah, no drunken mobs. PJ fans are kinda old now. My daughter went to Ohana ‘21, week one, separately from my wife and I, with the intention of meeting up. She texted the other siblings, saying she couldn’t find us because “they all look like Mom and Dad.” Gray haired emojis in the replies.

When Grandpa Neil comes on expect a mass exodus of the under 30 crowd. 

I felt like the under 30 crowd mixed in with Stevie Nicks fans

I could be wrong. I just remember going against a heavy outflow when heading toward the stage before Ed Solo started. 

Oh, you’re not wrong. I was just noting the one time I wasn’t one of the old guys.

Incubus fans left en masse right before an Ed show.

Spiritual_Chaos said:

weird. my experience is that people show up for the last show of the night at festivals. Last thing to go do. 

But seems americans do festivalthings weird like;

- mailing out the festival wristbands instwad of giving them out on location
- Not allowing you to leave the area and come back (i mean, thats the main purpose of the festival wristband is it not)

I kind of hate the lack of in-and-out privileges, although I haven't minded being there the whole time once we're in. It does make you need to plan when you want to get in, though.

In my experience it has been pretty darn crowded for the headliners, although one of those experiences was Pearl Jam, which people were clearly there for. I did see a review from a 20-something last year who went specifically to see Haim, who was great by the way, and she made a comment about the weird festival atmosphere with old people and families!