The 2025 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, held June 12–15 in Manchester, TN, marked a notable change in its beloved bandana tradition. For the first time in years, official festival bandanas were not handed out for free at entry toll booths. Instead, organizers distributed custom postcards featuring local artists, sparking disappointment and backlash across the Bonnaroo community.
In reaction, festival fans quickly rallied to keep the bandana spirit alive. Enthusiasts crafted their own custom designs emblazoned with the festival motto "Radiate Positivity," the 2025 dates, and colorful patterns. Discussions centered around trading and sharing bandanas, with a popular exchange gathering set at Groop Camping Plaza 5, bringing the community together in a grassroots revival of the tradition.
Changes also hit VIP zones, where bandanas appeared only as decorative items inside premium camping tents (Area 931). This sparked concern about exclusivity and commercialization, as general attendees felt sidelined from a key element of festival culture.
Despite the controversy, organizers promised bandanas will return in 2026, aiming to restore this signature hallmark.
For now, Bonnaroo attendees continue to embody the festival’s positive spirit by creating, swapping, and sporting their own bandanas — dust protection with a purpose — ensuring the legacy of "Radiate Positivity" thrives amid change.
Source: r/bonnaroo