Life Is Beautiful

Taking place this year from September 16-18, Life is Beautiful is more than just a music festival—it’s a WHOLE experience that will make you fall in love with Las Vegas for more than just its shows and casinos. I was never a gambler (though you’ll have plenty of opportunities to do that during your visit if you’d like) so finding something like this was definitely up my alley. 

Much different than Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC Las Vegas), you can find a wide range of artists and experiences at Life is Beautiful that cater to various age groups and music tastes, which you can see by looking at any of their lineups. Last year, I checked quite a few artists off my bucket list, including EARTHGANG, Glass Animals, Tame Impala, Keys n Krates AND, much to the delight of my teenage self: Green Day. This year is certainly no different, with the lineup boasting artists like: Jack Harlow, Kygo, Calvin Harris, Beach House, SG Lewis, Tai Verdes, Phantoms AND the legendary Gorillaz, to name a few! Check out the full and completely stacked lineup here. Honestly, this festival does not miss, although I will say, because I'm huge into EDM, I really love that they have a dedicated EDM tunnel for all of us ravers out there! 

It truly is so fun to weave in and out of the different worlds within Life is Beautiful - you can go from getting down to the music at one their 7 stages straight into a seated and air-conditioned comedy show, or head over to Market in The Alley to peruse some fun vendors, then immerse yourself in a culinary experience that gives you a taste of the best of what Vegas has to offer. Life is Beautiful, as is implied by the name, was created to remind us of all the beautiful things this life has to offer, expanding our minds and inspiring us through various artistic avenues.

One of the coolest things about Life Is Beautiful is that it takes place in the Arts District of Las Vegas, which is only a short drive from the strip if that’s where you choose to stay. The arts district boasts 18 blocks of carefully curated art by Just Kids, featuring local Las Vegas artists and artists worldwide. Some of my favorite artists they’ve featured? Pretty Done, Camille Walala, Spidertag, André Saraiva & more!

Where to Stay

Regarding accommodations, I highly recommend staying closer to the festival to avoid any traffic. Because after a long festival day, there’s nothing like just walking a block or two to your hotel. A few places I would recommend staying at are:

• El Cortez
• The Downtowner 
• Oasis at Gold Spike (Adults Only)
• Circa

Tickets & Experiences 

Or head over to LIB’s booking portal to find hotel packages exclusive to the festival! Speaking of packages, head over to their ticketing page to understand more about which ticket is right for you! You can choose from GA (1-Day or 3-Day), VIP (1-Day or 3-Day), VIP+ (1-day or 3-day) and the ALL-IN tickets, which grant you entry into Artist Hospitality (aka you get to meet your favorite artists), exclusive culinary experiences and get shuttled between stages (because walking is for peasants) – you can get 1-day or 3-day ALL IN passes depending on your budget and can always upgrade during the festival.

In the past I've done the VIP experience, which was fun because you get to enter the exclusive viewing areas through the express entries, have air-conditioned bathrooms, and their sponsors set up cute little areas where you can enjoy drinks or food in their lounges. The festival also sells VIP Suites for companies or people hosting large parties. These hospitality suites come with 15 VIP tickets, amazing views of the downtown stage, an open bar and so much more. Currently there is a waitlist but you can fill out the form here.

Getting There

If you’re not driving to the festival, the nearest airport would be the Harry Reid International Airport, or the North Las Vegas Airport. From there, you can either rent a car or Uber to where you need to go! Want to get to the festival without having to book a Lyft or an Uber? Check out the Shuttle Passes offered by LIB, where you can be picked up at a designated location and shuttled to the festival all 3 days! Each person would have to book their own shuttle pass but it definitely seems that it could be worth it if you’re staying further away from the festival and don’t want to drive!

And now, one of my favorite parts!

What to wear to Life is Beautiful! 

Since the Festival takes place in September, the temperatures are definitely not as hot as what you would expect - however, it still is warm and you can definitely get away with skirts, shorts and short-sleeved shirts or tank tops. Because Las Vegas IS a desert, it is important to note that temperatures at night could get a little chilly, so bringing a light jacket is not the worst idea. Here are a few of our recommendations from IHR’s closet!

Dancing In The Desert Outfit 

Wild West Warrioress Outfit

Bratz Be Like Outfit

Ready, Aim, Fire Outfit

Lost In Speed Outfit

Each of these outfits speaks to the current trends but also to the eclectic nature of Life Is Beautiful. No matter what you decide to wear, each of these outfits will make you feel like the baddest baddie in all the lands! Just remember to enjoy each moment & have the time of your life – because life really is SO SO beautiful.

After almost a year of being locked inside, the return of festival season brought back all types of different emotions, but mostly complete excitement followed by a giant wave of pre-rave jitters that could only be cured with a really cute fit. Luckily, I was able to take advantage of IHR’s Festival Shipping and copped a really cute two-piece set that I knew I’d be able to shuffle in as well as some cute accessories that got to me just in time!

If you’re anything like me, you like looking cute and being functional, but most importantly you love being comfortable! While it’s true that feeling yourself starts from within, having what you’re wearing not only be seasonally appropriate but also fit with the vibe of the festival just checks off way too many boxes for me to overlook. When planning what to pack for a festival. I usually start off reading fashion tips from our 240 blog & end up watching festival recaps on YouTube to really understand what I'm getting myself into, but I'm also a Leo rising so the extra just comes easily to me!

Believe it or not, figuring out the logistics for the fest was actually the easiest part, considering the fact that all you need to do to figure out accommodations is get a hotel right downtown or on the strip. Staying in the Arts District is mostly ideal because the festival ends and you can go right upstairs vs. having to wait for a Lyft, which actually only took about 15 minutes each night. I was fully expecting to enter EDC traffic chaos with trying to find a way home but that simply wasn’t the case!

If you downloaded the Life is Beautiful app, they basically took care of the thinking for you. They made sure to remind you to download the CLEAR app to facilitate the health screening (you upload your vaccination card & are able to use it at multiple events) and get you your health wristband for the weekend, making the whole process of entering the festival a breeze.

Once inside the festival, it was game time. I’d spent most of the car ride studying their app because I'm a nerd and also because they absolutely crushed it with the UX/UI. Not only does it break your schedule down by highlighting the artists you favorited in the artist section, but it sends you notifications as any of your favorites are about to start & even has a drop down of who’s currently playing and where. The app includes 3 different maps: the MAIN festival map, an interactive map, and a map to help you find all the amazing art & murals - which was honestly one of the highlights of the entire festival for me.

As an artist, I fell in love with Vegas for the first time this past January during the pandemic, when the arts district was a ghost town & all I could do was admire the prismatic & thought provoking murals that adorned the walls of these empty streets. Seeing them then transformed with a wave of Charlotte Dutoit’s wand into this wonderland teeming with vibrant, smiling, dancing souls just further cemented my love and appreciation for this magical 3-day festival. But what really did it for me was, without a DOUBT, the music.

Life is Beautiful is known for having some of the most eye-catching and eclectic lineups i’ve ever seen. Bridging the gap between genres and generations, past lineups boast names like Post Malone, ZHU, Chance The Rapper, Stevie Wonder, Outkast, Zedd & so many other artists I'd gladly give up my first child to see.

Kidding.

This year though, my heart eyes were all for Cannons, LANY, Willow Smith, Glass Animals, Tame Impala and just too many to name! When it comes to lineups, this festival caught my attention because it wasn’t just catering to my electric soul (which are the festivals I usually tend to gravitate to!). As much as I love going all out on rave outfits for EDC & despite the fact that I listen to EDM primarily, it was nice to be able to sit on the grass side stage, sipping on overpriced drinks & swaying to the majestic sounds coming from St. Vincent’s vocal and guitar strings. I’m not kidding. If she was the only one playing that night it would’ve ALL been worth it. Her stage presence alone was unparalleled except for Willow & Glass Animals, who both commanded the stage with larger than life auras and performances. I was TRULY blown away all 3 days.

Life is Beautiful is more than a festival; it’s a mantra, a mentality, and perhaps above all, a way of existing.

Taking place September 20 - 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada, this is one festival that you don't want to miss. Here are some reasons why:

Location, location, location

Photo Credit: @dewlandphotography

What could be more fun than a festival that takes place in the middle of Las Vegas!? (The answer is nothing). Now, I know what you’re thinking. EDC takes place in Las Vegas, how is this any different? Well, unlike EDC, Life is Beautiful puts you right smack in the middle of the authentic Vegas environment. Downtown Las Vegas and Fremont Street on their own have an indescribable and unique aura that you just cannot find anywhere else. Downtown Las Vegas is completely overtaken by Life is Beautiful and those old school Vegas vibes are very much alive, making it one of the most fun experiences you can have in Vegas!

Art

Not only is Life is Beautiful a music festival but it is also an art festival! For those of you who love chasing cool walls to take pictures against, you will lose your mind at Life is Beautiful. Everywhere you look is covered in art of different forms, mediums, textures, and sizes. There are murals, sculptures, installations, light shows, art galleries, and fully immersive experiences that will make any art lover wonderstruck! Thie art installations include an entire art motel filled with 21 rooms of completely interactive art that takes the festival-goer into what seems like another world. This art motel has to be on your list of must-dos if you’re attending the festival!

Photo Credit: @dewlandphotography

The Food

Life is Beautiful takes the culinary experience you have very seriously. Like, VERY seriously! I promise you will not find experiences like this at any other music festival. For starters, their culinary villages are filled with more than 50 of Vegas’ hottest eateries including Eataly, Sake Rok, Shake Sak, and Kogi BBQ and caters to all diets no matter if you are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free! They have a cookout experience where your meal is prepared fresh over a crackling wood fire, as well as a farm stand. Then there is the cocktail school where you and your crew can go mix up some of the yummiest alcoholic refreshments! After you’ve had a few of those drinks, head over to Omakase Cantina where you can have a front-row and intimate seat at the chef’s table. Whatever you eat at Life is Beautiful is sure to be a party in your mouth!

The comedy, podcast, and artistic performer lineup!

Not only does Life is Beautiful have a killer music lineup, they absolutely slay when it comes to comedy, podcasts, and artistic performers as well! For those who want to get a good laugh, head over to The Kicker, the comedy stage where you can catch Fred Armisen, Nikki Glaser, and even a guest performance by Jonathon Van Ness. For those of you who enjoy a good political podcast and want to be part of a live interactive recording of one, head over to Pod Save America for all the 411. Last but not least, catch performances by Cirque Du Soleil and House of Yes for mind-blowing and daring talent!

That music lineup, though

Chance the Rapper, The Black Keys, Post Malone, Billie Eilish, Rufus Du Sol…..Need I say more? This lineup caters to all music tastes whether you prefer a good R&B beat or want to get down to some EDM (like I’m sure most of us here). Some people you don’t want to miss? Rufus Du Sol is an incredible DJ/ Band trio that makes the best feel-good music out there. Their tunes will quickly become anthems in your summer playlist, I guarantee you. If you’re in the mood for some weird wubbles, you don’t want to miss Space Jesus for an out of this world experience. Then you have Post Malone, Whethan and Kasbo with those feels. And bad bee Billie? Definitely a performance you won’t want to miss. You really cannot go wrong at any stage at any time so wander and discover new artists! You won’t regret it. 

Like I said, Life is Beautiful is a totally, unique festival experience and definitely one that you should add to your bucket list. See you in Vegas!