Written by Bulmaro Jacobo
Photo credit: Mamby on the Beach
From the many festivals Chicago has to offer, I have to say, Mamby is my favorite. Oakwood Beach is the perfect spot for the festival with a great view of the city skyline and not to mention prime accessibility. You can even ride a bike to get there! The venue has lots of space for multiple stages, vendors, and fun extras that make for a great festival experience. Not to mention incredible sunsets that you will set the mood rest of the night.
Music Genre: Mixture of Techno and House with bits of Indietronica.
Camping: No.
Capacity: Around 20k.
Crowd Type: A chill crowd of all ages.
Water Stations: Yes
For The First Timers: It’s sandy. I mean really sandy. By the end of the day you will be covered in sand due to the breeze from the lake and there isn’t much you can do about it. Besides enduring the sand, make sure to wear sunblock and drink lots of water as it can get pretty hot. Like most festivals the vibe is pretty chill and overall a great time, so make sure to enjoy yourself.
Things to do: There is plenty of things to do at Mamby besides catching your favorite artists. Checkout the silent disco or silent yoga or play some volleyball in between sets. Make your way to the runway and see what’s all the craze in festival fashion, like the hawaiian style shirts by Tropical Bros. Get a refreshing drink and satisfy your thirst at the Tiki Bar or at one many drink sponsored tents like Electric Sky, Cruzan, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, or Jim Bean. Don’t forget to stock up on that festival merch from the many vendors or checkout the cool art as you make your way from one stage to the next.
VIP or nah: VIP for Mamby is the same as it is for most festivals: express entry, VIP specific sections for each stage, and air conditioned bathrooms. This year there was the addition of cabanas next to the Mixmag tent but unless you are willing to drop some serious money they aren’t really worth it. GA is the way to go for this festival. Being in the crowd front and center is where you want to be when the beats drop instead of on the sidelines with VIP or secluded in the cabana section.