Northside Festival

This is the festival they do every year, lots of free concerts, exhibits, and just overall places to see. This year did not get the official badge so I could not go everywhere but enjoyed the stuff I did get to see. Innovation festival was taking place June 11 and 12^th. 50 Kent held most of the concerts like Neko Case, Best Coast, Built to Spill, Run the Jewels, Sleigh Bells, and Vince Staples. Most of those were not free, however. Against Me!, Luna, and The Very Best played on the other side at McCarren Park to long long lines on their free shows. There were also some independent films and web series talks in the Williamsburg area. The badge is really worth getting or earning could have seen alot of these bands and more access to free beer, Jameson or wine would have been there to enhance your experience. Check it out next year if you can in June.

EH… free shows, free tech people, but way too hot. I would not go back next near just from the sheer heat that is a part of this outdoor festival.

Came for the free Chvrches show. They actually gave a pretty good concert, and the price can’t be beat. However, sometime free isn’t always best. To see the show you had to:
–RSVP w/​the Northside Festival organizers and get blasted with unrelated emails the month before the concert. No big deal, I can set up a gmail filter.
–Get in line at 3pm for a 630pm concert. The line takes about an hour to get through. It’s a hot, sunny day.
— Once in, you realize you still have to wait a little more than two hours for the show. There is (overpriced) beer and food at least. That occupies you for about 30 min, and you’ve blown $ 40 on a light buzz and overpriced snacks.
— You wander around the few other stalls. You see huge setups for Keurig, TGI Fridays (not a joke), and Mastercard. Wow, how DIY Brooklyn. So different from those other corporate festivals…
— You find the most comfortable spot on the pavement and kill the next hour and a half moving from position to position so your butt doesn’t go numb.
Overall, I’d rather just pay the $ 25 and see a show. I appreciate their efforts to put on a free show and showcase local bands (other than Chvrches), but it really isn’t worth the hassle and this festival still has some growing up to do.

I didnt even know there was a festival going on. I stumbled upon it. It had a very artsy presentation. Would not be considered family friendly. There just wasnt anything appealing to a toddler except the bright paint. The only nice thing was the «grass» that was rolled out on the street. Not for nothing but i could sit on grass at a park. Williamsburg has art and great eats. A festival just made it look like Times Square