Written by: Gabriela C. and Abigail E.
If you’re looking for a festival that offers a variety of different music genres, Resonate Suwannee is your answer. From jam bands to electronic to even some indie rock! We found ourselves catching sets from artists we typically wouldn’t gravitate to and what made the experience even better was definitely the crowd at each set. We got lucky and witnessed the first ever Thought Process full band live! The vibes were immaculate and everyone was getting down to the beats. We even got to trade sprouts with Thought Process and his tour manager after their set which was pretty cool. Detox Unit and Shpongle had some INSANE visuals all thanks to @jonathansinger and @glass_crane and boy they did not disappoint.
There was sooo much beautiful art displayed around the venue and most of them were being worked on live during each set. One of our favorite pieces was called the Spirit Guide 🦋✨ by Portal Pixies. We were actually able to connect with the artist who created that piece and she was so happy to hear how much we loved her piece. She had also mentioned it was her first time visiting Suwannee, just like us, and how she was able to feel the magic all weekend long. One simple picture of an artists work truly means so much to them as it gives them the recognition they deserve for putting out such lovely pieces for all to see. We were fully immersed with the art installations and some of them even came to life during the night. The lasers would sometimes make it seem like the trees were dancing with us.
The best thing about Resonate? THE PEOPLE!!! Everyone was so accepting and kind and that includes the staff as well. This festival was the perfect example of what PLURR should be. Us being “just girls”, we accidentally fully set up camp in a paid lot and had to move our entire site to another area. We met the loveliest ladies, Deb and Mandi, who quite literally adopted us for the weekend, and we ended up moving both of our sites to a much better area and combined them to make one giant compound. They were basically our wook moms and we will forever appreciate them. Throughout the weekend we were able to see how everyone was able to express themselves following the theme days that Resonate posted, but everyone showed out for the purple party day. We even got to interview a few of the attendees and asked them how they felt wearing their purple fits. We loved getting to hear everyone’s responses as you could see their faces light up while giving their answers.
We greatly appreciated the amenities that Spirit of Suwannee Music Park has to offer. This place really knows how to treat its attendees. First off—real bathrooms and actual showers in the campgrounds… and the showers are FREE! Need to refill your water bottle? No problem! Water spigots are conveniently placed all around the venue, so you’re never far from a hydration station. It’s clear Suwannee genuinely cares about making your experience comfortable and enjoyable. Did you know Suwannee has a bat house? Head over there at dusk and you’ll see swarms of bats flying out to start their nightly adventures. It’s wild and unlike anything we’ve ever experienced at a festival! When the Florida sun turns up the heat, you can chill out in the beautiful Suwannee river. It’s the perfect way to cool down and recharge between sets.
Resonate had a wide variety of intentional workshops and yoga classes that ran from morning till night. Seriously—we’re talking yoga from 8 AM to 10 PM! That kind of commitment to wellness is rare at festivals, and we were so here for it. One of our favorite moments was a dreamy morning sound bath hosted by Vibrant Zen. It was an amazing way to ground ourselves in the present moment so we could fully enjoy the magic of the weekend. We stepped outside of our comfort zones and did a cold plunge, it was the perfect way to stay cool during the afternoon. Breathe Free Prosperity led us through the plunge with intention, breath, and movement. We also caught some incredible circus performances by Out on a Limb Circus Arts . There’s something so magical about watching members of the community showcase their talent and passion—our jaws were on the floor more than once!
If the music, activities, and art weren’t enough to fill your time at Resonate, there was no shortage of places to shop and things to eat! We stayed cool with some frozen strawberry lemonade at Uncle Phil’s Snack Shack who also serves up fresh organic popcorn. The focus on cold beverages was much appreciated for the humid weekend, they even had real fresh coconuts from Surfing Coconuts! Higher Taste returned to Resonate as a fan favorite, serving delicious vegan Indian food. But our personal late night MVP? Spontaneous Consumption-with their loaded tots, baked potatoes, and ooey-gooey quesadillas, they had everything a hungry festival-goer could dream of. We were super impressed by how many amazing vendors showed up to this smaller festival! Wormtown Trading Co. is always a must-stop, they have an eclectic mix of clothes, accessories, crystals and more! Spunglasses had us sunglassed in style, and Twisted Bliss wowed us with unique handmade wire and crystal jewelry. The vendor that truly stole our hearts was definitely Bamboozled Lanterns, their light up bamboo lanterns were gorgeous to look at by day and at night!
We had such an incredible weekend exploring the venue, connecting with our community, and soaking in everything Resonate had to offer. If Resonate Suwannee isn’t already on your festival calendar for next year, trust us—it should be. The babes can’t wait to be back under the Suwannee sky again!