Outside Lands: the annual and incredibly infamous San Francisco music festival that ends every Bay Area summer. One of the peninsula’s most iconic events, people flock from all over the country for a chance to see their favorite music artists and experience San Francisco’s weather, food and culture. While most events like these have age limits, Outside Lands (OSL) is one of the few that doesn’t have age restrictions, giving this festival a unique aspect: the teen view.
Started in 2008, OSL is a 3-Day festival in Golden Gate Park celebrating music, food, drinks and other cultural aspects of the Bay Area. Many big music events often have age limits for guests, but OSL is open to the entire community. This creates a unique festival experience with a more varied crowd. When teenagers and young adults go to OSL, their preparation, experience and overall time at the festival might look entirely different than an adult’s.
Firstly, the outfit is everything for teenagers. The younger crowd might spend weeks or months curating, tracking down and purchasing the perfect clothing for every day of the festival. However, unlike the average California music festival, the San Francisco weather tends to be a significant indicator of how warm people choose to dress. Some recurring favorites include jeans, thick jackets, comfortable walking shoes and other various layers.
“I went to [OSL] last year, and I am going again this year…I would say the ratio of teenagers to adults at OSL is about 60/40,” shared senior Georgia Melvin. “I think you should be 15 or older going to OSL…I don’t think it’s really a scene for a freshman without a parent or adult present. There’s an age range of people…of course, there are teens, but there are also 20-year-olds and older. If you are going as a teen, then definitely stay alert…make sure you stay in communication with your entire group and also update a parent so they know where you are and what you’re doing.”
A signifier of teenage years is chaos, and OSL experiences are no exception. Between running across Golden Gate Park to make it to a certain music artist or a group of friends being separated at the park with no cell service, unexpected events—some memorable and some slightly stressful—are sure to occur. While the crazy wildness that can happen with teens at OSL is often part of the fun, it is important to instill solid safety precautions beforehand, including sharing locations, packing snacks and bringing water, among other things.
The culture at OSL is considered to be very “San Francisco forward,” featuring both alcohol and marijuana sold on site. However, these 21+ substances are highly regulated and strongly age-restricted via ID, making it a safe setting for adults to enjoy while underage festival-goers can still join in on the rest of the scene safely.
OSL is famous for its “Taste of the Bay Area,” a program that features a huge variety of local vendors and small businesses. Diversity in cuisine ranges from Michelin-star chefs to local favorites, as well as including lots of diet-inclusivity with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options. Prices are expected to be on the pricier side, with averages of $18 to 25 dollars for main dishes based on past years’ menus. Variety in taste, price and so much more make the food options at OSL perfect for teens looking to experience something new.
Overall, OSL is a once-in-a-lifetime but perfectly safe and age-appropriate opportunity for teenagers to experience music, Bay Area culture and so much more, with proper precautions taken and all boundaries followed. OSL is a beloved tradition for many NDB students, so get your OSL 2026 tickets today.
