Written By: Ashley Capogreco
Next March, Okeechobee is making its grand return to Sunshine Grove, a beautiful 800-acre venue 45 minutes from my hometown. I couldn’t be more excited to re-enter the portal and embody the “be here now” spirit after taking a break in 2024 and 2025. The festival is back in the hands of its original owner, Soundslinger.
This is not the first time Okeechobee has made a comeback; it’s known for bouncing back, much like myself. The festival was formed in 2016 but went on a short hiatus after 2018. It returned in 2020, revived by Insomniac as one of the major music festivals before the shutdown, but ultimately took a break in 2021 due to the pandemic before returning in 2022 and 2023. Next year marks the 10th anniversary since its formation in 2016. Okeechobee has partnered with several local nonprofit organizations, and it’s nice to see it make its way back to my hometown through nonprofits like the Treasure Coast Food Bank.
Since my first time going was in 2020, I am really curious to see how the festival will differ since returning to its independent roots. The 2026 lineup is expected to be just as diverse as in the past. I personally think the multi-genre lineup is what attracts many first-time music festival campers, including myself. Gunna, Sublime with Rome, and Glass Animals were the artists that initially pulled in my sister, the person who convinced me to go and share a tent with her and her two coworkers who I hardly knew at the time. After three Okeechobee Festivals together, those two coworkers of my sister are now my best friends; and my boyfriend, who bought a day pass to surprise me my first year is now my husband. He has been attending by my side ever since. Our camping group has grown from just my sister, my husband, and a couple of coworkers to one big extended family that plans to go together again in 2026. Next year will also be the introduction of the “Okee OG” campground for returning festival-goers, which promises to give people like myself who have attended before a closer spot to the main stages in the Grove.
This festival has the power to inspire you in more ways than one and keep you coming back for more. I was inspired by an amazing woman I met from my first year who gave herself permission to play. I used to think dress-up and hooping was for children until we crossed paths. This encounter foreshadowed my husband buying me a beginner on-body LED hula hoop in 2022. I slowly began to evolve my clothing style, as well as my hooping style, little by little, by discovering small independent brands through the festival community. Fast forward to Okeechobee 2023, I couldn’t help but flow at every stage I go to with my collection of outfits and props.
While Okeechobee has been on pause, I have been attending flow jams across the southeastern coast of Florida serving as an ambassador for festival marketing agencies, hosting hoop workshops, spinning fire at Burning Man, and performing on stages for underground festivals in Costa Rica and Mexico. I’m ready to add value to Okeechobee, which would be an honor. I’m also looking forward to seeing The Festival Babes involvement with Okeechobee. I believe there is plenty of room for a cool activation in the Moonlight Oasis, which is where all the fun side activities are located including the Aquachobee beach stage and the Jungle 51 stage. Some past favorites that have not been confirmed for 2026 yet are Incendia, Frickfrackblackjack, and Jive Joint. The center of the festival, Chobeewobee Village, will be the place to refuel with craft and food vendors and Yogachobee wellness classes.
No matter what changes or comes back, I know I can count on this festival for priceless synchronicities that make a profound impact on my life. I remember losing my favorite yellow hat at the end of a TroyBoi set in 2022. Later that night, my husband and I were walking into Jungle 51 when I saw what looked like my hat on a random man’s head. Since there were about 30,000 attendees, I hesitated before asking if it was mine. To my surprise, he said yes and put my yellow hat back on my head like a crown. This little moment always reminds me of the magical energy that swarms Okeechobee.