An estimated crowd of about 20,000 people will attend the Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival this weekend at Clinton State Park.

Since the festival’s start in 2004, the number of bands has almost doubled and expected attendance has almost tripled. The larger events means more diverse music choices and many other non-musical activities.

The audience can enjoy an array of music from Emmylou Harris’ country twang to Cake’s unique rock sound. Young bands such as Stardeath and White Dwarfs and older bands such as the Flaming Lips come together in one festival to bring music lovers four days of paradise.

“I have been to every Wakarusa since they started,” Trey Hornbeck, Leawood senior, said. “Music all day and all night for four days and all of your friends to be with, I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

Although this festival revolves around the music, Wakarusa offers much more than meets the ear. Campers enjoy disc golf, hiking, yoga and swimming in Clinton Lake.

On Sunday morning campers are asked to bring drums and noisemakers to the festival drum circle. There are also earth-friendly activities such as recycling, a food drive and a sweatshop-free clothing company fashion show. At any point in the day, campers can take a dip in Clinton Lake to cool off.

“There is a lake and a beach to go to during the days that helps when it gets to be so damn hot that no one even wants to move,” Hornbeck said. “Sitting on the lawn in front of the stages and listening to the bands is an incredible feeling.”

Don’t forget supplies

The summer heat Clinton lake location demands that people be prepared for the outside festival conditions. According to Wakarusa.com, the Wakarusa Camping day pack check list includes: a water bottle, toilet paper, bandana, insect repellant, sunglasses, rainwear, binoculars, camera, film, fishing gear, sunscreen, lunch/snack, lunch cook set and a field survival kit. The festival also asks people to come prepared with a personal first aid kit. Students staying on the campgrounds can bring their own tent or rent a tent and sleeping bag from the Student Recreation and Fitness Center.

“A lot of students check out equipment for Wakarusa,” said Mike Dickey, assistant director of outdoor pursuits. “They check out pretty much all of our tents. It is one of our busier times to check out equipment.”

Establish a meeting spot with your friends for after a show so no one gets lost. Pack a strategic outfit that exudes comfort but also keeps you cool in the heat. Sometimes this outfit consists of nothing more than a swimming suit.

“It gets so incredibly hot outside with all those people,” Kimberley Meyen, 2008 graduate, said. “You see a lot of people that strip down into their bikinis or swim trunks and walk around the festival all day. It makes it easier to head straight down to the lake after a show.”

Picking the music

There are 122 bands at this year’s Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival, so concert-goers should pick which bands they want to see most and plan their weekend around the bands so no heartbreak ensues when the festival is over. The time not spent watching favorite bands is left open to choose any show from any stage.

The 20,000 attendees can enjoy music from five stages.

Picking which bands to watch can be a tough process. The headliners take up a lot of the buzz in advertising, but a lesser-known could end up being a new favorite.

The best way to choose is by doing research beforehand. Scope out the bands and see which ones you may have heard of but don’t know much about.

Some names may be recognized from local shows. The Cosmopolitics’ jazzfusion, hip-hop and electronica sound is right out of Lawrence. Other bands usually play opening acts, such as Steel Train and Limbeck, who both rocked out at the Granada opening for The Format. Check out the bands websites and see if their music style fits personal taste.

With such a diverse line up of bands, there is something for everyone.

—Edited by Rustin Dodd