Unlike last year’s rainout, sunshine and blue skies dominated most of this year’s three-day Governors Ball music festival in New York. The seventh annual music, art, food, and entertainment event, held June 2 to 4 on Randall’s Island and produced by Founders Entertainment, drew 150,000 fans to see big-name musical performers such as Chance the Rapper, Phoenix, Childish Gambino, and Lordek. Brands like returning favorites Miller Lite and Bacardi and newcomer Subway were also on hand with activations, lounges, and more.
Here’s a look at what kept festivalgoers humming during this year’s Governors Ball.
This year, the Honda-sponsored stage was transformed into a larger dome stage featuring headliners Flume, Childish Gambino, and Wiz Khalifa.
Street-art murals from Hanksy, Askew, Bunny Kitty, and more were on display throughout the grounds.
Festivalgoers could grab free Coke products at the brand’s activation, which featured oversize straw installations.
Guests could also personalize cans at the “Share an Ice Cold Coca-Cola” stations with their names as well as a friend’s.
The beer brand’s space, which was produced by MKG, featured picnic-style tables, a bar, and seating, along with free charging stations and Wi-Fi.
In addition, the branded area included a wall containing 28 fans to keep guests cool, as well as beer-can art designed specifically for Governors Ball.
Having debuted during the Boston Calling music festival, which took place from May 26 to 28 at Harvard Athletic Complex, the brand's new activation traveled to Bonnaroo in Tennessee and will hit other fests this summer as well.
This year, Citi teamed up with Founders Entertainment to allow cardmembers to link their R.F.I.D. festival wristbands to their Citi credit and debit cards in advance. The wristband acted as a cashless payment device, and also offered additional perks including access to the Citi viewing deck. The elevated area provided a view of the main stage and a cashless bar.
Subway served up free mini sandwiches, along with other goodies, inside its interactive lounge known as “the Green Room, baked by Subway.”
The sandwich company recently introduced a new logo, which was on display throughout the space, including on the backyard games.
The space featured live acoustic and DJ sets, meet-and-greets with artists, a live stream of the main stage performances, phone-charging stations, and personal refreshment stations.
Food review site the Infatuation and Tequila Don Julio hosted a happy hour in the festival’s "Best Kept Secret" area, with help from Tacombi tacos. It was a continuation of the Infatuation’s nationwide event series with the tequila brand. Plus, a curated mix of food vendors including Mister Dips, Taiyaki, Magnolia Bakery, Roberta's, and more was available in the Infatuation Village area.
The vodka brand’s lounge area, which was located near the Honda stage, featured specialty craft cocktails, plenty of leather seating, and distillery-inspired decor.
Attendees could also relax with manicures and massages inside the space.
In addition to the Stillhouse Lounge, Tito’s parked an Airstream trailer bar featuring music and cocktails within the “Best Kept Secret” area.
Throughout the weekend, festivalgoers took photos in front of the Tito’s Love Mural and posted them to social media using the hashtag #LoveTitos. For every post, Tito’s donated $1 (up to $10,000) to Musicians On Call, which is a nonprofit that brings live and recorded music to patients in healthcare facilities. In addition, fans were asked to write on the mural about someone they love.
Located next to the Bacardi Stage on the festival grounds, Casa Bacardi was a custom-branded space that featured surprise performances, specialty cocktails, comfy seating, and stage views from the roof.
The brand’s newest flavors, Bacardi Banana and Bacardi Major Lazer Limited Edition rums, were served up throughout the weekend event.
The area included plenty of lounge seating in a tiki bar atmosphere.
Fujifilm brand ambassadors were on site taking pictures of attendees with the brand’s Instax Mini 70 camera.
Hair care company Göt2b was on hand offering free braid styles to festivalgoers.
Festivalgoers were able to take a break and enjoy Vitaminwater samples and snag giveaways like sunglasses.
Tinsel & Twine created an interactive, Instagram-friendly environment that was inspired by Studio 54 for Nasty Gal’s Governors Ball pre-party at Studio 450 on June 1.
The space featured a vibrant palette of hot pinks and ultraviolets, along with ribbon curtains, platinum foil walls, and a lot of disco balls throughout the space.
