Unless you live under a rock, your Facebook newsfeed has been flooded with desperate party-goers asking for tickets to the one and only, Ultra Music Festival. The festival has been around since 1999 but in the past few years, tickets can easily go up to the hundreds and thousands of dollars.
If you’re one of the many not going to Ultra, it’s okay. You’re not weird. Still though, change a few of your weekend plans because this festival is going to take over the whole city of Miami. Here are a few things to avoid during the three-day event.
Transportation
If Miami traffic is bad on a regular weekend, start practicing how to calm down your road rage because it’ll be a million times worse during Ultra. People from all over come to Miami for this weekend, not to mention the hundreds of locals who flee Downtown too. Uber’s prices will spike in rates and taxis are already expensive as it is. Even though the Metrorail’s prices won’t change from the beloved $2.25 per trip, it will be overflowing with Ultra fanatics.
All of Downtown
Since Ultra hosts thousands of music lovers from all over the world, Miami will be slightly more packed than usual. According to Channel 7, “Ultra sold out in January with 165,000 tickets sold to fans in 87 countries worldwide”. Now try to condense 165,000 people in all of Bayside. Don’t forget to count in the people who live and work in Downtown who’ll be watching the festival from their luxurious balconies.
If you’ve never explored the rest of Miami and want to get away from the chaos, take advantage and go to the beach or explore areas like Kendall, Westchester, or Calle Ocho.
Wanna-Be DJs
You have a friend who knows a friend who has a cousin whose boyfriend is playing at some club during Miami Music Week. Don’t fall into the trap of these people. There are plenty of other, more legitimate, acts going on during the week that don’t include only Ultra. In fact, if you want to pay way less to see your favorite DJ, buying tickets during MMW is probably better and you might even enjoy it more.
American Apparel and Michaels
Stay clear of anything neon colored or hats that say ‘Sorry Mom.’ Those who hadn’t realized how close Ultra was and forgot to get Instagram-worthy outfits are going to raid American Apparel and buy all the things that barely cover certain body parts. Don’t bother trying to buy crafts from Michaels either, everyone bought up all the beads, glitter, and rhinestones you might needed for your big-little crafts. Just wait it out until the craze is over, then continue on with your wardrobe and craft needs.
All of Social Media
Snapchat will most likely have its own story about Ultra. Everyone’s stories will be of the same thing: girls on shoulders, lots of lights, loud music and people dancing. Instagram will be flooded more than usual with similar shots seen on Snapchat, but with witty captions about being a six year returner to the festival and some sort of national flag in the background. Facebook might be filled with articles about how dangerous Ultra is or how great it is. It won’t end during the weekend either, the festival will emerge once again when UMF releases their recap videos. Then just wait again in a few months to get in line for tickets, rinse and repeat.
Alina Zerpa is a junior majoring in journalism and psychology, a major Oreo enthusiast, and spends way too much time on Tumblr.
words_alina zerpa