CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In just a few weeks, the first Lovin' Life Music Fest will take over Uptown Charlotte's First Ward, bringing popular music acts to the Queen City. The three-day festival features headliners like Post Malone, Stevie Nicks, and Noah Khan and takes place from May 3 to May 5.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to the ticketed event, including Lisa Forster.
“As soon as I saw the headliners I bought my tickets,” said Forster, a South Charlotte resident.
“It’s just fun to see it live, it’s always better over listening to recordings so I try to do it as much as I can,” PJ Endler, a NoDa resident, said.
However, it’s what festivalgoers are not allowed to bring in that is making headlines. Attendees were originally not permitted to bring water into the event. Organizers said people could buy water inside. Attendees who have a medical emergency can also get water from the medical tents.
That changed after backlash from the public demanding access to free water. Organizers will now allow attendees to bring in empty, reusable water bottles that can be filled at designated water stations.
“I could see that just turning into a real health disaster. For one, a lot of people might be lined up trying to get their six ounces of water obscuring others who need more health care,” Mike Conway, who got tickets for himself and his daughter, said. “I expected an outdoor three-day event like this, in the sun, to have free water stations. That's pretty typical. I've been to lots of festivals. And that seems to be the norm.”
Staying hydrated is a big part of being safe at an outdoor event.
While ticketholders say they are excited about the festival, they are worried about people passing out or getting sick because they are not drinking enough water. They also worry that if the only way to get water is to buy it, it could make the situation even worse.
“We’re also going to be crammed in, to some extent at least by the stages," Forster said. "There will be a lot of people, a lot of body heat. It doesn’t matter that they will have cooling stations, it doesn’t matter that it is the beginning of May.”
“People are going to go to this festival, they're going to get a really good spot in the crowd. They're not going to want to leave that spot,” Luisa Ortiz, who will fly in from Florida for the festival, said. “They're going to prioritize their entertainment over their hydration, their health and their safety.”
WCNC Charlotte has gotten several emails from viewers with concerns regarding the lack of access to water amenities on festival grounds.
“Have a couple of stations, it can’t be that expensive,” Endler said. “Just provide a few refilling stations so you can buy one bottle and refill.”
WCNC Charlotte took those concerns straight to the organizers. They are now responding to those concerns with some new accommodations.
The festival will now include water stations and attendees will be able to bring an empty cup inside. Organizers say there will also be cooling stations at the festival, adding that safety is a top priority for them.
Editor's Note: This article was updated to reflect that attendees can bring reusable water bottles into the festival.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.