Festival goers celebrate Bonnaroo opening day

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Temperatures in the upper 80s did not stop festival goers from enjoying fun in the sun during the opening day of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival Thursday, June 13.

Crowds poured into The Farm from both near and far, set to enjoy a weekend of music and entertainment during the iconic music festival that comes to Manchester each year.

Grace Erdelen and Ryan Reeves made the eight-hour drive in to Manchester from Arkansas to attend the festival. It is Erdelen’s second Bonnaroo experience, but for Reeves, this year is his first time out on The Farm.

“It is a little different from what I am used to but it is a lot of fun,” Reeves said.

When it comes to the lineup, Reeves said he is probably most looking forward to seeing Post Malone perform Saturday night.

When it comes to why she wanted to come back to Bonnaroo, Erdelen said it all comes down to the people.

“The environment here is very judge-free, I like that,” she said.

Friends Neal Aditya, Emily Pasckiewich Amrit Parida and Bryce Oberhauser-lim were just arriving at the festival Thursday after a flight in from San Francisco’s Bay Area. The group said it was their first time at Bonnaroo.

“We had some friends last year that went and they said it was a good time,” Aditya said.

Parida said it came down to a decision to attend Coachella or Bonnaroo, and the group preferred the Bonnaroo lineup.

“It is a lot larger and more diverse, it is cool to see everyone camping,” he said. “There is more of a community vibe we are seeing and more nature focused.”

Some acts scheduled to perform Thursday include Pretty Lights, Chris Lake, Gwar, Eggy, The Heavy, Heavy and Nation.