GETTING TO LIB
Lightning in a Bottle is more than a festival. It’s a destination where your imagination is the only limit for 24 hours a day, for 5 days! Nestled in Central California at Buena Vista Lake, LIB is filled with unique areas inviting you to create magic, experience art and music, and engage in inspiring and educational offerings.
Join us as we bend reality and explore what else is possible!
DRIVING TO LIB
ADDRESS
Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area 13601 Ironbark Rd. Bakersfield, CA 93311
(don’t enter this into GPS – use directions below)
Driving Directions to LIB:
-
Via Interstate 5, North or South
-
Exit Bear Mountain Blvd / HWY 223
-
Go West on Bear Mountain Rd / HWY 223 for 4 miles
-
Turn right onto Coles Levee Rd and continue for 3 miles
PARKING
Whether carpooling or driving solo, all vehicles require a parking pass if you plan to park your car at the event in the Parking Lot. One parking pass per vehicle. All people inside the vehicle will require a separate GA or VIP Festival Pass; Vehicles with car camping or RV passes will not need a parking pass. Parking passes and other vehicle passes are available for presale on our TIXR ticketing page.
CAR CAMPING & RV CAMPING
Make camping a breeze by bringing your car or RV into the campgrounds. Passes are sold per vehicle, not per person. Placement of RVs is at the discretion of our placement staff at the time of arrival. All people inside the vehicle will require a separate GA or VIP Festival Pass.
Car placement in the campgrounds is free form, and cars/RVs will be directed to certain campgrounds by LIB parking staff. If you want to camp with a large group (and didn't buy one of our Group Camping packages), be sure to arrive early and together.
Click here for Camping Tips.
BOX OFFICE & GATE HOURS
Everyone must arrive during box office and gate hours. No exceptions. No lining up overnight or roadside parking / camping. PLEASE NOTE: THE GATE & BOX OFFICE ARE NOT OPEN 24 HRS! If you leave LIB after gates close, you will not be allowed back in until gates open the following day.
BOX OFFICE / GATE HOURS
-
Wednesday, May 24: 12pm - 11pm
-
Thursday, May 25 : 10am - 11pm
-
Friday, May 26 : 10am - 11pm
-
Saturday, May 27: 10am - 11pm
-
Sunday, May 28 : 10am - 6pm
-
Monday, May 29 : No Entry
All LIB attendees must arrive between these posted hours. Attendees may leave at any time. There will be no entry granted during overnight hours even for individuals with credentials. No entry and no waiting in line is permitted outside these hours.
7 TIPS FOR SMOOTH TRAVEL
-
CREDENTIALS ON AND READY BEFORE YOU ARRIVE – Wristbands securely on left wrists before you get to the festival.
-
VEHICLE PASSES ON WINDSHIELD BEFORE YOU ARRIVE – Vehicle stickers must be affixed inside the UPPER drivers side front windshield before you get in line.
-
EASY ACCESS TO YOUR ID – For Will Call & Guest List you will need it to pick up your tickets at the Box Office. If you have Kids Passes, you must stop at Will Call to verify the child’s age and presence of a legal guardian in order to receive your child’s Festival Pass.
-
DO YOUR RESEARCH – Scope the map, read the arrival guide, and get familiar with your options and gate hours before you get here.
-
MANAGE EXPECTATIONS – There is ONE road in and out of LIB, so you can expect the ingress process to be slower during peak arrival times. Embrace this reality and remember what’s on the other side.
-
PRACTICE PATIENCE AND GRATITUDE – We ask for your patience and cooperation as our team moves all of you in as safely and quickly as possible. Smile, give high fives or elbow bumps and show your appreciation where you can.
-
BE RESPECTFUL OF OUR AMAZING NEIGHBORS – Stay in your vehicles, do not block driveways, keep the music down, the trash inside, and use gas station facilities before you exit the highway.
Pro-Tip! Arriving together is the ONLY WAY to guarantee a camping spot next to friends. Once a campground is full, the entrance will be closed. Even if your friends saved space for you, no more vehicles will be allowed to enter a closed campground.
TAKING THE LIGHTNING BUS
The Lightning Bus is reliable festival transportation from Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Diego. Travel in comfort and convenience; all you need to bring is your luggage and camping gear.
4 REASONS TO TAKE THE LIGHTNING BUS
-
Go green. Lower the carbon footprint!
-
Let us do the driving. Relax on the way here and meet new friends!
-
There’s enough room for your camping gear! Isn’t that rad?
-
Get dropped off and picked up at a central location within the campground.