3 days, 2 nights, 14 shows, 2 bottles of sunscreen + 1 jump into Lake Simcoe and we took in our first WayHome.  It didn’t take much convincing to have mike agree to buying tickets to the 1st ever WayHome Music and Art Festival in Oro Medonte, Ontario.  It was in province, didn’t break the bank, and had a roster of acts that we both wanted to see.  The only topic up for debate was to camp or not to camp.

Mike and I had not been camping in years.  The activity wasn’t something we’ve been avoiding, it was solely an activity that’s never been top of mind for us.  Ultimately, we decided to camp as the campsite was included in the ticket price and would eliminate the need for commuting to and from the festival grounds.  The last music festival we attended was not an over nighter and the one before that included a shuttle back and forth to a resort; so, WayHome was not only going to be packed with music + art but with campsite adventures.  Our first order of business: find a tent.

After reading blogs, articles and their related conversation threads leading up to the festival, I noticed there were several WayHome doubters out there.  However, our firsthand experience did not disappoint. Sure there were some questionable and “they could have had ….” moments like the decision we made not to purchase shower passes [ couldn’t wrap my head around porto showers and decided I would rather be dirty ]; that time I locked our only set of car keys in the car and were denied assistance by a not so friendly campsite attendee as there were only 2 tow trucks on site and the wait list was too long [ he advised us to break a window – thankfully with a pair of tongs, Jiffy Pop and duct tape we got the door unlocked ]; the long hot mornings before the festival started; the lack of coffee and breakfast food available for purchase to campers; and the need for more shade and water stations on the festival grounds; but the good out weighed the bad and the ‘could haves’ lent themselves to more memorable moments.

 After hearing stories from friends about their past festal camping experiences I was expecting to be sardined next to our car next to our neighbours; not here!  We had tons of space, we could have gone bowling if we wanted to.  After setting up site, Mike bbq’d an early dinner and we made our way to the grounds.

C A M P S I T E  E A T S  |  Sannigan’s sausage in Blackbird Baking Co. buns + coleslaw + sweet potatoes + saurkraut

F E S T I V A L   L O O K  |  H&M long white top, WILFRED tank, LEVIS shorts, my H&M leather boots that I have designated as my ‘festival booties’ going 2 festival seasons strong!, J.CREW hat + CUTLER & GROSS specs

H I G H L I G H T S | successfully setting up camp!, Hozier, Alt+J,  finally finding my friend Maddy [ a non camper ], finding Mike after losing Mike for several hours, finding my phone at the lost and found after not realizing it had been lost + Neil Young

[ Neil Young + Promise of the Real closing down Day 1 ]

[ Mike watching Neil Young ]

The forecast called for periods of afternoon rain, which I welcomed afar 1.5 days of straight sunshine and heat.  However, the clouds appeared more dramatic than the actual showers they were conveying.  It rained sporadically within about a 30min time span; and that was all!

C A M P S I T E  E A T S  |  Sannigan’s dry aged burgers + Blackbird buns, kale caesar salad + lemon potatoes

F E S T I V A L  L O O K  |  ISABEL MARANT dress, H&M hat, JBRAND shorts, CONVERSE shoes + FESTIVAL SPECS sunnies

H I G H L I G H T S  | Manchester Orchestra, not getting rained on, Run the Jewels, G-Eazy, Kendrick Lamar + fireworks

[ casual posing in one of the art installations ]

 [Kendrick closing down Day2 ]

Daily, the sun got us out of bed by 8am; the tent was too hot to stay in.  As we didn’t pack a canopy or shade of any sort, we spent the mornings to early afternoons scantly clad in the heat quenching our thirst with water and cocktails.  The rule was that your vehicle was not allowed back onto the campsite once it leaves; so on day 3, before the shows [ & after I locked our keys in the car ], we packed up our site and drove straight to the water.  We cooled off in Lake Simcoe [ who needs a shower pass ], parked in visitors parking, and enjoyed the last day of the festival.

C A M P S I T E  E A T S  |  marinated short ribs, an asian noodle salad, corn on the cob + salt & pepper chicken wings

[ while watching The Sheepdogs ]

F E S T I V A L  L O O K  |  H&M fringe vest, T by ALEXANDER WANG tank, LEVIS shorts, H&M hat + BAILEY NELSON specs

H I G H L I G H T S  |  MacGyver-ing our way into our car with wire to unlock it after I locked our keys in it, jumping in the lake, The Sheepdogs, July Talk, Cold War Kids!!!, Brandon Flowers, Vance Joy at sunset, and the ever so talented Sam Smith under the stars

 [while watching Vance Joy; so humble and so cute! ]

[ paper lanterns released into the night sky as Sam Smith serenaded the crowd with his magical voice.  I was a fan before but am an even bigger fan now! ]

It was a great weekend!  Job well done!  Though we likely will not be camping next year, we will be finding our way back to WAYHOME!