“It’s high time someone gathered the stoned masses for a music festival in a field,” said no one since the first Woodstock festival. However, the National Cannabis Festival is more than a smoke cloud and a beat. Bringing together around 25,000 cannabis activists, vendors, stoners, and music fans annually, the festival aims not just to celebrate cannabis but to educate and break the stigma around the recently legalized plant. This festival has a stage, but it also has culture, wellness and policy pavilions to discuss health benefits, legalization and more.
Advocacy is a big part of the festival; founder Caroline Phillips focuses on supporting the nonprofit weed advocacy groups with a voter registration push. The rest of the weekend is dedicated to weed, food and music, or as Phillips calls it, “having a great time.” In the munchies zone, you’ll find everything you’d want to eat while high: pizza, crepes, Ben and Jerry’s, funnel cakes, Thai, ribs and hot dogs.
Musically, the National Cannabis Festival draws in huge acts every year, including Wiz Khalifa, Slick Rick, 2 Chains and the Wu-Tang Clan, who will headline on 4/20 in 2024. The festival leans towards rap and hip-hop acts, with other plant-forward genres such as reggae and bluegrass accompanying throughout the two days.
The Specs
- Around 25,000 people are expected to attend.
- 2-day GA tickets start at $95 and are $155 for early entry. Single-day tickets are also available. VIP tickets range from $420-$900. Full price breakdowns are available here.
- Read Fifty Grande’s guide to the best things to do in Washington D.C. here.
FAQs
Where does the festival take place?
The National Cannabis Fest will be held at RFK Festival Grounds in southeast Washington D.C.
Where is the nearest airport?
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is the closest, a twenty-minute drive from the festival grounds.
Is there parking?
Limited parking will be available on-site for $20. The city will tow cars parked in the surrounding neighborhood.
Do I have to be 21?
Yes, you must be over 21 to attend.
Who’s playing this year?
Wu-Tang Clan, Redman, Thundercat, Devin The Dude, Backyard Band, Noochie, RDGLDGRN, The Dirty Grass Players, Cumbia Heights, Dior Ashley Brown & The Filthy Animals, Farrah Flosscett, Black Alley, Black Rave Culture, Korine, Proverbs Reggae Band, and Ricky Platinum.
Poster
