Imagine yourself surrounded by thousands of redwood trees, music playing from a distance, and the fresh smell of cannabis in the air. This is Northern Nights Music Festival. Located in Northern California, in the serene Mendocino/ Humboldt area, Northern Nights takes place at Cook’s Valley during July 19th-July 21st, a serene 3-day destination for those who love music, yoga, camping, and cannabis!
Weed has always been part of the music scene and the Emerald Triangle, the largest cannabis producing region in the US, made up of Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity Counties, is the best place to combine both cannabis and live music. Since 2013, Northern Nights has been pushing the envelope of cannabis normalization through their events. This year, they are the first overnight, three-day festivals in the US to legally allow recreational cannabis sales and consumption on site!“Essentially it is an onsite temporary dispensary. It has all the same rules you would have at a dispensary, it’s just inside a festival,” says compliance manager, Peter Huson.
This is 5 Reasons Why You Should Attend Northern Nights Music Festival
1. The Location
Northern Nights is right in the middle of Northern California’s Emerald triangle that consists of Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity Counties. Cooks Valley Campground is tucked along the Eel River surrounded by enormous redwood trees, thriving natural habitats and cannabis farmers! The Eel River Watershed is the third largest in California, making it an important ecosystem that we must respect and keep sacred. Other festivals that have previously taken place at this luscious location were Hightimes Reggae on the River, and Enchanted Forest, but Northern Nights will be the only festival taking place there this year.
California law does not allow recreational consumption of alcohol and cannabis in the same area. Northern Nights has taken advantage of their location that resides in two counties. Cannabis consumption will be allowed on the Humboldt County side and alcohol on the Mendocino side without cannabis.
2. The Music
This years lineup is like no other! Northern Nights has been wanting to book ZHU since his track “Faded” came out in 2014. Finally ZHU will be headlining the mainstage and many other reputable acts including Big Wild, Berner, the Desert Hearts crew including Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds, MARBS, Rybo and Lubelski, as well as Sacha Robotti, Dance Spirit, VNNSA, Minnesota, Shades (EPROM and Alix Perez) and more!
Listen to some of Dance Spirit’s live sets below:
3. The Cannabis
The Tree Lounge is where the party is at! In 2016, the tree lounge was introduced as an area for medical marijuana consumption on-site. Now that cannabis is legal, this year is huge for the fest.
“We are going to have a cannabis retail and consumption area that goes by the name of the Tree Lounge. It is 21 and over area and cannabis sales and consumption are restricted to that area. Essentially it is an onsite temporary dispensary. It has all the same rules you would have at a dispensary, it’s just inside a festival,” says Northern Nights co-founder and compliance manager Peter Huson. Think of it like a beer garden at festivals, but for cannabis!
The lounge will include dozens of cannabis brands including Chemistry, Absolute Extracts, Flow Kana, Jetty, and more alongside local hip-hop crews, surprise sets, dancehall, reggae and more! The area will also have workshops, CBD yoga, cannabis infused activities, classes and more!
4. The Production
Main Stage
The biggest stage, the most lights, lasers, and bass! You can expect to get blown away by every act with the festivals top notch sound systems and audio. Expect diverse acts at this stage, from hip-hop to house music, the stage gets packed fast!
River Stage
Located right on the Eel River, combining the natural environment with live acts is something you can’t dream up. You’ll enjoy an array of artists whether you’re on the dance floor or chilling on your floatie. Remember to wear biodegradable glitter, and sunscreen that’s coral safe to help sustain the river!
Bunker Stage
This will be the third year of all night amplified Funktion1 sound. This is heaven for those who live and breath dance music, from techno to house, you’ll be here dancing all day and night!
Grove Stage
The grove is guaranteed to stimulate your senses! With a mixture of music, art, dance and yoga, this will be the epicenter of creation and imagination under nature’s canopies.
Silent Disco
The party doesn’t stop at the stages! The silent disco is there for those who want to keep dancing into the night. Put on some pajamas or onesies and grab your night crew!
5. The Vibes
Nothing beats the vibes at Northern Nights. This is a safe place to be yourself, make friends, and live in the moment, taking every opportunity at hand. Choose from different activities like riding down a Slip n Slide, or enter the veggie and fruit bong competition from Flow Kana, there’s an adventure awaiting for everyone. Remember to respect the river by packing out what you packed in, clean up, embrace nature, and help with MOOP! Remember to respect the land as well as others, stay hydrated, and stay high!
See you under the redwoods! Get tickets here and enter code: SATIVADIVA for $20 off your ticket! Www.Northernnights.org