August 26, 2015
When Made in America, Jay Z's carefully curated live music festival, returns to Philly over Labor Day weekend, thousands of fans will show up to worship at the altar of their favorite stars. And while the sounds of today's popular artists might be vaguely discernible outside the festival's walls, true music lovers will be on the inside, maybe hoping for a glimpse of their favorite celeb in the crowd.
Will you be there? Here's what to expect from the crazy weekend.
It all goes down at noon, Saturday, Sept. 5, and Sunday, Sept. 6, along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. But you probably already knew that.
Beyonce is headlining the show. For many, the presence of Queen Bey herself would be enough, but alas, there are many other artists on the docket as well. Other notable acts on the lineup include The Weeknd, Axwell & Ingrosso, J. Cole, Bassnectar, Modest Mouse, Death Cab For Cutie, Banks, Philly's own Meek Mill, Big Sean, Future, Fabolous, Santigold and Nick Jonas. Dozens more acts will be performing, too.
MIA is an all-ages concert, though of course there are age restrictions on the festival's beer garden areas. There will be traditional festival concessions available in addition to gourmet food trucks. Free filtered water stations will be scattered throughout the area as well.
Budweiser will be bringing back its recycling store to the festival, meaning you can trade in empty cans and bottles for prizes.
It will also be crowded. But you probably already knew that, too.
Food and drink are not allowed into the festival, with the exception of factory-sealed water bottles up to one liter. Empty aluminum water bottles, bota bags and CamelBaks are allowed, however. There will be a place to store bicycles outside of the festival (location as yet to be determined), but bikes, skateboards and scooters are not allowed inside.
No signs or banners are allowed into the festival, either, so you'll have to find another way to tell Meek Mill you love him. (There's a full list of things you can't bring here.)
Ticket holders cannot leave and re-enter the festival once they go inside, so plan accordingly.
