The Ultimate First-Timer Guide to HARD Summer (from a fellow first-timer)

By Shi Bradley

This weekend, August 2 and 3, in the heart of bustling Los Angeles (more specifically, Inglewood), the 17th iteration of HARD Summer will take place.

Focused in Hollywood Park, one of three iconic venues in a 2-mile radius (including SoFi Stadium and the Kia Forum), this year's fest has completely sold out with over 80,000 guests expected to attend: a natural result of such a genre-diverse lineup. 

Rap icons Busta Rhymes and Juvenile are set to perform on separate days. Feid and Kaytranada will bring sexy summer reggaeton and house sounds, while you can hear danceable tech-house from Dom Dolla and Walker & Royce, and hard hitting techno, hardstyle and trance from Sara Landry, Nico Moreno, and I Hate Models. Other major names on the lineup include house artist Deorro, multigenre acts Four Tet and Gesaffelstein, Eurodance artist Marlon Hoffstadt, and dubstep/bass artists Crankdat, Tape B and Mersiv, the latter of who will be performing a back-to-back (b2b) set.

When I first saw the lineup announcement, I knew that this year’s HARD Summer was a can't-miss event. But with this being my first out-of-state festival and my largest music festival to date, I knew I had to do my due diligence before committing to it full send. Here’s everything I did and packed leading up to HARD Summer and hopefully a few tips that will help you narrow down everything you need to know and need to have so on August 2, all you have to think about is partying HARD.

If you were thinking of being Uber-chic at HARD…

Don’t. Everything I read about trying to get an Uber/Lyft directly from HARD Summer was the stuff of nightmares. I once waited over an hour for an Uber after Subtronics in Arizona—so I wasn’t about to repeat that in a different state with triple the crowd. Fortunately, I was able to call on an uncle who lives nearby to arrange a ride after the show.

If you’re lucky enough to have family or friends nearby that are willing to help you out (even if you have to shell out some gas money to convince them), I would definitely recommend going that route. Otherwise, l would plan on driving/carpooling with friends, taking the C or K lines of the LA Metro Bus down to HARD’s free bus shuttle,  or taking the commuter shuttles provided by HARD if you’re coming from a further city, like Ontario, Orange County, or San Fernando Valley. 

If you find yourself having to take rideshare after the festival, better your odds by leaving 30-45 mins before the show ends or (if you’re not alone and you feel comfortable doing so) walking a mile or two away from the venue before calling your ride. 

Card me!

Like most major EDM music festivals, you need to present a copy of your physical drivers license for entry and said ID needs to show that you’re over 18 (or if you got a VIP ticket and/or are planning to drink, over 21). But your ID is only one of the cards you need. With HARD Summer being a fully cashless event, you’ll need some sort of debit or credit card for food, drinks, merch, or any other purchases you might get on site (on that note, having $20 cash for any possible emergency outside the venue is never a bad idea!)  

Lastly, be sure to have your ticket on you, either physically or in your Apple/Samsung/Android Wallet,  if you’re not planning on picking it up at the box office. 

What else is in my bag? 

ID, ticket, and a debit/credit card is only the tip of the iceberg of what you should bring to HARD 2025. First off, staying hydrated during an August festival is key. 

If you don’t plan on buying water, bringing a hydration pack or reusable water bottle is super important. Hand sanitizer (never know when the soap will run out after you’ve used the restroom) and earplugs are some of my personal recommendations as well.

The venue allows you to bring in deodorant, non-professional cameras, totems (which can be super helpful if you come with a large group), and e-cigs and vapes. The venue does not, however, allow outside food or drink, including alcohol, cannabis products, or various LED and flow toys (more detail in their FAQs), so be sure to check out their website to know exactly what you can and can not bring. 

In my clear bag so far (HARD, like most events, has a clear bag policy) includes a portable charger, hand sanitizer, three different lip glosses, a selfie stick, a pashmina for the chillier nighttime weather (at least relative to Arizona), and a fan for the daytime.

The (Six) Stages of Raving

With six different stages, including the Beatbox Art Car, featuring six artists each day, it’s a good idea to have a general idea of who you want to see. While official set times have not been released, HARD has posted the official lineup order and a few Redditors have even gone as far as to post mock set times based off that order and previous set times on r/HardFestival. You can look at those for now to get a vague idea of where you’ll want to be at what time.

Once HARD releases official times, lock in your plan with whoever you’re going. If your weekend will involve splitting sets or hopping between stages, it’s a good idea to get in earlier than the first act you want to see to get a lay of the land and map out how long it takes to get across the venue. Additionally, if you’re with friends, plan areas to meet up if you guys split up (different sets, bathroom breaks, etc.) or get separated for any reason. 

Dress t̶o̶ ̶i̶m̶p̶r̶e̶s̶s̶ your personal best

Raves and EDM festivals are known for guests coming in creative, risqué looks. If you love to dress up, this is the perfect time to go all out. Some classic rave staples include neon or bold colors (or black, if you want to lean into the European techno vibe), face jewels, hair accessories (including Sprout clips to give out), fishnet leggings and layers, and fur accessories, just as a start.  Really, though, it just comes down to want you want to wear and what best represents your fashion sense:  Day 1 will see me in a backless black top and asymmetrical plaid skirt, while Day 2 features a black dress with a futuristic vibe, all styled with platform boots.

Since HARD is a bit more relaxed and more akin to the traditional music festival than your average rave, many attendees opt for more casual or comfortable fits, so even though the festival is a great opportunity to show off your fashion-forwardness, it is by no means a requirement. With L.A temperatures resting comfortably in the 70s and 80s the bulk of both days and hitting high 60s at night, some sunglasses and a light layer will be your friend. And of course, shoes you can walk and dance in for multiple hours.

Know what your move is before and after

After eight hours of dancing, you might be ready to go home when the festival wraps up either night at 10:00. But  if you’re over 21 and still feeling up to party, HARD is hosting over eleven various afterparties, featuring sets both by HARD artists (Deorro, Sara Landry, Blackchild, etc.) and a b2b set with JSTJR (who’s set to perform on the Hard stage with Habstrakt on Day 1) and techno duo Beauz that go until 2am, giving attendees the ultimate (almost) 12-hour dance party. There will also be pre-parties with Walker & Royce, Bou, and Bolo on Friday if you’re in LA the full weekend.

If you’re not 21+, you can still take advantage of the festival before or after with some delicious bites! HARD has collabed with 12 local LA and Inglewood-area restaurants for attendees to enjoy unique eats. Wake up with Ubatuba Acai’s BERRY HARD BOWL or Awakening Cybershop’s Hard Launch Latte, grab a bite at Fat Sal’s for a HARD SUMMER x2 SMASHBURGER  or Prince Street Pizza for a Hard & Hot Pie, or end your night with a sweet treat: the Hard Coded Cupcake from Sweet Red Peach, just to name a few.