What’s the hottest ticket under the NYC sun?  This coming weekend’s Governor’s Ball, of course!  Tickets are officially sold out for Governor’s Ball 2014 with the exception of a few Super VIP and Cabanas. 

Held annually on Randall’s Island, Governor’s Ball is New York’s most famous music festival.  With three jam-packed days of tunes, this is a haven for music-lovers, party-lovers, and general urban enthusiasts.  Welcome to summer in New York City!  Libations will be flowing, music will be blaring, and thousands upon thousands of eager attendees will be having a blast. 

Why attend a music festival in NYC?  While other music festivals provide areas for campers and large open lawns, a music festival in New York provides access to all the comforts of home while simultaneously delivering all the excitement of city life.  Therefore it’s accessible.  Hardcore festivalgoers will ogle at the lineup and those attached to their luxuries (and hygiene) can still indulge in the daily festivities. 

Let’s take a look at this year’s line-up.  We have our headliners, Outkast, Jack White, Vampire Weekend, The Strokes, Phoenix, Shrillex, and Axwell A Ingrosso.  There is truly something for everyone.  Foster the People, Interpol, and TV on the Radio are other top names that will be adored by the alternative-lovers out there.  The list goes on to encompass around 60 different artists known around the globe.   Rap, Reggae, Rock of all variations, and even some Pop-like tunes will be hitting the stages.

Not only is the lineup outstanding, the list of food vendors may be even more staggering.  The list includes Beecher’s and their world-renowned cheeses, Pok pok, a Brooklyn favorite, and Momofuku milk bar.  They are also introducing the social-conscious Hot Bread Kitchen into the mix of vendors, where you can find savory artisanal breads.  The list goes on – from Crif Dogs to Korilla to Bareburger.  Calexico, who just opened another Brooklyn branch of their famous Greenpoint Mexican haunt, will also be gracing the scene.  The food scene will overshadow the famous Smorgusburg market in Williamsburg by bringing all the best of the best to this year’s Gov Ball.

Find your way around the stages with a Governor’s Ball Site Map (provided by Time Out New York) http://bit.ly/1kgyfK0.  Find ATM’s, first aid, beer, water, and bathrooms with ease.  The four main stages are the GovBallNYC Stage, Gotham Tent, Big Apple Stage, and Honda Stage.  Charging stations will also be available for all of your electronic needs (welcome to the 21^st century!).

There are certain keys to success at Governor’s Ball, as with every festival the season.  The first, and most important, is to stay hydrated!  How many times have you been told this? Countless.  But as restroom lines get long, we are all tempted to cut our water intake.  But with NYC humidity, that is not a risk you can take.  Next, make a plan!  The Governor’s Ball Official website allows you to create your own schedule based on the line-up.  Confer with your friends; make a list of your favorites, and compromise.  Every show will be fantastic. There is no way, unfortunately, to see it all.  Plan times and locations to meet up with your crew throughout the day – specific places, not “at the Honda Tent with fifteen thousand others.”  It’s easy to get lost or separated from your group, and if anything can take the fun out of your festival, that would do it.

How do you get there?  Along with your tickets, you can purchase Manhattan Ferry tickets to bring you to the island, $20 per day and $55 for all three days. This ferry runs continuously over the course of the festival for all three days.  The pickup point is 34^th Street and FDR drive, which is convenient to most Manhattanites or those staying in the area.  For those out in other boroughs, a shuttle to and from Brooklyn costs $25 per day and $65 for all three days.

For more useful information on the festival, check out governorsballmusicfestival.com