KAABOO Del Mar is the new music & arts festival to watch out for. Every music festival has to start somewhere & KAABOO* made its 2015 inaugural showing with a bang. The thing about KAABOO is that it's not just a music festival; it's multifaceted with many layers, opportunities, & experiences. 

KAABOO festival 2016 is scheduled for Friday, September 16 through Sunday, September 18. Last year's festival took place September 18 - 20. Although it was met with a variety of noise complaints from neighbors, according to The San Diego Union Tribune, it was an overall success. If you're contemplating whether or not to attend, here are some reasons why you should go to KAABOO Del Mar music & arts festival this year.

The Live Art

As each day passed, I got to witness the art take life & transform before my very eyes. What began as a mere sketch on day one turned into a full-blown mural by day three. It's basically like going to an art gallery & being able to see the progress.

The Excellent Music

Obviously the largest selling point of a music festival is the music. During its inaugural year, KAABOO festival featured performances from No Doubt, The Killers, Zac Brown Band, Snoop Dogg, & more. Aerosmith, Fall Out Boy, Jack Johnson, Lenny Kravitz, Ludacris, & Steve Aoki are some of the artists slated to play at KAABOO 2016.

The Free Stuff

I'm not sure if it was just because it was its first year in existence but KAABOO killed it with all the free stuff they gave out. There were Lara Bars, free screen printed tote bags, samples of Starbucks drinks, Kettle brand chips, & more. It was utterly glorious, especially for those trying to save money on snacks.

The Comedians

Laughing is good. Laughing is great. Laughing is beneficial for your soul. Comedians add dimension to the festival experience. Anthony Jeselnik & Joel McCale were some of the headliners for 2015. This year, however, KAABOO is upping their comedic ante with stars like Janeane Garofalo, Dana Carvey, Doug Benson, David Cross, & Darrell Hammond. Yes, please!

The Food

Sometimes festivals have the most horrible food in existence, but that's not the case here. KAABOO Del Mar has genuinely gourmet options for any type of person — vegan, gluten-free, etc. There's a delectable choice for everyone with live demonstrations from chefs. You can't get any more gourmet than that.

The Crowd

The average age of the KAABOO crowd is about 10 years older than the average Coachella patron. If you've been to enough shows, concerts, & festivals, you'll understand the value of a nice crowd. The daily average was about 15,000 to 16,000 people, according to The San Diego Union Tribune. That's a huge difference compared to Coachella, which hosts about 99,000 people per day, according to the LA Times.

The Fashion

As with any other festival, it's exciting to see what people choose to wear. Seeing as 2015 was its debut, I didn't see a particular style. I did notice that the majority of people were dressed for comfort, which was refreshing. I didn't get that "I'm only here to get my pictures taken" kind of vibe. We'll have to see what KAABOO 2016 brings.

The Location

Take a look around & you'll see the true beauty that is Del Mar, California — palm trees, sunny skies, & the rolling blue ocean nearby. KAABOO is held on the Del Mar Fairgrounds so it's somewhat nostalgic to have a music festival there as well. It's an iconic venue that has been part of many families' traditions for years.

The Afterparty

Not ready to go home after the headliner's act finishes? You don't have to. Go to the after party with the late-night DJs at the Encore, which is open until 2:30 a.m. If you feel like staying late, there's no need to go home.

Coachella here I come! It's finally time for Weekend 2 of the highly anticipated arts & music festival. Follow me on my journey because I will be updating this post LIVE throughout the fest! I will do my best to keep this going throughout the three-day experience. Check in on the blog every few hours to see what updates I've made.

+ 4:10 a.m. - En route to Indio! 101 miles to go.

+ 5:51 a.m. The sun is starting to rise! I love those cotton candy skies. Just a few miles away now.

+ 6:10 a.m. We're in the car camping line! Yay!

+ 6:24 a.m. Just heard a girl ask her friend "wanna start drinking after I put my makeup on?" I'm too old for that. Haha.

+ 8:12 a.m. - The car camping line is moving; waiting to get checked by security. It's hot already.

+ 10:06 a.m. - We are almost done setting up camp. Our next-door camp mates offered us a nice cold beer which we accepted gratefully.

+ 11:23 a.m. Fred & I have been drinking water because it's already nearly 90°. Currently checking out the information booklet they gave us upon arrival. Free blowouts & updos at the Beauty Bar & Barber Shop y'all!!!!

+ 1:24 p.m. - Woke up from a much-needed nap & now walking & exploring the camp area.

What Girls Wear to Coachella

Indio // OOTD

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Coachella Outfit Essentials

Coachella Recap // Day 1

Coachella Recap // Day 2

Coachella, I Love You

There's nothing quite like a nice music festival to get you pumped up. KAABOO* is a three-day festival & it just wrapped up day one. The fest is still on a roll, but I wanted to show you some of the moments I captured. It was a hot day especially if you're sitting in the sun. With all the wonderful live music, the funky art, the hilarious comedians, & the delicious food it's hard not to enjoy yourself.

Take a look at some of the photos I shot at KAABOO Del Mar. I'll be heading out there today as well but I wanted to give you a little glimpse into what it was like. I'll add more photos & individual bands later. But here's a teaser. Hope you enjoy. :]

Add me on Snapchat: carmenvarner

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ticket from KAABOO. All opinions in this are 100% mine aka Carmen's. :]