We have our heading, and it’s straight for Rock the Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival. Country music, white sand, short shorts, blue waters and ice cold beer. “X” marks the spot for the best of memories and good times only, so climb aboard as we head for this Floridian oasis.
What is Tortuga?
Directly on the white, sun-soaked sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach Park in Florida is a treasure of a time. Attracting over 100,000 people annually over three days, this fest offers the best of music, food, art installations, and other activities to attendees.
Three stages (Main, Sunset and Next From Nashville) feature non-stop performances from some of the biggest splashes in country, rock and roots music, including Kenny Chesney, David Nail, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Eric Church, and Florida Georgia Line.
The ethos of this event is to enlighten people about ocean ocean conservation and raise money and support for the cause. In fact, over $4 million has been raised by fans for ocean conservation projects! Among others, the event has partnered with Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program, and The Nature Conservancy in the past.
2024 Line-Up
Tortuga 2024 will take place on the weekend of 5 – 7 April. Lainey Wilson, Hardy, Old Dominion, Jason Aldean, Bailey Zimmerman, Ashley McBride, Koe Wetzel, Turnpike Troubadours, TLC, Boyz ll Men, Wheeland Brothers and Kassi Ashton are only some of the performers that can be expected for 2024. To view the full line-up, visit the Tortuga Festival website.
Conservation Village
The heartbeat of the event is Conservation village – it’s here that awareness is primarily raised, and not just through pamphlet-pushing. Rather, interactive games, exhibitions and displays reveal the majesty, wonder and beauty of the sea. The Rock The Ocean Foundation is a non-profit that focuses on five main conservation areas: sharks, sea turtles, marine mammals, coral reefs, and marine habitats.
Each year, a hand-drafted list of global leaders in ocean conservation is sifted through to select the Conservation Village partners. The roster includes the likes of the Broward Sea Turtle Conservation Program, Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation and Sharks4Kids.
Conservation Village To-Dos
Shark Dive, anyone? Fear and ignorance is transformed into fascination and interest during VR shark dives. Or enjoy a pop-up show of some of the artists – download the Tortuga App to get notified of these flash performances.
Reduce, Rethink, Restore
Anchored to its values of sustainability, Tortuga was the first major music fest to focus solely on ocean conservation and to ban single use plastic water bottles. This ban was then extended to are plastic ware – straws, plates, cutlery, food containers, etc.
Furthermore, food vendors must serve antibiotic-free meats, sustainably-sourced seafood, and stick to organic and local where possible. Sea oats, an endangered and important part of coastal sand dune plant communities, was planted to save the beach habitat. Rock The Ocean also carries out monthly beach and reef cleanups to continue making an impact all year round.
Other Activities
Why’s the rum gone!? It’s not! Enjoy live artist performances and refreshing hard seltzers during “Corona Golden Hour Cheers” at Corona Cove. Get shipwrecked on tequila rocks during the happiest of hours at Mamimas Shipwreck Lounge, or refresh with a spray of cocktails at the Pacific Mineral Cove.
Dive into Dunkin’ deliciousness at Dunkin’ Rhythm Room and snap a pic with the giant pirate ship or at other Insta-worthy locations. Stand your chance to win a variety of treasures (Dinkin’ prize pack and Tortuga passes up for grabs!) during the unmissable Treasure Hunt.
Or are you looking for a love to share the Atlantic sunsets with? Answer some questions in the Dating Games, a high-speed spinoff of “Love is Blind”, and win a VIP upgrade AND true love’s kiss! Then swing by the epic disco lounge of Visible and grab some freebies while you’re there.
FAQ
How old do I have to be to attend?
All ages are welcome! Learning about the importance of sustainability can never start early enough! What’s more, kids 6 and under receive free general admission
Can I pay with cash at the festival?
Tortuga is a cashless event. Rather, pay with Cashless on your wristband, credit/debit cards, and Google/Apple pay. There are also on-site stations for cash to prepaid card transfers.
Does Tortuga sell alcohol?
If you are of legal drinking age (21 in Florida) and can present legal state ID if prompted, go wild! Can’t have a cowboy hat without a beer, right?
Can I swim in the ocean?
Unfortunately, the ocean can’t be accessed from the festival site.
Can I anchor my boat at the event?
Off-shore anchoring isn’t allowed – local authorities will patrol the anchoring. Remember: Tortuga stands for ocean conservation, and dropping anchors can damage reefs!
What can and can’t I bring into the festival?
For a full list of brings and bringn’ts, as well as the bag policy, visit their FAQ page.
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