Welcome to the summer of 2013, the season where you can unleash your inner groupie at one of the thousands of music festivals around the world! Whether you want to travel to an exotic locale or are lucky enough to have one happening right in your community, the trick is to plan your strategy early so you’ll have all your ducks in a row when it’s time to rock and roll!
Sziget Festival, Budapest, Hungary, August 5-12
For the past twenty years, the usually quiet Old Buda Island on the Danube has been rocking Budapest with an ever-growing party that now boasting 60 stages hosting over 1,000 performances! Once simply a student event, the seven-day festival has grown exponentially as the city has embraced it, offering concert-goers special Szuget Budapest CityPasses with hassle- free access to public transportation, the Sziget boat service and deep discounts on local dining, shopping and favorite attractions. This year the popular Sziget Eye Ferris wheel will be back and bigger than ever (65-meter high) and even more “party trains” will have cars dedicated to festival attendees complete with resident DJs and an “Absolut” bar. Since Sziget vendors won’t accept cash, you’ll need to get a Metapay Festivalcard which reduces theft and simplifies all transactions.
Electric Zoo, Manhattan Island, NYC, August 30-September 1
Dance like everybody’s watching over the Labor Day weekend at Randall’s Island Park located along the East River in the heart of New York City. This highly acclaimed electronic dance-lights-music festival, now boasts 5 stages and open-air pavilions featuring multi-genre live acts and international DJs. Along with the festival, the park will host FLOW.13, a free art event featuring interactive art works. The easiest way to get to the concert is via the ferries that travel from East 35th Street (at FDR Drive) every 15 minutes, for a 25-minute traffic-free ride. Choose general admission tickets (over 18 with a valid ID) for all three days or a single day. Over 21s can opt for the Platinum Experience Pass that includes an open bar and VIP seating. No minors, pets or liquor allowed.
Soundwave, Zadar, Croatia, July 18-22
Chill way out in the tiny fishing village south of Zadar for the “summer’s most beautiful festival,” set on a forested peninsula along the Dalmatian Coast. Besides the innovative music presented on the big Main Stage and the more intimate Beach Stage, patrons of this relatively new three day event, can also join the Boat Party to go island-hopping and dance the night away at the open-air nightclub, Barbarella’s Discotheque. Excellent camping facilities as well as fully furnished apartments keep you close to the action while giving you a sweet little space to call your own.
Wireless Festival London, England, July 12-14
This year’s star-studded festival featuring Justin Timberlake and Jay Z (separately and together on Sunday for the “Legends of the Summer” show) has been moved to the
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford because of curfew issues at the old Hyde Park location. Sponsored by Yahoo!, the venue offers top-tier facilities complete with champagne stations and sushi bars! Tickets are selling out fast and ticketholders are urged to arrive at the shows early since no one is admitted after the headliners start their performance. Since there is no camping at this festival, out-of-town participants need to find their own lodgings and transportation to the event.
Are you looking for cool, yet affordable quarters near one of these, or other summer of 2013 events? Check out the Festival Accommodation page on Hostelbookers.com
Adventures of a Carry-on 
Great list – they’d make nice trips!
I agree! when are you coming back to Dallas?
Hopefully it will be soon!