What to See at Marfa's Trans-Pecos Festival
Ever since James Dean starred in Giant, way back in 1956, Marfa, Texas has held a certain appeal for travelers. The infamous creativity community—and occasional vacation destination for Beyoncé—offers plenty of reasons to visit, including the upcoming Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love. Now in its 10th year, the annual festival celebrates music and art under the allure of the Marfa mystery lights.
This year, the festival takes place September 24-27 on the grounds of the El Cosmico campsite, a Marfa institution that offers retro trailers, luxury tents, yurts, and teepees for guests to stay in, all built around a communal hang-out space. Festivalgoers are also invited to set up a tent or even just a bedroll to snooze under the Texas skies.
The digs aren’t the only draw of the event, though. This year’s line-up includes acts like Jenny Lewis, Portugal. The Man, Phosphorescent, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Ben Kweller, among others.
In addition to the tunes, the festival has plenty of activities to fill four days in Marfa, including workshops on how to make your own bitters and liqueurs, lessons in camp cooking, and Bolo Tie tutorials.
True to the Marfa mystique, the festival also features installations from local artists, on-site tarot readings, and, in case you need to relax after a full day of relaxing, a massage therapist will be around to lend a helping hand or two.
In terms of eats, there’s a Saturday night pig roast (with plenty of vegetarian options) and a host of food vendors serving up local fare, but if you want to cook your own food on one of the communal grills, that’s fine too.
And before you head out, stop by the Breakfast Revival for a pancake-and-sausage feast, a Bloody Mary bar, and music from the Robert Ellis Group. A full belly is just one way to carry the cosmic vibes all the way back to whatever terrestrial city you call home.
Ever since James Dean starred in Giant, way back in 1956, Marfa, Texas has held a certain appeal for travelers. The infamous creativity community—and occasional vacation destination for Beyoncé—offers plenty of reasons to visit, including the upcoming Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love. Now in its 10th year, the annual festival celebrates music and art under the allure of the Marfa mystery lights.
This year, the festival takes place September 24-27 on the grounds of the El Cosmico campsite, a Marfa institution that offers retro trailers, luxury tents, yurts, and teepees for guests to stay in, all built around a communal hang-out space. Festivalgoers are also invited to set up a tent or even just a bedroll to snooze under the Texas skies.
The digs aren’t the only draw of the event, though. This year’s line-up includes acts like Jenny Lewis, Portugal. The Man, Phosphorescent, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Ben Kweller, among others.
In addition to the tunes, the festival has plenty of activities to fill four days in Marfa, including workshops on how to make your own bitters and liqueurs, lessons in camp cooking, and Bolo Tie tutorials.
True to the Marfa mystique, the festival also features installations from local artists, on-site tarot readings, and, in case you need to relax after a full day of relaxing, a massage therapist will be around to lend a helping hand or two.
In terms of eats, there’s a Saturday night pig roast (with plenty of vegetarian options) and a host of food vendors serving up local fare, but if you want to cook your own food on one of the communal grills, that’s fine too.
And before you head out, stop by the Breakfast Revival for a pancake-and-sausage feast, a Bloody Mary bar, and music from the Robert Ellis Group. A full belly is just one way to carry the cosmic vibes all the way back to whatever terrestrial city you call home.
