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Slow-paced days, vivid orange sunsets, beach time, tan lines, backyard BBQs…it’s hard to top the good vibes of summer!
This season is shaping up to be a great one, jam-packed with summer events and festivals. You’ll likely want to hit more than one — there are so many unique things to choose from! Think: music and beer festivals, outdoor carnivals, rodeos, motorcycle rallies, and more.
Once you decide where you’re headed, hit up Wanderu to book your travel logistics. We compare bus & train options, so you can quickly make your travel plans and arrive at your chosen event with less stress.
Get ready to enter your festival era. Grab a hat and some sunscreen, and let’s dive into the best summer events in 2025!
June 2025
Tribeca Film Festival
Rubenstein / Flickr
For something focused more on culture and education this summer, head to the Big Apple for the Tribeca Film Festival. This celebration of independent media spotlights new movies, television, music, and other live performances. Curators place emphasis on highlighting underrepresented voices, with well over half the productions created by women and BIPOC. There’s no better environment to discover a new underground favorite!
Attending Tribeca gives attendees exclusive access to not just movie premieres, but also educational talks, panels, and concerts. Plus, it offers the opportunity to interact face-to-face with leading cultural innovators. Between screenings, venture out and immerse yourself in New York’s captivating, world-class dining and nightlife scenes.
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to New York City | From $1 | |
| Train tickets to New York City | From $6 |
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
Bonnaroo is a four-day music and arts festival held on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. The festival features over 150 performances across 10+ stages, spanning genres like rock, hip-hop, electronic, and more. Attendees can enjoy 24-hour entertainment, immersive art installations, comedy acts, and a variety of food and craft vendors.
Camping is a significant part of the Bonnaroo experience, with options ranging from general camping to VIP accommodations. The festival promotes sustainability and community engagement through initiatives like “Planet Roo.”
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to Manchester | From $19 |
Connecticut Summerfest
Connecticut Summerfest is a week-long contemporary chamber music festival held at The Hartt School in West Hartford. Celebrating its 10th season in 2025, the festival brings together emerging composers and ensembles-in-residence for collaborative performances and world premieres. This year’s ensembles include Longleash, Hub New Music, and Sugar Hill Salon.
The festival features nightly concerts, culminating in an “Evening of Premieres” showcasing nine new works. All performances are free and open to the public, fostering community engagement and appreciation for new music.
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to Hartford | From $11 | |
| Train tickets to Hartford | From $4 |
Fremont Fair
Dive into Seattle’s vibrant counterculture at the Fremont Fair, one of the best outdoor festivals in the PNW! Join nearly 100,000 other attendees in a celebration of everything free-spirited. Marvel at colorful eccentric costumes, window-shop local craft vendors, and sample some of the city’s most delicious food.
Most importantly, don’t miss out on the Fremont Solstice Parade. This vibrant procession features a whirlwind ensemble of bold colors, performances, and loads of body art. The event doesn’t permit any sponsored logos or motorized vehicles, favoring human-powered expression. Such a free-spirited atmosphere makes it one of the most lively, unique things to do this summer! And after the festivities, check out other iconic Seattle sights like Pike Place Market.
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to Seattle | From $15 | |
| Train tickets to Seattle | From $6 |
Summerfest
Ryan Dickey / Flickr
Few outdoor festivals can top Summerfest. After all, it’s one of the largest music events in the entire world! With an annual attendance of around half a million (or more!), just the sheer scale is a sight to behold. In 2024, more than 800 acts played across 12 stages. This year’s headliners include superstars like the Megan Thee Stallion and Third Eye Blind.
The combination of such a large-scale event and A-list talent creates an electric atmosphere that continues off-stage too. Whether it’s watching the all-out fireworks display on opening night or sampling the abundant food options, the experience between acts is almost as good as the tunes.
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to Milwaukee | From $7 | |
| Train tickets to Milwaukee | From $9 |
Rochester International Jazz Festival
Every June, Rochester hosts one of the largest jazz festivals in the world. More than 300 acts come to perform in Upstate New York, including headliners like jazz icon Pat Matheny and legendary blues artist Keb’ Mo.
Ideal for music fans of all ages, this event offers a well-planned, accessible experience. Unlike many other summer festivals in 2025, most events are held indoors, so there’s no need to brave the scorching sun! Plus, the shows are sprinkled over 10 days, so you can simply check the calendar and drop in for the acts you most want to see.
Best of all, some concerts are completely FREE! Still, buying a festival pass is the most immersive way to enjoy the festival.
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to Rochester | From $8 | |
| Train tickets to Rochester | From $22 |
July 2025
Portland Craft Beer Festival
Phil Whitehouse / Flickr
Few U.S. cities rival Portland’s craft brewery scene. What better way to experience its offerings than at one of the most happening summer events in 2025?
Held downtown, this festival includes only breweries, cideries, and wineries with production facilities inside city limits. Even with this strict criteria, the selection is extensive — Portland has over 70 breweries! 🍻
To accompany the brews, there are food trucks (another Portland staple!), vendors, and a bustling atmosphere. The first two days are only for patrons 21+; however, the gates open to all ages on Sunday.
While you’re in town, take a hike in one of the city’s breathtaking parks and catch clear-day views of Mt. Hood! Portland is also one of the least expensive cities for vacation rental prices this summer, so accommodations won’t break the bank.
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to Portland | From $5 | |
| Train tickets to Portland | From $3 |
The Calgary Stampede
Embrace deeply-rooted cowboy culture at the Calgary Stampede, one of Canada’s largest summer events. The rodeo is among the largest in the world, appropriately nicknamed “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”
The Calgary Stampede hosts traditional competitions like saddle bronc, where riders use just one hand to hold onto a horse attempting to buck them off. There’s also a Chuckwagon race, which in 2025 celebrates more than a century since its inception!
Outside the stadium, there’s an energetic carnival atmosphere, with loads of food options, rides on the midway, a parade, and more. Don’t miss the evening show, with thrilling stunts, concerts, and fireworks. Pro tip: Book tickets online ahead of time to avoid lines.
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to Calgary | From $10 | |
| Train tickets to Calgary | From $127 |
Hemingway Days
Erin Borrini / Flickr
Literary fans should head to Key West for one of the most unique festivals in July. Hemingway Days honors the legendary novelist with prose readings, marlin fishing, and a 5K race. One of the event’s highlights is the congregation of Hemingway look-alikes at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, the writer’s beloved hangout.
In addition to the literary-themed festival, Key West really comes to life during the event weekend. There’s a bustling family-friendly street fair, a perfect way to experience the city’s vibrant atmosphere in a less raucous environment.
Key West is easily accessible via bus from transit hubs like Miami, making this event a no-brainer to check off your summer bucket list.
Book your trip:
August 2025
Fiesta de Santa Fe
One of the most historic summer festivals in the US, this year’s Fiesta de Santa Fe commemorates its 311th iteration.
A lively celebration of the city’s rich multicultural heritage, the event encompasses a wide variety of interests. Come for live mariachi performances, delicious food stalls, and religious ceremonies. Shop for artisan arts and crafts on the bustling streets. And remember to hydrate in New Mexico’s summer heat!
Whatever brings you to Santa Fe, don’t miss the festival’s flagship event: the burning of the Zozobra. This 50-foot effigy represents the hardships of the previous year, and there’s nothing quite like watching it burn. The fiesta showcases historic Santa Fe at its most vibrant, so it’s one of the best times to visit!
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to Santa Fe | From $58 | |
| Train tickets to Santa Fe | From $58 |
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza transforms Chicago’s Grant Park into a pulsating, four-day celebration of music, culture, and late-summer energy. Running from July 31 to August 3, 2025, the iconic festival brings together hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world to see an eclectic lineup spanning every genre imaginable.
This year’s headliners include Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, the Creator, A$AP Rocky, Sabrina Carpenter, Korn, and K-pop phenoms TWICE—plus dozens more across multiple stages. Beyond the music, expect immersive art installations, local food vendors, and an unmistakable festival buzz that takes over downtown Chicago. Whether you’re camping out at the main stage or discovering your new favorite artist at a tucked-away set, Lolla delivers an unforgettable summer send-off.
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to Chicago | From $8 | |
| Train tickets to Chicago | From $6 |
Iowa State Fair
Nothing screams summer Americana quite like the Iowa State Fair. The fairgrounds in Des Moines come alive with a nostalgic mix of butter sculptures, corn dogs, tractor pulls, giant slides, and live music. This year’s theme—“Fair Sweet Fair”—invites visitors to indulge in the beloved traditions that have made this one of the largest and most celebrated state fairs in the country.
Daily entertainment includes a jam-packed Grandstand lineup, livestock shows, blue ribbon contests, and family-friendly parades. Pro tip: Don’t miss the famed Butter Cow, a life-sized bovine sculpted entirely out of butter. With its blend of quirky charm and wholesome fun, the Iowa State Fair offers a true slice of Midwestern magic.
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to Des Moines | From $18 |
September 2025
The Great New York State Fair
Marking the grand finale of summer, the Great New York State Fair is one of the oldest and largest state fairs in the U.S., drawing visitors from across the Northeast for rides, carnival games, agricultural showcases, and epic live performances.
This year’s free concert lineup includes crowd-pleasers like Busta Rhymes, 98 Degrees, Cheap Trick, Maddie & Tae, Shaggy, KIDZ BOP, and Yacht Rock Revue—all included with fair admission. Whether you’re exploring culinary competitions, snapping pics of prize-winning pumpkins, or noshing on fried everything, this late-summer blowout delivers something for everyone. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the tail end of fair season.
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to Syracuse | From $10 | |
| Train tickets to Syracuse | From $17 |
Riot Fest
For punk rock diehards and alternative music lovers, Riot Fest is the highlight of the fall festival circuit. Chicago’s Douglass Park will explode with thrashing guitars, mosh pits, and crowd-surfing mayhem as Blink‑182, Green Day, Weezer, and dozens of other rock, punk, emo, and indie acts take the stage.
More than just a concert series, Riot Fest is known for its throwback reunions, surprise sets, and carnival rides that add a nostalgic, rebellious flair. The festival also features local food trucks, vinyl record pop-ups, and even wedding chapels—because of course people get married there.
Come for the music, stay for the glorious chaos. 🤘
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to Chicago | From $8 | |
| Train tickets to Chicago | From $6 |
Neptune Festival
Matt / ShareAlike 2.0 Generic via Flickr
Close out summer with sand between your toes and live music in the air at the Neptune Festival, happening all along the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Spanning 30+ blocks of boardwalk, this free, open-air festival brings in more than 200 artists and craft vendors, dozens of food stalls, and a packed schedule of concerts across multiple stages.
And one of the biggest draws is the world-renowned International Sand Sculpting Championship, featuring mind-blowing creations carved from beach sand! Add in beach yoga, athletic competitions, fireworks, and even a Neptune-themed parade, and it’s no wonder this festival has been a Virginia favorite for over five decades.
Book your trip:
| Bus tickets to Virginia Beach | From $12 | |
| Train tickets to Virginia Beach | From $28 |
Summer is the time to live your best life, so don’t skip out on the season’s hottest events! No matter how you choose to let loose, consult Wanderu to effortlessly book bus and train tickets, hotels, and more. Already on the move? Download the app to make hassle-free reservations!
Interested in more suggestions for things to do this summer? Hit up these cities for the best craft beer, set out on your dream trip to Yellowstone, or if you’re traveling with the whole family, check out our budget tips to save some money. Whatever’s on your summer bucket list, Wanderu has you covered!
