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​In the city that never sleeps, where the world’s gaze is permanently affixed, it takes something special in order to stand out above the rest. Where events are daily and festivals are aplenty, establishing a noteworthy and regular showcase takes a mix of inventiveness and talent. Blending art, music, food, exhibition, and entertainment into one collective spectacular, is only undertaken, and more importantly, executed successfully, by those at the top of their game. Enter, New York’s Governor’s Ball.

​Started in 2011 as a single-day festival before expanding to a two-day event the following year, the now standard three-day epic is a fixture in the events calendar. Held at Randalls Island in New York County (borough of Manhattan), the location served as the festival's base for many years before moving from its ancestral home in 2021 to its current residency at Citi Field in the New York City borough of Queens. Often blighted by unfortunate weather events, most years featured some elemental chaos resulting in a drenching at best or show day cancellation at worst. Undeterred, the festival has delivered each and every year (barring 2020 due to Covid 19), much to the delight of fans and annual returnees to the event.

​Traditionally held in June each year during the start of the summer months, the actual event dates generally only differ by a number of days. Heralding the start of the summer festivities, Governor's Ball has over its decade-plus existence has seen some incredible acts perform across its many stages. Notable bands include Beck, Modest Mouse, The Strokes, Jack White, Outkast, Vampire Weekend, Kendrick Lamar and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’s to name but a few. A draw for fans and artists alike the idea of a summer festival is always a tempting one and its lure isn’t just for the locals. International acts seeking to escape the cold clutches of the Southern Hemisphere eagerly await their invite to attend the festival and revel in the party vibes of sun, sounds, and shared moments.

​Those attending this year’s festival include The Killers, Post Malone, SZA, Alex G, Goth Babe, TV Girl, and Faye Webster, spread across three huge days. Known for its varied line-up, this year is no exception and is set to create another memorable chapter as the thirteenth installment to its rich and now well-established history. With over 3,000 commercial flights passing through New York City airports every single day, getting there isn’t a problem. It’s what else there is to do that creates a problem. One of the world’s leading capitals of art, culture, entertainment, design, and fashion, only stopping by for the festival seems like a travesty. Adding Governor’s Ball to the festival bucket list is a must but sneaking in a few days on either side of June 7-9 at Corona Park in Flushing Meadows is almost mandatory to make use of your time and a city with all the trimmings.