A guide to the best, boldest summer music festivals in Philly, Pa., N.J., and beyond

Pull out your lawn chairs and beach towels — and don’t forget your sunglasses — it’s music festival season.

Summer is heating up and there’s a slew of sizzling outdoor experiences for music lovers looking to sway to the strum of acoustic folk, bash beer cans in rock-induced frenzies, or spring out of their seats to croon along to their favorite R&B records.

While fans will miss out on the 2023 Philadelphia Folk Festival, which canceled this year’s event for the first time in its 60-year history, there are plenty of electrifying performances from legendary acts and emerging artists in venues across the Philly region. Some are staples, like Made in America and the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival — while others are getaways, with a little something for everyone.

Here’s a list of music festivals happening throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware this summer, arranged by date. (For a deep-dive into some of the biggest acts coming this season, don’t miss critic Dan DeLuca’s list of top acts to catch this season.)

The touring Sad Summer Fest makes its way to Philadelphia for a night of alternative indie rock and synth-pop, with bands like Taking Back Sunday, Head Automatica, the Maine, PVRIS, and other high-energy acts ripping the Skyline Stage at the Mann. ($65-$122, July 15, starting at 2 p.m., 5201 Parkside Ave., ticketmaster.com)

It’s only fitting that the Outlaw Music Festival is led by one of the pioneers of the outlaw country sound, Willie Nelson. The national tour will stop in Philly on Aug. 5, with Shotgun Willie bringing some talented friends with him, like artists Marcus King, Kathleen Edwards, the Avett Brothers, Flatland Cavalry, and others for a one-day celebration at the Mann. ($35-$299.50, Aug. 5, 2-11 p.m., 5201 Parkside Ave., ticketmaster.com)

At this point, Made in America is a Philly holiday all its own, and with headliners Lizzo and SZA confirmed for this year’s event, there will be much to celebrate. The festival returns to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with artists Miguel, Tems, Metro Boomin, Ice Spice, and other popular hip-hop and R&B acts taking the stage, including LSU women’s basketball star and part-time rapper Flau’Jae. ($150-$750, Sept. 2-3, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, frontgatetickets.com)

One Fine Day may just be as advertised. The one-day fest will debut at the Mann as headliners Sting and Shaggy swap their biggest hits on the main stage at the TD Pavilion. The two acts will be joined by artists Thundercat, Philly’s G. Love and Special Sauce, Koffee, and others in Fairmount Park. ($62.50-$899, Sept. 9, 5201 Parkside Ave., ticketmaster.com)

Scratch your other summer plans, Making Time ∞ will return for another “transcendent” musical experience with an equally “transcendental” lineup at Philly’s Fort Mifflin. Electronic and house acts Jamie xx, Helena Hauff, Overmono, Octo Octa and Eris Drew and DJ Koze will headline the music festival. (Sept. 22-24, 6400 Hog Island Rd., makingtimeisrad.com)

Atop Toyota Pavilion’s Montage Mountain, the Peach Music Festival returns to Scranton with headliners Tedeschi Trucks Band, Goose, My Morning Jacket, and Ween. Camping tickets are available for “Peach people” looking to roam the weeds along the festival grounds. ($88.95-$1,373, June 29-July 2, 1000 Montage Mountain Rd., Scranton, thepeachmusicfestival.com)

The 26th annual Briggs Farm Blues Festival makes its way back to the 440-acre farm in Nescopeck. The event will be full of national and regional acts, along with vendors selling clothes, records, handcrafted instruments, and food throughout the outdoor venue. Children 12 and under are free. ($27.50-$185, July 6-8, 88 Old Berwick Hwy., Nescopeck, briggsfarm.com)

The long-running electronic festival looks to strike again with another lightning-fueled lineup this year. Deep dub and dubstep acts Delta Heavy, Infekt, Barely Alive, Eazy Baked, and others will take the stage during the five-day showcase at Artemas’ Four Quarters Farm. Guests must be 18 or older to attend. ($89-$299, July 25-30, 9 a.m. to midnight Tuesday-Thursday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 190 Walker Lane, Artemas, eventbrite.com)

This 11-day escape in Bethlehem will be headlined by artists G-Eazy, Keith Sweat and Monica, Train, comedian Gabriel Iglesias, and other big-name acts for the 40th rendition of Musikfest. Guests can also enjoy interactive displays, art stations, street performers, food vendors, artisans, and other activities throughout the festival. The event is free, but tickets are required for shows at the Wind Creek Steel Stage. ($15-$344, Aug. 3-13, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, musikfest.org)

A healthy overflow of bluegrass, pop, folk, and rock fans will have a home at the Flood City Festival in Johnstown. The two-day event will feature performances from veteran rock band Los Lobos, Trouble No More, Doom Flamingo, Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass featuring the Hillbenders, and other acts across three musical stages. The festival is free for children 12 and under. ($30-$75, Aug. 4-5, 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday; and 12:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday, 90 Johns St., Johnstown, floodcitymusic.com)

Venture to a path of musical and visual enchantment at this year’s Elements Music and Arts Festival in Long Pond. Along with fist-pumping performances by Skrillex, Chris Lake, John Summit, Subtronics, and other artists, there will be three days of health and wellness activities like yoga and aroma therapy, a 24-hour food court, a car camping site, and handmade jewelry and art from various vendors. Attendees must be at least 18. ($59-$3,299, Aug. 11-14, noon to 2 a.m., 1 Hulman Dr., Long Pond, elementsfest.us)

The Four Chord Music Fest makes a celebratory drop in Washington with a lineup featuring rock bands Taking Back Sunday, Waterparks, Tthe Gaslight Anthem, and other hard-hitting acts. Before the action kicks off, fans can attend a free preshow Aug. 11 at Pittsburgh’s Preservation Underground. ($94, Aug. 12-13, 1-11 p.m., 1 Washington Federal Way, Washington, showclix.com)

Between the fireworks, food, artwork, and street vendors, the Karnival of the Arts will be a place of musical wonderment. The festival is headlined by Oakland-based trumpeter Balkan Bump, the Hunter Root Band, Solar Circuit, and other artists. By the look of the event flier, which is riddled with question marks in place of artists’ names, there may be some surprise sets in store. ($105-$265, Aug. 31-Sept. 4, After a 2 p.m. start on Aug. 31, the festival is 24 hours, 83 Community Center Dr., Kempton, events.com)

The free Haverford Township Music Festival makes its way back to Havertown’s East and Darby Roads for a day of music, food vendors, beer and wine gardens, and family-friendly activities. The event will be headlined by roots artist Dana Fuchs, the Split Squad, and York native Devix, who was a finalist on NBC’s The Voice. (Free, Sept. 9, noon to 9 p.m., 50 E. Eagle Rd, Haverford, haverfordmusicfestival.org)

Starting out as a going away party for a Cherry Hill-based band named Out of the Beardspace in 2012, the annual Beardfest has evolved into an action-packed event with atmospheric art displays, drum and songwriting circles, and fiery performances from rock, afrobeat, jazz fusion, and alt bands. This year’s lineup includes the genre-bending Spafford, the psychedelia quintet Dogs in a Pile, guitarist Isaiah Sharkey, and other acts. ($65-$185, June 22-25, 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Thursday; noon to 2 a.m. Friday; and noon to 2:30 a.m. Saturday, 200 W. Mills Rd., Hammonton, beardfest.ticketleap.com)

Before Sad Summer Fest makes its way to Philly on July 15, fans in Holmdel can bang their heads as their favorite rock and alt-indie bands hit center stage at the PNC Bank Arts Center. The lineup includes Taking Back Sunday, the Maine, PVRIS, Hot Mulligan, Mom Jeans, and others listed for the touring festival. ($41.69-$200, July 14, festival starts at 2 p.m., 116 Garden State Pkwy., Holmdel, livenation.com)

Drift along the Atlantic City Boardwalk and experience the Tidalwave Music Festival, a three-day event full of performances from over 30 musicians across two musical stages. The headliners are country singers Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean, and Brooks & Dunn. ($125-$850, Aug. 11-13, 1-11 p.m., 1001 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, frontgatetickets.com)

The 51st Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival returns for Labor Day weekend, with Riders in the Sky, the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Lonesome River Band, Authentic Unlimited, Thompsonia, and others performing at the Salem County Fair Association. The festival will also have jam classes, clogging workshops, and a children’s stage. Guests 17 and under attend for free. ($30-$140, Sept. 1-3, noon to 10:45 p.m. Friday; noon to 11:25 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, 735 Harding Hwy, Woodstown, eventbrite.com)

Tune into your favorite 93.3 WMMR DJ and prepare to rock out as the MMRBQ Festival returns to Camden’s Freedom Mortgage Pavilion with headlining performances by Shinedown and Billy Idol. Larkin Poe, Ayron Jones, Dirty Honey, and others will also take the stage. ($25-$430, Sept. 16, noon to 11 p.m., 1 Harbour Blvd, Camden, livenation.com)

The two-day Sea.Hear.Now Festival is back with headliners the Killers and the Foo Fighters. The ocean-themed music and art festival, which features a pro-surfing competition, will have more than 20 other artists across three stages , including Sheryl Crow and the Beach Boys. ($230-$8,900, Sept 16-17, 12:45 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday; 12:15 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday, 1300 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park, ticketmaster.com)

Closing out the summer music festival season in the Garden State will be the XPoNential Music Festival, which will celebrate 30 years of jam sessions. The event will feature three days of high-energy performances from Old Crow Medicine Show, Margo Price, Tegan and Sara, Allison Russell, and others at Camden’s Wiggins Waterfront Park. ($10-$216, Sept. 22-24, gates open 4:30 p.m. Friday; and noon Saturday and Sunday, 1 Riverside Dr., Camden, ticketsignup.io)

The festival, a tribute to jazz trumpeter and Wilmington native Clifford Brown, who died at 25 in a car crash, returns for its 36th celebration at Rodney Square. This year’s lineup includes Grammy-winner Angélique Kidjo, the Marquis Hill Quartet, Monty Alexander’s Harlem Kingston Express, and others during the four-day celebration. (Free, June 21-24, 4:45 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday-Friday; 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, 1000 N Market St., Wilmington, cliffordbrownjazzfest.org)

Make your way to the Diamond State for a “counterculture campout” at the Weekend at Bertha’s Festival in Townsend. The three-day event will take place at Firebase Lloyd and feature 37 rock bands and solo acts, including Artimus Pyle of Lynyrd Skynyrd. ($40-$419, July 28-30, noon to 10 p.m., 474 Fleming Landing Rd., Townsend, eventbrite.com)

The state’s cannabis community will join hands for 20 hours of laid-back camping, live painting, arts and craft exchanges, and live music at the Weedstock Music and Camping Festival. Guests must be 21 and older to attend. ($40-$225, Sept. 15-16, 6 p.m. to midnight Friday; and noon to midnight Saturday, 474 Fleming Landing Rd., Townsend, weedstock.org)

Celebrate women in music at the annual Ladybug Music Festival, which has welcomed artists like Taimane, Vanessa Carlton, Larkin Poe, Eljuri, Luanna, Kechi Okwuchi, Keri Hilson, and KT Tunstall in the past. Following its Wilmington show on June 2, the organization is putting on a second summer event in Milford that will feature 30 women-fronted sets. The organization is narrowing its list of performers and will announce the lineup at a later date. (Free, Sept. 30, 4-9 p.m., Walnut Street, Milford, theladybugfestival.com)