Music Festival

Hello Pensacola people, I'm from Scotland and coming to visit in May as I'm going to Hangout music festival and I just thought I'd ask if anybody has any tips as I've never been there before ?

Tom Petty is the deal see him!

That's why I'm going !

I don't know where to stay, should I stay in Pensacola or is that too far away?

I am going again this year. The lineup is great. I have a house on the West side of Pensacola and drive from there. Finding a motel room in Gulf Shores may be difficult. I would check to see if there are any rooms available on Perdido Key.

Here's a link to some rooms available there http://www.hotelsanddeals.com/perdido_key_beach.html Please don't delay in finding your room. Also, remember that general admission tickets will be sold THIS FRIDAY (TODAY) and will be sold out very soon.

We bought bus travel tickets and it was a good idea, I think. We traveled to a grocery store about 5 miles from the Festival and shuttle busses ran continuously to the concert and dropped us off right at the gate to the concert. You get arm bands for the shuttle service and can use them any time.

Its about 45 minutes to an hour one way to the hang out from Pensacola. I imagine there will be shuttles from Orange Beach over. There are several hotels in Orange Beach then you could walk across Beach Blvd and ride on the shuttle. That would be ideal.

Google Orange Beach hotels and if you are sure you are going make reservations at one NOW.

The problem with Pensacola is the drive back, most especially if you have been drinking anything. Orange Beach is about ten minutes from the Hang Out on a bad day

Orange Beach is closer than Perdido Key and some of the Orange Beach hotels are on the shuttle bus stop route. Good idea Whowherewhy.

Eric wrote:

I am going again this year. The lineup is great. I have a house on the West side of Pensacola and drive from there. Finding a motel room in Gulf Shores may be difficult. I would check to see if there are any rooms available on Perdido Key.

Here's a link to some rooms available there http://www.hotelsanddeals.com/perdido_key_beach.html Please don't delay in finding your room. Also, remember that general admission tickets will be sold THIS FRIDAY (TODAY) and will be sold out very soon.

We bought bus travel tickets and it was a good idea, I think. We traveled to a grocery store about 5 miles from the Festival and shuttle busses ran continuously to the concert and dropped us off right at the gate to the concert. You get arm bands for the shuttle service and can use them any time.

Eric that was Publix at 161 and Beach Boulevard. There is a brand new hotel across the street maybe a Raddison? Te shuttles make stops at about every hotel between where you got on and the Hang Out there is also a Holiday Inn on the way in OB.

Eric wrote:

Orange Beach is closer than Perdido Key and some of the Orange Beach hotels are on the shuttle bus stop route. Good idea Whowherewhy.

Yes on PK You have to drive past the Flora Bama.

The problem is drinking. The Orange beach police have zero tolerance during the festivals forewarned is forearmed

I am so glad you brought up this topic, Melh. I just bought 3 tickets... yippee.

Here is a series of photos I took with my cellphone and stitched together last year.

http://ericericson.net/Hangout-panoram.jpg

I'm going to take a look at accommodation right away - it's hard to figure it out when you're in another country so thanks for the tip and the link. We've already bought tickets and we're very excited about it - and we'll be taking shuttle buses as we're Scottish and, well it's true, we like to drink (but not when we drive.....)
Any other tips welcome, what was it like last year ?

Also did I say I'm seriously excited about this trip

The weather was perfect last year. We wore plenty of sunscreen and reapplied it routinely. There is very little shade available, but we were able to find shady spots under palm trees.

The access to the waterfront is blocked off. They don't want people getting into the festival by swimming... also, they don't want people drowning.

There are places to take outdoor showers to cool down, places to buy food, places to buy souvenirs, and places to fill a water bottle. You ought to bring a small backpack with an EMPTY water bottle, suntan lotion, hat, snacks and such. They SAID that you couldn't bring a camera that has interchangeable lenses, but my son brought his Cannon T3i and nothing was said. They will search you at the gate. Pot was smelled, but there is security and cops and I don't recommend taking the chance. Don't go barefooted... wear flip-flops or sandals. Flip-flops kick up sand when you walk, but it is a minor nuisance compared to walking on hot asphalt bare-footed. I know people that sneaked flasks inside with their favorite "beverage".

The sand is almost pure white and reflects the sun's rays. You will be burned to a crisp in an hour if you don't have plenty of sunscreen and a hat. Here's a pic of me and the missus last year. Goofy, I know. But, I didn't get sunburned.

Nice one you two look very cool. I'm so bloody cold right now in this arctic place my brain can't compute what it would be like to be that warm.....

whowherewhy wrote:

Eric that was Publix at 161 and Beach Boulevard. There is a brand new hotel across the street maybe a Raddison? Te shuttles make stops at about every hotel between where you got on and the Hang Out there is also a Holiday Inn on the way in OB.

I don't know what Publix number it was, but here's an aerial of the parking lot and side streets. (After reading your post again whowherewhy, I see you didn't ask a question, but making a statement about the Publix number... sorry if my response sounded flippant.)

Here's a link to Orange Beach motels that may be on the shuttle stops. You might want to ask the motels when inquiring about lodging.

http://www.gulfshores.com/lodging/hotels.aspx

Eric you are a mine of information !
I will go and see what kind of place I can find to stay and I will be back here later for more of your wisdom

melh wrote:

Eric you are a mine of information !
I will go and see what kind of place I can find to stay and I will be back here later for more of your wisdom

Glad to help...

Obviously The Hampton is the new hotel across the street from Publix lol

RUMORS ABOUND

At 250 for tickets this is a pricy concer with Tom Petty a headliner,

Rumors spreading around OB are about the secret TBA ACT that will

Be announced. Might want to think about tickets, unconfirmed but

The sources are good ERIC......



Any guesses who you might see???

Oh that sounds interesting - are you suggesting that you know who the 'secret' act might be ?

I have rumors that's about it so far, keeping digging because it sounds so far fetched.

The rumors are a British rock and roll group....

I love a good rumour. A british rock and roll group ? Well it's fairly likely that I'm going to know them. I suppose it's worth checking who's touring in the US around that time......

Just had a look and there are quite a few british bands, including Blus and the Stone Roses, playing at Coachella in April but that's a whole month before so I don't know if that's relevant.