They couldn’t have come up with a better name for this festival. With a killer lineup and an outrageous menu, Sweetgreen’s Sweetlife Festival was the place to be last weekend. DC restaurant (and food truck) favorites made appearances — Baked & Wired, Shake Shack, Pleasant Pops and Jose Andres’ Pepe Truck were all there. And of course, Sweetgreen.
But I think most of us were there for the music. It’s not everyday you see Fitz and the Tantrums, A$AP Rocky, Explosions in the Sky, Kid Cudi, The Shins, and Avicii on the same stage. I talked to a girl who drove all the way from New York just to see The Knocks.
For most of the day we were all gathered around on blankets in the grass. People were dancing, hula hooping, running around. Most of us were just lounging, drinking, and loving the music. Some people brought paint and were drawing on each other’s faces. The teenage girl sitting in front of us painted mine. Sometimes you just have to go with it.
If you’ve ever been to a festival, then you know it’s more than just the food and the music. It’s all about the atmosphere. And that’s the best part of Sweetlife. Everyone laughs and talks. When you get a bunch of people together who are just trying to have a good time, you can’t go wrong. It’s just…fun!
Even when the rain started, people just rolled with it. They threw on ponchos or huddled together under umbrellas. By the end of the night no one was sitting around anymore. Avicii took the stage last, and the place was packed. People were jumping, dancing, singing, throwing around glow sticks and beach balls. As soon as the beat dropped, you could feel the energy in the whole place pick up. It was wild. If you didn’t make it this year, make sure you get there next time. I can’t wait to see what they come up with for Sweetlife 2013.