Hey, I’m Meg Ann Lee, hairstylist and makeup artist in Eau Claire. Every Sunday I write about beauty, hair, and real life right here on i94online.com. This week I’m breaking down the REAL cost of going to a music festival. I went to Force Fields a few weeks ago and it was so much fun!  I also spent $1,364.88 on my adventure!  I’m going to break it all down because we see people festival hop aaaaall summer but nobody ever talks about what music festivals ACTUALLY cost. Then you get there and wonder why your bank account is crying by Sunday.

What Is Force Fields?

If you haven’t heard of it yet, Force Fields is an EDM festival in Cadott, Wisconsin — about 20 minutes from Eau Claire. It’s only in its second year and ALL of the campsites sold out.. that’s a LOT of people. The festival ended up hitting Rock Fest attendance numbers. I think that’s a testament to how music is shifting and EDM is taking over. If you’ve been raving for over 10 years like me.. WE already knew that. Two days, four stages, 7,500 campsites, and a whole alien farmland theme that makes the entire experience feel like its own little world. It’s the kind of festival that feels like it was built for people who actually want to BE there, not just post about it.

The Breakdown

Ticket: $120
I bought GA+ for the weekend  because we had the “early bird special”. For a two day festival with this kind of lineup that’s actually REALLY reasonable. For comparison, a two day GA pass to Beyond Wonderland starts around $180. So yeah, $120 is a deal.

Camping: $267
We rented two campsites and did a camper rental with a drop-off service that slept seven people. Splitting this with a group is the move because it made the whole weekend feel like a sleepover with your best friends at the best price. We had our own little setup, our own space, and didn’t have to worry about driving anywhere.

Food and Drink: $345.88
This one adds up FAST. I think it’s the cost that catches people the most off guard. This includes the food and drink I bought for my campsite, festival food, drinks, water, snacks and ice. It doesn’t feel like a lot in the moment, but it stacks up. But also, I was having fun and I don’t regret a single overpriced lemonade because…YUM.

Outfits: $476.96
Yes, this is the biggest line item and yes, I’m aware. But, hear me out, I did themed outfits!! A cow print look and an alien theme.  I went IN on both. Getting dressed up for a festival IS half the experience for me. That’s girlhood maxxing in action. I’m not going to show up in a basic tank top when I have an opportunity to fully commit to a BADDIE COSTUME (with glitter) . If you are someone who likes to buy festival and artist merch? Be prepared for this number to go up !

Spray Tan + Hair + Nails: $155.04
This is the one that people forget to budget for. The spray tan, having my nails done, getting my hair right, the little things that make you feel ready before you even walk through the gates. It’s a small cost but it matters because showing up already feeling yourself changes your entire weekend. Honestly — my prep cost is CHEAP because I’m a hairstylist and I do my own color. If I had to pay someone else for what I do to my hair, this number would be a lot higher. Keep that in mind when you’re budgeting yours.

The Total: $1,364.88

Is that a lot? Yeah. Would I do it again? Without hesitation.

Here’s the thing about spending money on experiences like this — you’re not just paying for music. You’re paying for the time with your people, the outfits you felt amazing in, the chance to see 20+ artists in one weekend and the memories you’re going to talk about for months. I’m not going to pretend festivals are cheap. They’re not. But when you plan for it, budget for it, and go in knowing what it actually costs, you can enjoy it without the guilt.

If you’re thinking about going to one this summer and you’ve been on the fence — now you know some real numbers. Plan accordingly and go have fun  <3