Lightning in a Bottle 2018: A Truly Transformative Experience

Lightning in a Bottle (LIB) has been one of my favorite festivals for as long as I can remember.  And if you’ve been living under a rock, it’s basically a music festival (presented by The Do LaB) that takes place over Memorial Day weekend on Bradley, California’s mountain-ringed Lake San Antonio.  The event combines music, art, and culture – while promoting sustainability, social cohesion, personal health, and creative expression. Each year The Do Lab provides us with this enriching and life-changing experience that I’ll never forget… and this year was no different!

From the moment you enter the event, you can feel the energy exuding from the rolling hills and beautiful lake.  During the day, there are talks and panels, cooking classes, yoga, hammocks to hang in, arts & crafts and swimming in the lake. As the concerts take over the night, the grounds transform into an untamable festival ecosystem.  This year’s lineup included Anderson Paak, Sofi Tukker, Tokimonsta, Zhu, Griz, The Black Madonna, CloZee, Nicole Moudaber and more!  All of these factors create a magical oasis where troubles disappear and inexplicable events of synchronicity manifest.  Plus, art is everywhere – from craft classes, to artists painting on large canvases next to the stages, to larger-than-life installations and walk-through galleries.

I’ve come to the conclusion that anyone who attends LIB has a heart filled passion for music and nature. All around me were music enthusiasts feeling every moment and loving one another. That energy was contagious, giving the festival a feeling that couldn’t be replicated anywhere else. The friendship and closeness cultivated at LIB is unique to the festival, and it seems as though everyone that attends experiences a loss of ego – they can let loose, be themselves, and have fun – even if just for the weekend.  All in all, Lightning in a Bottle 2018 was a massive success and I cannot wait to be back.