Bonnaroo 2023 continues fellowship tradition
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The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has continued its tradition of drawing spectators from far and wide who have a tendency to make return appearances to the annual event.
The festival, which was held June 15 through June 18 at Manchester, has far-reaching financial benefits to the surrounding southern Middle Tennessee area and offers a wide variety of entertainment for those who attend it.
Kylie Earnest from Boston, Massachusetts, made her second trip to the Tennessee festival this year after being at “The Farm” last year. She said that she enjoyed the experience so much that she had to return with friends from her home state.
“It was so much fun,” Earnest said, referring to the atmosphere she experienced last year.
Adeline Danyla, also from Boston, echoed Earnest’s assessment.
“I will definitely be back,” she said, referring to future Bonnaroo events.
The experience was similar for Cheryl Boehles and daughter Robyn O’Donnell, both from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
O’Donnell said she’s been to other Bonnaroo events and thought it would be a great family experience that her mother and other family members would enjoy.
Boehles said she was impressed with the festival, the people attending it and the music. She added that the family spent about $5,000 to attend the festival, using the recreational vehicle accommodations.
“This is my first time here, and it’s been a beautiful experience,” Boehles said. “Everyone is amazing.”
Zac Bertucci and Olivia Martorina, both from Chicago, Illinois, said they enjoyed their experience at Bonnaroo.
“Great people, great music in a low-stress setting — it’s great,” Bertucci said, adding that it was his first time at Bonnaroo, and like others, he plans to come back.
Alyssa Bartelt from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, like Earnest, had been at her first Bonnaroo festival last year and had so much fun that she decided to make a repeat appearance, this time with a group of 11 festival-goers in four vehicles.
Was it worth it to go such a distance to get to Bonnaroo?
“Absolutely, it was worth it,” Bartelt replied.
Casey Tremblay, also from Philadelphia, summed up her thoughts by saying, “Everyone here is family, even though we’re strangers.”
For Heather Risk, from Lexington, Kentucky, it was her first Bonnaroo and it was, in her words, “amazing.”
“Everybody has been so kind, and everything here has gone so smoothly,” she said. “It’s been great, and I really love the music.”

