Last weekend’s fourth Float Fest near San Marcos combined one of the best festival lineups, tubing, camping and carnivals, creating a unique festival that has found its niche. Festival goers flew and drove in from around the country for the experience. There was even an Ariana Grande sighting at rapper Mac Miller’s set (they’re dating). The sold-out audience partied on the river, at camp sites and in front of alternating stages
Saturday kicked off with tubers catching the shuttle bus for a couple hour float on the San Marcos River. The river is USA Today’s second best tubing spot in the nation due to the crystal-clear water and consistent 72-degree temperature, perfect for these triple digit late July days.
Music kicked off at 2pm with some phenomenal local artists, including Austin’s Talking Heads cover band Heartbyrne. In between set fans could hit up the carnival, chill out in the A/C-cooled Frigid Lounge or catch a quick helicopter tour. The afternoon and evening were filled with an eclectic mix of indie, hip hop and EDM. Girl Talk wins for the most confetti blown and shot into the crowd, creating a visual party to match high energy of his smashups. When Zedd hit the mainstage, an exhausted crowd found its second wind! Zedd’s performance didn’t disappoint and brought all the excitement you would expect. The night finished off with fireworks over the main stage, an appropriate closing to an epic day!
Sunday at Float Fest featured more awesomeness. Floating, rides, and music festival madness ensued on the second consecutive 100-degree day for thousands of fans. Water stations were readily available to keep the partygoers hydrated. The closing day music lineup focused more on the rock side of the things with an afternoon packed with local favorites Walker Lukens (see our interview), Sweet Spirit, Wild Child and more! They all sounded excellent despite the sweltering heat. Some cloud cover provided a little relief. Into the night the heavy hitters kept the party going. Weezer turned in an amazing set that included a surprise appearance from Cage the Elephant’s Matt Shultz during “Island in the Sun.” The night was capped with a second round of fireworks. Float Fest 2017 was an amazing experience providing something for everyone in a very unique way!
