The Spirit of Suwannee is truly alive, and so am I after experiencing it for myself this year at Resonate Suwannee 2026! As we drove into the festival grounds and I looked out of the car window, it really sank in that I was about to adventure around a venue that I had wanted to visit for many years. Having heard nothing but wonderful things about the festivals held in Suwanee, I was overjoyed to not only have this adventure at Resonate, but also to have some of my favorite people dancing next to me!
FOLLOWING THE VIBES, AND THE MUSIC
Getting in was very smooth, and we set up camp with friends in a beautiful, shaded spot surrounded by trees, creating our little home for the weekend. After setting up our cozy camp and decorating, we dressed up for the first day’s festivities and began to wander, taking in the pure beauty of the land and soaking up the sunshine that was present all weekend long! I was instantly appreciative of not only the weather but also the art that I saw all throughout the venue, and the variety of different musical acts that were about to take the stage.
Thursday started out with dancing at the Porch Stage to Underground Springhouse and watching the crowd come in. Everyone was dancing and enjoying themselves as we grooved into the evening with a 2-hour set from Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country. The Amp stage was my favorite spot throughout the weekend, and seeing one of the artists I was most excited for, K.L.O., with this production, accompanied by the visuals of Johnathan Singer and Glass Crane, was a highlight for me.
This combination absolutely blew my mind, and I didn’t stop dancing this entire set, aside from when I was taking photos. Schmoop kept the energy flowing from this straight into Mickman, creating a really fun block of music to vibe with. I was happy we got such a bassy first night, and the crowd was moving together as one as Mickman closed out the Amp on Thursday. It was all smiles from everyone around me as we walked out into camp, really starting to get into the spirit of the festival.
MOVING THROUGH THE ENERGY OF DAY 2
Friday morning consisted of sleeping in and enjoying waking up without an alarm, to the beautiful trees of Suwannee. After coffee and stretching, we walked to look at the vendors and art during the daylight. It felt like there was something to see everywhere you looked, and I loved that they had an art gallery, along with many live painters spread out along the back of the Amp Stage. The art really transformed from day to night, and it was a joy to witness both versions and all of the different pieces evolve over the weekend. The Resonate sand sculpture, which also came alive at night with projection mapping, was one of my favorite pieces.
I also loved the Resonate sign with all of the artist names that was created for everyone to paint on, along with other interactive art spots. The inner child was really encouraged to come out with all of the art, family vibes, and the disc golf course, which also transformed at night with its glowing obstacles! It was hotter this day, and I enjoyed a pineapple soft serve that made my entire day more enjoyable. After staying as cool as possible at camp during the day, we ventured out in the afternoon for another group I was looking forward to seeing, High Step Society! They did not disappoint with their unique style and had the whole crowd dancing along.
There were flow artists playing around in the sun everywhere you looked, as well as the most beautiful sword dancer on the stage with them. Their high energy radiated throughout the entire Porch Stage and really set the day off right. Skiz and Chalk Dinosaur were two different vibes that both satisfied my ears and made my body move in different ways. I loved looking around and seeing all of the groups of friends and families enjoying music together, and everyone mingling with each other in the crowd.
It really did feel like one big family, and I was starting to really understand what was so special about Resonate. I could hear the music in the background everywhere I went, and this, accompanied by the scenery, made every moment feel relaxed. Moontricks was another of my favorite sets of the weekend, and one that had the entire crowd dancing along and smiling ear to ear.
The energy at this set felt so pure, and the Amp Stage really came alive. You could really feel the joyful energy exuding from them and their music, which carried throughout the entire stage. Next came OTT. who continued the flow of music perfectly with his ethereal sounds. Seeing the legends EOTO play, surrounded by my friends, was really special and had us completely captivated. Another really cool duo followed them with Break Science, setting the mood for night 2 with their jams. It was cool to see how this music all flowed into each other and the thought of how the night was curated. CloZee, accompanied by Actualize on visual duties, closed out the second night with a beautiful set. The campsites came alive as everyone continued their adventures into the late-night hours and connected over all of the music, art, and joy being shared.
RESONATING TOGETHER A FINAL DAY
Day 3 brought with it a peaceful energy as we went to the Sacred Resonance Soundbath with Maile Paek. Lying here and nourishing my body was one of the best decisions I made all weekend. I was really impressed with the workshops presented and the unique energy of what was offered.
After this, we decided to go down to the river and take advantage of the sunny weather, joining many other festival-goers by the water. This was a piece of Suwannee that I really wanted to experience for myself, and I loved seeing all the people playing music, enjoying the nature, and meeting each other! I love it when you can float around at a festival, and the experience goes deeper than just the music.
This day had me really thrilled to get back to the music, too, though, and I was looking forward to the Odyzey Takeover. Defunk was another artist I have wanted to catch for years, and his set did not disappoint! He had the Porch Stage getting funky in unison. I enjoyed taking photos and capturing the energy all weekend long, but especially this day, my passion for it really sank in! Interacting with the crowd for all of the third night was my favorite part of the festival. The energy that was shared between everyone was magical, and seeing people connect with all of the music was a special feeling.
Josh Teed was the set I connected with the most, and having Jobie Wagner join him on the drums was an excellent choice. These two absolutely lit up the stage, and you could really feel how much they both loved their respective instruments and jamming with them together! Josh’s beautifully produced bass music, his Violin, and the drums tying it all together made for a one-of-a-kind, authentic performance. The entire crowd looked at each other with elation as they floated along with the music into Clozee’s sunset set! You could really feel the crowd’s love for her music in this hour, and I loved capturing photos of people completely captivated by the sounds from the Porch Stage.
Younger Brother was the set that pleasantly surprised me the most, and I found myself completely entranced. My body flowed with every note, and the entire crowd moved as one as the nighttime set in at the Spirit of the Suwanee Music Park. The place I had heard so many wonderful things about finally made sense to me in this moment.
Supersillyus played another really fun and energetic set, which kept the vibes electric, and was accompanied by some unique circus acts, aerial silk artists, and various different flow acts from the beautiful and talented performers! The flow artists who add to the music and how they express their artistic talents alongside the sound make the entire experience more exciting.
The women who performed were truly captivating, and I could not stop watching them for all of Saturday night! Shpongle closing out the festival with a magical 2-hour set was a fantastic decision! I really loved watching artists paint in front of the stage during this, and how every corner of the crowd felt alive with its own vibrant energy! Especially during this set, the sound radiated throughout the Amp Stage, and everyone seemed so present and in sync with the music Simon was playing.
Community is what really made Resonate Suwannee 2026 something special
The Community was what stood out to me the most about Resonate. I had so much fun interacting with the crowd while taking pictures and connecting with everyone. People dressed up for the theme days and just seemed really happy to be there overall. The weather was pleasant, the park was beautiful, and the Moop Mobile Crew kept people aware of their impact on the natural environment, rewarding them for leaving the park cleaner than they found it!
There was so much joy all around Suwannee, and I loved talking to the people who worked there and who chose to come back to festivals here year after year. You could really feel the love that everyone has for the place and each other, and the family energy that makes this intimate festival so special. Getting to be a part of the media team and capture this festival from my lens and share so many genuine moments with people in the crowd while doing so was such a fun experience for me, and I’m grateful that I got to dive so deep into this festival and truly resonate with all that it was.
I am looking forward to the next time I get to come back and dance barefoot in the sand at the magical Spirit of Suwannee Music Park.
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