| Location(s) | Ozark, Arkansas, US |
|---|---|
| Years active | 2004 - present |
| Founded by | Brett Mosiman, Timothy L. Smith, John Brooks, Nathan Prenger |
| Date(s) | Early to Mid-June |
| Genre | Jam bands, Alternative rock, Hip hop, Americana, Country, Bluegrass, Funk, Electronica |
| Website | www.wakarusafestival.com |
Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival is a four-day music festival held in early June at Mulberry Mountain[1] near Ozark, Arkansas. The festival has been held annually since 2004. Named for the Wakarusa River, the festival was first held at Clinton State Park immediately outside of Lawrence, Kansas.[2] It moved to its present location, just outside of Fort Smith and Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2009. Activities other than music included disc golf, yoga, hiking, and swimming in The Mulberry River.
Since its inception in 2004, the festival has grown dramatically with almost 60,000 tickets sold in 2006. The 2010 Wakarusa festival sold out a few days before the festival (est. 18,000 attendees). The festival is known for an eclectic mix of music and has featured artists like Grammy award winners The Flaming Lips, Wilco, and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Along with other national known touring artists STS9, Ben Harper, Neko Case, The Black Keys, Ben Folds, O.A.R., The String Cheese Incident, My Morning Jacket, Gov't Mule, Slightly Stoopid, Umphrey's McGee, The John Butler Trio, The Disco Biscuits, Thievery Corporation, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Yonder Mountain String Band, Leftover Salmon, Bassnectar, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Les Claypool, Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, Keller Williams, Cake, Widespread Panic, The Werks and many side projects of members of the Grateful Dead, including the Mickey Hart Band and Bill Kreutzmann's project 7 Walkers. After moving from Clinton Lake State Park in Lawrence, KS to Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, AR, the festival has continued to make a name for itself and grows larger with each coming festival season.