Major Music Festivals Set to Converge Across U.S. in Mid-May 2025

Music enthusiasts across the United States are preparing for a concentrated period of major festivals in mid-May 2025, with significant events scheduled from coast to coast between May 16 and May 18.

These festivals span diverse genres and offer a wide array of acclaimed artists, drawing attendees to key locations including California, Nevada, Arkansas, and Maryland. The simultaneous scheduling underscores the robust health of the live music industry and presents attendees with compelling choices across various musical landscapes.

Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival Returns to San Diego

The Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival is poised to transform Downtown San Diego, California, into a vibrant cultural hub from May 16-18, 2025. Known for its scenic waterfront location and eclectic programming, the festival has announced a lineup featuring a mix of globally recognized headliners and acclaimed artists.

Among the top-billed performers are Peggy Gou, the influential South Korean DJ and producer; Canadian R&B sensation Daniel Caesar; and the dynamic duo Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals. Indie-pop stalwarts Foster the People, psychedelic funk band Khruangbin, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, and blues-rock virtuoso Gary Clark Jr. are also set to headline.

The festival’s extensive roster further includes performances by multifaceted artist Janelle Monáe, alternative rock band Portugal. the Man, pop-rock group Neon Trees, piano-rock band The Fray, 90s alt-rockers 4 Non Blondes, singer-songwriters Julien Baker & Torres, rising R&B artist Leon Thomas, and dream-pop duo Magdalena Bay. This diverse lineup promises a broad appeal across multiple musical tastes, reinforcing Wonderfront’s identity as a comprehensive arts and music event set against the backdrop of San Diego’s bayfront.

Electric Daisy Carnival Ignites Las Vegas

Simultaneously unfolding during the same weekend, from May 16-18, 2025, is the colossal Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), taking place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. As one of the world’s premier electronic dance music festivals, EDC Las Vegas is renowned for its massive scale, elaborate stage designs, immersive art installations, and a lineup featuring the biggest names in electronic music.

The initial roster of artists confirmed for the May 2025 edition includes global DJ superstars such as Afrojack, Alesso, Alok, DJ Snake, Dom Dolla, and the enigmatic French producer Gesaffelstein. Long-standing EDM icons like Kaskade, legendary trance figure Paul Oakenfold, grime and hip-hop artist Skepta (crossing genres within the electronic spectrum), and the iconic Tiësto are also slated to perform. EDC’s return to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway promises another weekend of high-energy performances and an unparalleled atmosphere for electronic music fans.

FreshGrass Festival Showcases Roots Music in Arkansas

Offering a distinctively different sonic experience, the FreshGrass Festival is scheduled for May 16 and 17, 2025, at The Momentary in Bentonville, Arkansas. This festival focuses on roots music, including bluegrass, Americana, and related genres, set within the innovative contemporary arts space of The Momentary.

The headlining acts for the Bentonville installment of FreshGrass include acclaimed singer-songwriter Lukas Nelson, known for his blend of rock and country; the compelling folk-blues artist Shakey Graves; and the legendary Rosanne Cash performing with John Leventhal. The lineup also features performances by virtuoso banjo player Béla Fleck, renowned harpist Edmar Castañeda, and the critically acclaimed Antonio Sánchez Trio, showcasing the festival’s commitment to high-level musicianship across the roots spectrum. Notably, this festival runs for two days, concluding on Saturday, May 17, unlike the three-day events in San Diego and Las Vegas.

Boardwalk Rock Festival Heads to Ocean City, Maryland

Adding a rock focus to the busy weekend, the Boardwalk Rock Festival is slated to take place in Ocean City, Maryland, on May 17-18, 2025. Positioned along the iconic Ocean City boardwalk, this festival offers a coastal setting for rock music enthusiasts.

Details regarding specific performers for the Boardwalk Rock Festival were not immediately available. However, its scheduling on the latter two days of the busy weekend, May 17-18, positions it as another key event for music fans on the East Coast, promising a weekend of rock performances by the sea.

A Weekend of Diverse Musical Offerings

The convergence of these four distinct festivals – Wonderfront, EDC, FreshGrass, and Boardwalk Rock – between May 16 and May 18, 2025, highlights a significant moment for the live music scene across the United States. From the multi-genre waterfront experience in San Diego and the massive electronic spectacle in Las Vegas to the roots music celebration in Bentonville and the rock focus in Ocean City, the weekend presents a wide spectrum of options for festival-goers, underscoring the dynamic and geographically widespread nature of major music events in the coming year.