Thirty-one years after it first launched, the Vans Warped Tour is proving it’s more than just a music festival; it’s a reunion. This weekend, thousands of fans will descend on Long Beach to celebrate the event that introduced generations to punk, emo, and alternative rock, while many longtime attendees return with kids of their own.
“It’s something that everybody looked forward to,” says longtime Warped Tour attendee Steven Kono, who has been going to the festival for more than two decades. When the tour ended in 2019, he says it was “like a shock to our system,” making its return all the more meaningful.
This year’s Long Beach stop features artists Gex X and Millennial fans will recognize, including Jimmy Eat World, Papa Roach, Third Eye Blind, Bowling for Soup and Reel Big Fish. But Kono says Warped Tour has always been about more than the lineup.
“I always felt like Warped Tour is different from other festivals like Coachella because you don’t feel separated,” he says. “You’ll see guitar players and lead singers walking around the merch table. They’ll treat you like you’ve been supporting them for so long.”
That connection has helped the festival endure. Kono says today’s crowds look very different from the ones he joined as a teenager.
“It’s 38-year-olds to 45-year-olds, and now they’re bringing their kids,” he says. “It’s not like when I was hanging out with my buddies trying to have a wild time. It’s a totally different experience.”
For anyone heading to the Long Beach waterfront this weekend, Kono recommends arriving early, preparing for heavy traffic and lots of walking, and checking the festival’s social media before you go.
“Be prepared to be outside for 12 hours,” he says. “It is just an absolute blast.