A visitor returns to Desert Hearts near Flagstaff for their sixth time, praising the high altitude, crisp sound system, and art installations. They manage an art car called Torch the Dragon, meet founder Mikey Lyon, and bond with an astronomer named Katie over stargazing and PBS Space Time.
Have you ever been to Desert Hearts Music Festival? This past weekend I returned for my 6th time, and it's still just as whimsical and wild an experience as my first time back in 2013. The location this year was up near Flagstaff, Arizona, about 7,000 feet elevation. Clear skies, cool nights, and sunny 80-degree days made it pretty much perfect festival weather. I camped in an RV near about 15 friends from Vegas. I've gotten a little bougie with festivals as I've gotten older. I now require a comfy bed, climate control, a place to cook, and hot showers. Once you camp that way, there's no going back. Our crew helped manage a Vegas-based art car called Torch the Dragon. It started as a minivan, but now it's a giant fire-breathing dragon with a staircase up its back so anyone can climb up and enjoy the view. It's one of the most welcoming art cars out there. Big shout out to my friend Captain Rob for welcoming us to camp with his art car. One of my favorite moments from the festival was meeting Mikey Lyon, the founder of Desert Hearts. Super friendly guy. I told him about my furnished rentals in Vegas and how his festival has inspired my design aesthetic. He said he's looking to throw some events in Vegas soon. Very exciting. I also loved the sound system this year— crisp, clean, and loud enough to dance to without hurting your ears. For sustenance one night, I had a chicken wrap from a vendor called Get the Cluck Outta Here. Hilarious branding and perfectly spiced fuel between sets. My friend Jesse brought an amazing art piece, a retro payphone you could use to talk to someone across the festival. I got into character and I tried tracking down a mysterious shipment. Total improv fun. At night, we even looked at Saturn up close through a massive telescope thanks to an astronomer named Katie. We bonded over our mutual hero Matthew O'Dowd from PBS Space Time. Turns out we all go to Burning Man. The best part overall was running into old friends I hadn't seen in years and making new friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime. Desert Hearts always reminds me why I love festivals. It's not just the music, it's the connection, the art, the freedom, and the magic. What's your favorite festival? Post a comment below.
