Oceans Calling 2025 – Better with Ju

Almost 6 years later, I am finally crossing my first music festival off of my 30 before 30 (which was definitely impacted by the Covid pandemic just a couple of months after I published the post)! I came across Oceans Calling because I was sad that I couldn’t make it to Green Day concert when they were in Charlotte last year (I was going to Charlotte the following weekend for Avril Lavigne concert) and looked up where else I can go see them.

Oceans Calling is a newer festival (first year being 2023–it looks like they planned the first one for 2022 but it ended up being cancelled due to the weather) in Ocean City, MD. The festival itself is set up at the Boardwalk, and some of the local boardwalk businesses were inside the festival grounds, which was fun! The boardwalk also has its own amusement park called Jolly Roger Park, and the rides are free as part of the festival admission. I got to ride bumper cars four times with zero wait, which was such a treat!!!

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Ocean City by IHG and rode the city bus to and from the festival. The fare is $4 per person but the ones leaving the festival at the end of the night are free, and they even utilize the yellow school buses to get people out / back to wherever they are staying.

Our hotel was about 15 minutes’ drive North of the festival, and a lot of the buses were already full by the time it got to our stop. The first couple of days, we waited for an hour (the second day, we ended up hitching a ride with a couple of peoples, oops) when trying to get to the festival before the first sets. The last day, we decided to head in early, right when the doors open at noon, and we were able to get on the first bus that came to our stop (this might have been between 11am-11:30am) but it was already standing room only!

While I can’t compare to other festivals (since I’ve been to zero other ones) Oceans Calling was very chill! The crowd is definitely older, and I saw lots of families with small children as well (not sure if they stayed until the end each night though) which was a good fit for my lifestyle and energy level haha. We also didn’t try to see every single band/performance which also helped me not feel too overwhelmed or tired. There were times when we literally laid down on our blanket and fake napped…!

Throughout the festival, I kept a list on my phone that I kept adding to. This includes things I forgot and wish I had brought, thing I’m glad we did, etc. Sharing for the sake of my future self and maybe it is helpful for you as well?!

Fans – one of the electronic ones
No bus if possible? Maybe stay within walking distance ~15 min
- but maybe not since we sort of figured out the bus situation on the last day….
Clear bags (backpack / crossbody) – I need to get a large clear bag….!
Could reapply sunscreen – 75 feel like 90!!!
- It was SO sunny when it was not raining…
Blanket was worth it
GA plus was worth it
Hair tie instead of claw clip – the grocery store was literally out of them!!
Rain jacket – again. weather
CamelBak Packs – this is technically the only large bag allowed
Kindle – for some reason, I only packed for physical books and didn’t feel comfortable bringing them in because of the weather…!
Clothes with pockets – to easily access lip balm and phone
Chase mileage plus card – there is a lounge where you can get free drinks and stuff