Olivia Rodrigo’s inaugural Daisy Chain Fields Music Festival is soon to go live at the Irvine Great Park and it’ll be one filled with firsts.
The one-day festival dedicated to advocating for and uplifting women and girls is a first-of-its-kind event for the Grammy Award-winning artist. And for its host, Irvine, it’s the first time the city’s under-development Great Park will see such magnitude in headliners and crowds.
And, of course, for the sold-out festival’s more-than-45,000 attendees, the whole experience will be a first.
So, as you ready your concert itineraries — where to go, where to park, what to wear and bring and more — we’re here to help.
When and where is it going down?
Gates open Saturday, Aug. 29 at 10:30 a.m. and close at 10 p.m.
The music’s happening on two stages at the Great Park. One is using the existing 10,000-capacity Great Park Live temporary amphitheater that’ll be turned into the Marigold Stage. And organizers will truck in the Dandelion Stage, which officials said would be the main stage and accommodate around 28,000 people.
The Great Park spans 1,300 acres — think 985 football fields — and in its everyday life features sports complexes, arts venues, projects under construction and signature attractions such as the orange Great Park balloon ride and carousel. The iconic balloon won’t be open to rides during the festival, although it will be decorated for Daisy Chain Fields and make for a fun photo op. But you can plan to take a whirl on the carousel.
For those who are new to Irvine, it’s Orange County’s second-most populous city with more than 318,000 residents. If you’ve got time to tour the area, consider trekking some of the city’s scenic trails or wandering the Irvine Spectrum Center’s more than 130 shops and restaurants and entertainment options.
Who’s performing?
The all-female lineup includes Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Garbage, Bikini Kill, The Breeders, Santigold and more.
Hoping to catch as many artists as possible? You’re in luck — performances will stagger with no overlap. That leaves a short window of time for festival-goers to move between the Dandelion and Marigold stages after each set. It’s about a 10-minute stroll between the stages.
After artists Rachel Chinouriri and Katseye, for example, whose performances end at 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. respectively, attendees will have five minutes to migrate to the other stage. For artists Doechii, Chappell Roan and Rodrigo, guests will have 10 minutes in between sets.
Rodrigo will be the last performer of the night, taking the Dandelion Stage at 8:45 pm with special guests.
Theoretically, you could make it to every set, but err on the side of caution. Be open to light jogging.
How do I get there?
There are a few options: drive, take a shuttle, hitch a ride, bike. But keep in mind the Great Park’s scale and consider a piece of advice from an Irvine city staffer: “It’s probably unrealistic to walk.”
Biking into the festival would probably be the cheapest transit option. There will be a bike lot near the main entrance atop the Great Park Soccer Fields 6 and 7. Bring your own locks.
Otherwise, Lots 0, 2 and the Great Park Ice parking lot will be used for general event parking, which has to be purchased ahead of time. There will be about 3,000 festival parking spaces between them, city officials said, and parking spaces will be assigned at arrival.
Parking lots open at 8:30 a.m. and will close to entry at 8 p.m.
Lot 4 will be dedicated to rideshare pick-ups and drop-offs.
Most festivalgoers will likely take the shuttles, which will arrive and depart from Lot 6 — service begins at 8:30 a.m. and will continue until everyone has left.
The main roads in and out of the festival are Great Park Boulevard and Ridge Valley. But, keep in mind, you’ll still need a festival wristband to get in and, if you chose to park on-site, remember to display your parking placard (it’ll be shipped to the address used at purchase).
And, once you’re in, plan to stay. There’s no ins-and-outs.
What’s the shuttle situation?
City officials and festival organizers are urging attendees to grab a shuttle pass while supplies last. Passes are $50 each and will give you access to parking lots and a shuttle service out of UC Irvine and OCVibe in Anaheim (at the Honda Center).
Shuttle wristbands will be sent to the shipping address used at purchase.
For people arriving from San Diego, or south of Irvine, it would make the most sense to take shuttles departing from UC Irvine. Included with your shuttle pass is the ability to park your car in the UC Irvine Health and Science Parking Structure, in Lot 70 or in the Mesa Parking Structure. Altogether, those three sites accommodate about 12,000 vehicles.
If you’re commuting from Los Angeles, it’s recommended that you shuttle from OCVibe at the Honda Center. There are about 12,600 parking spots at that location.
Are shuttles going to be a hassle?
“I think it depends on what time you leave,” Irvine spokesperson Melissa Haley said.
“So if you’re earlier in the day and you don’t want to stay and watch Olivia, which is highly unlikely, I think your wait time is probably pretty minimal,” she said.
But “when everybody wants to leave past 10 o’clock, it’s going to be like any other large-scale event, whether you’re at Sofi Stadium or anything else,” Haley said of the expectation of having to wait.
So, to put it simply, expect slowdowns if you’re leaving alongside large crowds.
There will be 220 or more shuttles split between transporting people to and from UC Irvine and the Honda Center. The idea, Haley said, is to have a continuous load-in, load-out system.
What can I bring?
The festival permits small clutch purses and fanny packs that are 6-by-9 inches or smaller; any larger bags must be clear and no bigger than 12 inches tall and 6 inches wide. Guests are allowed to bring hydration packs, but these must be empty upon arrival and can be filled at any of the complimentary water refill stations.
Prescription medicine must be presented to medical staff in a pharmacy-labeled container at each entry gate.
What not to bring: aerosol containers (including sunscreen and beauty products), glass containers, coolers (unless for medical use), chairs, carts, wagons, scooters, skateboards, bicycles (there is a lot for parking these) and any personal motorized vehicles that are not for accessibility needs. And, unless you’ve received special permission from the festival organizers, leave all professional camera equipment at home, including selfie sticks.
What will I be eating and drinking?
The festival prohibits outside food or beverages; guests can purchase refreshments from on-site vendors. Water will be available for free at any of the water refill stations — just remember to bring a reusable water bottle or hydration pack.
What’s the outfit vibe?
Be sure to check the weather forecast ahead of time — if these last few weeks are any indication, temperatures will likely be in the 80s and sunny during the day. Consider packing a light sweater or change of clothes, as temperatures may start to cool after sundown.
If you’re looking for outfit inspiration, maybe give a quick scroll through the artist’s Instagram page. From pastel babydoll dresses to vintage floral prints, Rodrigo’s personal style could serve as the blueprint for the Lilith Fair-inspired festival’s boho-retro aesthetic. It’s reminiscent of both the ’70s and ’90s music scene, and Rodrigo has said she envisions the event as a whimsical celebration of community and femininity.
“When I pictured this festival, I had an image in my head of girls sitting underneath a tree, making (daisy chain) flower crowns or friendship bracelets,” Rodrigo said in an interview with “Good Morning America.”
You could probably expect the festival grounds to mirror that vision.
“She visited the park a few times. And she was trying to get her creative team on board for what her thought process was for her vision for the festival,” Irvine spokesperson Haley said. “She’s very, very hands on. Like down to the designs, the vision, she has a say in everything.”
But, comfort is key — dress for the heat and be prepared to cross a variety of terrain. The festival grounds include both paved surfaces and grass.
Restrooms on site?
General admission ticket holders can locate portable restrooms, including accessible/ADA compliant facilities, throughout the grounds. Special lounges, such as the GA+ and VIP Lounges, include access to air-conditioned restrooms.
What about accessibility?
The festival’s Access Center, located beside Guest Services right inside the Main Entrance, will oversee all accessibility services. Here, you’ll be able to request accessibility wristbands — which provide mobility and American Sign Language accommodations — and any information regarding deaf and hard of hearing services, blind and low vision services and charging access for powered mobility devices.
No medical documentation is required to obtain an accessibility wristband. Each festival entrance will include accessible entry lanes for guests who may require accommodations.