First Timer’s Guide
Lightning in a Bottle is more than a festival, it’s a community that’s over 20 years strong. Every attendee, artist, creator, presenter, and crew member contributes their own special ingredients to create this one-of-a-kind event.
Together we experience a welcoming and safe place to imagine, discover, and create. Please read through our trusty First Timer’s Guide to make sure you’re prepared to have the best Lightning in a Bottle possible!
How to LIB
Planning a festival trip can be fun but also a bit daunting. We get it. What kind of pass should I get? What about my friends? Are we camping or staying in a hotel? Is my girlfriend going to dump me before May? All great questions.
We can answer them all except maybe that last one, pal.
Let's break it down.
Step 1 - Choose Your Festival Pass
GA or VIP?
General Admission Passes grant you access to the festival and INCLUDE FREE CAMPING for everyone. This is your standard festival pass and most likely what you and your friends will be getting.
VIP Passes include additional amenities such as dedicated viewing areas and backstage lounges at our three main stages (Lightning, Thunder, and Woogie), with air conditioned restrooms, phone charging stations, exclusive bars and food vendors, and more. VIP passes also include free camping.
3-Day or 5-Day?
When it comes to 3 Days vs 5 Days, that will be up to you, your work schedule, and what your friends are doing. We highly recommend the 5-Day option if you're able to swing it (it is a holiday weekend after all).
5-Day Passes
5-Day Pass entry begins Wednesday at noon. You'll be able to set up camp, have extra time to explore, get to know your neighbors, and enjoy our kick off parties at The Stacks, Junkyard, and more on Wednesday.
The Woogie opens on Thursday and includes a full night of music. Thursday lineup will be revealed soon. If you want to switch from a 3-Day to a 5-Day pass once you see the Thursday lineup, totally cool. Just shoot us an email.
3-Day Passes
3-Day Pass entry begins Friday at 10AM. This pass is best suited for the weekend warriors who can't take the full 5 days off work. While theres no shortage of things to do on Wednesday and Thursday, our main music programming days are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, which the 3-Day Pass includes.
Step 2: Where to Stay?
Remember - all festival passes include standard camping for free. This is tent-only camping, meaning no vehicles allowed. If you’d like to camp with or in a vehicle, check out car camping and RV passes. We also offer other camping options, premium upgrades, and hotel packages. Read more below.
Car Camping
Remember when we said all festival passes include free camping? Well they do, but if you want to camp next to your car, you'll need to add on a car camping pass. Think of it like a parking pass that comes with a campsite. You only need 1 of these per vehicle. So if you and your 4 friends drive in one car, you'll need 4 festival passes + 1 car camping pass. Simple right?
RV Passes
Camping not your vibe? Totally get it. If you own or rent an RV, just add an RV pass to your order and you're set. You can also book an RV directly through our partners at El Monte RV with a special LIB rate.
Group Camping
Coming with a large group? Group Campsites are some of the closest, best spots you can get at LIB. You get a reserved, designated spot where everyone in your group can arrive separately but still camp together.
Time to fire up that group chat.
Easy Peasy Pre-Set Camping
Leave the planning to us. Show up to LIB with a pre-set tent waiting for you with air mattresses, bedding, camping lights, a fan and more. Perfect for people flying in or those who don't own camping gear. Available in 2 and 4 person options, Easy Peasy is just what it sounds like...Easy Peasy!
Easy Peasy Pre-Set RVs
Same idea as Easy Peasy Camping but in an RV. Show up to LIB with an RV waiting for you. Throw your stuff down and the party begins. Standard and Premium options available in various sizes.
Atlaswyld Boutique Camping
Atlaswyld is our premium, boutique camping option aka 'glamping'. For those seeking an elevated experience, Atlaswyld offers multiple tiers of fully furnished tents, Airstream rentals and premium accommodations. If a real mattress is calling your name, this is the option for you.
Hotel Packages
Book a nearby hotel bundled with your festival passes through our local hotel partners at exclusive rates directly through our website.
EXPLORE ALL PASSES & LODGING OPTIONS HERE
Top Questions about LIB 2025 Passes
1. Is camping free or do I need to purchase an additional camping pass?
Answer: Camping is 100% included with all GA and VIP passes. You don't need to purchase an additional pass to camp at LIB.
In short, camping is FREE
2. When does entry begin for 3-Day Pass holders?
Answer: 3-Day Pass entry begins Friday morning at 10AM. No exceptions. If you want to come Thursday to set up camp, you will need to buy a 5-Day Pass. We recommend the 5-Day pass for the full LIB experience.
3. Can I upgrade from a 3-Day Pass to a 5-Day Pass? or switch from GA to VIP?
Answer: Absolutely. Email our team at community@thedolab.com with your request and order info and they can switch your pass type.
4. Are there bathrooms and showers for campers?
Answer: Yes! Duh. There are showers and bathrooms located throughout the campgrounds. Head to our website to read about all amenities here
Have more questions? Head to our Info & FAQ section to learn more. Don't see your question listed? Shoot us an email at community@thedolab.com and an actual human will get back to you ASAP.
LIB Glossary
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The learning hub of the festival, the Compass is made up of 6 programmed areas offering talks, workshops, and classes.
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An educational area dedicated to food-focused workshops and culinary classes in a variety of both ancient and modern kitchen traditions.
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LIB’s interactive creative learning space, offering art classes, hands-on workshops, and LIB art tours.
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Also known as LIP. Over 50 live painters transform blank canvases into incredible murals and paintings throughout the festival, concluding with an art walk and silent auction Sunday evening.
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Micro-environments within the festival offering unique programming, games, shenanigans and more.
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Your go-to destination within the festival for community crafted goods made by some of the best local and international artisans.
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Ideal for out of state travelers or camping newbies, Atlaswyld Campground offers onsite camping services that include pre-pitched luxury tents for an extra special LIB experience. Click here to view tent and trailer packages.
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LIB is a “Pack it in, Pack it out” event, meaning everything you bring to LIB, including your camp waste, should be taken out of the festival with you or brought to a Waste Collection Station on your way out.
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We are all Green Team! The Green Team educates attendees on recycling, composting, and keeping the grounds clean for a greater festival experience.
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(Matter Out Of Place): Watch out for MOOP and if you see it, pick it up.
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We ask everyone to pack it in, pack it out, but if for some reason there is less room in your car on the way back, you can take sorted waste to the Waste Collection Stations.
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LIB is a drug-free event. That’s the law of the land. Harm Reduction is a set of practical strategies and services where the goal is to ensure a safe festival experience. We work with several partner organizations, such as DanceSafe and with our own Sanctuary found in the Medical tents to make sure our attendees stay safe and informed.
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Cultural Appropriation is when someone inappropriately adopts aspects of a culture that is not their own. Cultural appropriation refers to a particular power dynamic in which members of a dominant culture take elements from a culture of people who have been systematically oppressed by that dominant group.
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Sent with your wristbands and festival credentials in the mail, the Arrival Guide gives you detailed instructions on getting to LIB including ingress tips, where to go, and what to expect on arrival day.
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Offering one way and round trip tickets from major cities, the Lightning Bus is the easiest and greenest way to get to and from LIB. For more information and to purchase bus tickets click HERE
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Flow of traffic into the festival on arrival days.
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Flow of traffic heading out from the festival on departure day.
Pro Packing List
The Essentials
Wristband, Vehicle Stickers + Gov Issued ID
Face Coverings; Face Mask (recommended), Bandana, Scarf, it gets dusty!
Sunglasses or goggles
Earplugs ~ for safety and sleep
Headlamp or Flashlight (plus a set of backup batteries)
Refillable Water Bottle
Heavy Duty Trash Bags
Sturdy, Reliable Footwear (for lake and land) + extra socks & bandaids
Bring This, Not That
Permitted Items
YES Reusable (non-glass) Water Bottles, stay hydrated and keep filled at the several water stations throughout the festival
YES Enclosed Propane Stoves
YES Good Vibes
YES Backpacks
YES Cameras
YES A Reasonable Amount of Alcohol for Personal Consumption in Campgrounds Only
YES Coolers in Campgrounds
YES Floaties and Inflatable Rafts
YES Paddle Boards
YES Solar and Battery Powered Generators
Prohibited Items
NO Fireworks, Fire Tools
NO Propane Lanterns
NO Charcoal Grills
NO Drones
NO Public Nudity
NO Portable Gas-Powered Generators
NO Sound Systems
NO Illegal Drugs/Substances
NO Weapons of Any Kind!
NO Dogs/Pets
NO Coolers in Festival Grounds
NO Glass Bottles/Containers in Festival Grounds
NO Kegs
NO Motorized Watercraft, Boats or Jet Skis
NO Fishing or Fishing Gear
The use of gas-powered generators is not permitted. Due to safety and fire concerns, the use of any portable gas-powered generators inside the festival and campgrounds is prohibited. We appreciate everyone’s support and understanding as we work together with the Kern County Fire Department to keep LIB safe. Attendees will be able to bring and utilize solar and battery powered generators. The festival will have safety staff monitoring the campgrounds to enforce all safety regulations.
6 Ways of LIB’ing
The 6 Ways of LIB are our community’s guiding principles that can be applied to all aspects of the LIB experience.
Celebrate Life
In every action and experience at LIB we cultivate feelings of fun, joy, and togetherness. We always remember that we are here to create and share the best time!
How we celebrate life at LIB
Keep an open mind. You’ll thank yourself later!
Open your heart to the people around you. Let people in.
Explore and get out of your comfort zone. Say YES! LIB is the perfect place to do this.
Embrace challenges and focus on solutions. Let go of things you cannot control.
Spread and seek out good vibes. You attract what you put out.
Connect with your body. Know yourself.
Share your talents. This is important, the world needs to know!
Keep smiling. You’re alive.
Breathe. You are here now.
Create Community
At LIB we act in accordance with a shared sense of belonging. LIB belongs to all of us and we are happy to share it with one another in all its spaces and interactions.
How we create community at LIB
The Campgrounds: Share space, respect your neighbors, keep a clean camp!
The Dancefloor: Move carefully & calmly through crowds. Never push through people. If you want to be in the front for a set, arrive early.
Harm Reduction: Offer support to those in need. If somebody looks lost or unwell, help them find medical or security staff.
On Social Media: Treat others with respect & good will. Don’t feed the trolls.
Waiting in Line: Waiting is a part of any festival experience. Stay positive, follow instructions & remember we’re all in this together.
Respect Yourself, Respect Others
We recognize and respect personal boundaries. In respecting boundaries, we take responsibility for how our actions affect ourselves as well as those around us.
How we respect ourselves & others at LIB
Take Care of Yourself & Be Smart: Drink water, wear your dust mask, take breaks, get sleep, be present, and know your limits. The future of this event depends on you!
Respect people’s bodies & boundaries: Keep your hands to yourself unless given clear verbal consent. Never assume & always listen. Compliment kindly not crudely. Approach every person respectfully.
Take Responsibility for Your Actions & Words: What you say, the costumes you wear, and the things you do can impact those around you. Check yourself regularly, educate yourself, be open to constructive feedback, and when in doubt - ask.
Actively Participate
We all take an active role in creating the LIB experience for everyone. We stay off the sidelines (and our phones!), exploring the possibilities of being the best versions of ourselves.
How we actively participate at LIB
Dress to self-express! It doesn’t matter what you wear, just put some love and creativity into it and let yourself shine through.
Lead by example: Pick up some trash and watch the person next to you do the same. Kind acts are contagious, see how many you can create!
Share your creativity! Create an offering, take a drawing class, or explore participatory art. Just don’t deface or damage someone else’s art! Create with respect.
Honor the Land
We have gratitude for the land and community where LIB is held. We strive to leave the land better than we found it and make a positive impact as part of the community.
How we honor the land
Pack It In / Pack It Out: Manage your camp trash, take all your camping gear home, and leave a spic and span space where your camp once was.
Respect the native plants and animals: Don’t trample the plants unnecessarily, and don’t unnecessarily disturb the wildlife at the park.
Respect the local community: Drive the speed limit. Don’t leave trash or anything by the roadside. Be friendly and courteous to everyone you meet in or out of the festival. Thank them for hosting the festival in their community. We all appreciate it!
Be a Citizen
We keep the wonderful experiences and learnings of LIB with us after the event so they can guide us in exercising our citizenship in our wider communities.
How we Practice Citizenship outside of LIB
Vote! The most basic and important civic responsibility of all.
Accept the call to Jury Duty: Jury Duty is a chance for all of us to experience and contribute to justice in action.
Know your rights: to exercise your rights you must know what they are. Oppression loves ignorance.
Respect the rights and opinions of others: Democracy is built upon reasoned debate. It is our best chance to find solutions and common ground. Respect and compassion wins in the end.