All Things Go: A Boots-on-the-Ground Review
Written by: Danielle Azu
What can you accomplish in one day? A couple of errands? A day trip? I decided to take it one step further and spend an entire day at All Things Go 2026!
Sorry, such a dramatic intro, but All Things Go is now the premier annual festival held in the DMV, and now New York and Toronto, hosting about 70,000 people across NYC and MD alone in 2024 (Pollstar.com). All Things Go started as a blog in 2006, eventually making its way into the festival space in 2014 and the train has been barreling full speed ahead ever since (Washington Post). The goal was not only to support emerging artists, but to create a space that empowers music goers to engage in music intimately and enjoy something new! It’s still to this day one of the few festivals that has more queer and women headliners than most festivals!
I’ve attended All Things Go for the past four years, and it has become something I look forward to every year. I make friends, discover new artists, and get to be unapologetically myself. This year was no exception.
Step 1: Tickets
Tickets have gotten more expensive as the festival has grown, but I’m part of the Besties community, which usually gives me early access. The catch? You buy tickets before the lineup is announced.
If you know you want to go, buy early. Prices typically increase as the festival gets closer.
Step 2: Getting There
For DMV locals, getting to the festival is pretty straightforward. For everyone else, hotels, Airbnb’s, and staying with friends are all options. All Things Go sends parking and event information before the festival, so keep an eye on your email.
If you want a barricade, get there early. And remember: there’s no reentry once you leave.
Step 3: The Main Event
One thing I appreciate about All Things Go is its communication with attendees. Weather, stage changes, and safety concerns can affect the festival, but the team generally keeps people informed.
The festival also does a great job introducing attendees to emerging artists. In past years, I’ve discovered artists like Hemlocke Springs, Meet Me At The Altar, Juliana Madrid, and Vundabar.
This year, I discovered The Beaches, The Beths, and Zolita on the Chrysalis stage, which remains one of my favorite parts of the festival.
And yes, I tackled the barricade again at Chrysalis. If you’re planning to do the same, be prepared to stand for 11 hours. Hydration and comfortable shoes are your best friends. You are usually able to go stand or find a seat in the pavilion, the Skylounge, or even the lawn. There are screens throughout the venue, so you won’t miss out on anything!
The day at Chrysalis stage started with Glom, who are a New York-based band with roots in the DMV. Some of my personal favorites were “Keep It a Memory” and “Glass”, which I was so excited to hear live.
Susannah Joffe came out and brought the house down with her incredible vocals and relatable music about growing up in Texas and having realizations about her life!
The excitement of discovering their new favorite artist was exuded, but when Zolita came out, it was proven that she made her mark on the crowd and the festival! She came with raw and raunchy grit, and storytelling that had everyone enamored.
I could hear attendees discussing how you could follow up such a performance, then Haute and Freddy walked on the stage. They have already taken most of the world by storm with their circus aesthetic, but definitely keep the vibes going with their set!
Next was Naika. Usually at this point of the show, and with the weather, people start getting tired and discouraged, but Naika brought her blessings to the stage and reminded the audience to keep speaking on topics that impact us all, inspired by her being part Haitian. She blended French, Spanish, and different musical cultures to bring something new to the stage.
After were The Beths, who just flew in from New Zealand. Their set was so beautiful. People stood and jammed or watched in complete awe of their performance. I was so stunned and moved by their songs, and they gained a new fan from me by the end of their set.
The Beaches then stormed their way onto stage and everybody lost it. I had personally not heard of them, but soon enough, I was singing along to their songs and jumping with everyone. They also brought out Rebecca Black for a fun little dance moment on stage!
Del Water Gap was a wild card for me! I had heard of him, but did not know what to expect. I did not expect him to jump into the crowd and start singing and jumping with us! I helped to lift his leg out of the crowd and back onto stage, so needless to say, I was invested!
The weather this year was rough. Rain and cold aren’t exactly ideal festival conditions, but the crowd stayed energized.
Then Zara Larsson closed out the night at Chrysalis with an earth-shaking performance. I genuinely think it was the loudest show I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve seen Pitbull!
By the time she performed “Midnight Sun,” I had completely forgotten about the cold.
My only regret is not getting to see Hayley fully because I was exhausted after standing for 11 hours straight, but nonetheless, this year was one for the books.
Step 4: More Than Music
Yes, this review is a little fan-girly. But All Things Go is the only festival I attend regularly, and there’s a reason I keep coming back.
Beyond the music, there are activities, community initiatives, and plenty of opportunities to discover something new. Most importantly, there’s a real sense of community.
Festivals are obviously businesses, but All Things Go shows that they can still create spaces where people connect, support artists, and simply have a good time.
And for me, that’s what keeps me coming back every year.
Have you been to All Things Go or another music festival? Tell me about your experience in the comments!
Photo Cred: Danielle Azu
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