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Sensible Reason has a lot of love for Gathering of the Vibes. That love is so big, we want to share it with you. This year, GOTV is celebrating its 19th year, and whether you’re a member of the VibeTribe or have never heard of this fest, we’re here to tell you that this place and experience are a rarity in the festival world. For the past 18 years, music lovers from near and far have gathered in Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT (or its location that given year) to live a weekend reminiscent of the ’60s or ’70s.

Some festivals rightfully draw you in with their larger-than-life VIP packages and stacked lineups. Vibes has a VIP package, and their lineup is right on the mark! — but it’s the overall experience that really sets this brief moment in time apart from the mass of others. If you’re in need of convincing or you just want to be reminded of what makes Vibes so special, here are our top five reasons you should join the VibeTribe!

1. A mix of beloved classics & up-and-coming musicians

Vibes hosts multiple generations of music, from classic artists to those who are inspired and influenced by them. In what other place will you see one of the pioneers of jamtronica team up with members of one of the most idolized jam bands of our time? This year at Vibes, the Disco Biscuits will be joined by Grateful Dead drummers, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, for a set not to miss! And where else will you see IDM duo EOTO play in the same event as the legendary jazz-rock guitarist John Scofield? Or Lotus playing a set inspired by The Talking Heads? Up-and-comers like Dopapod, Kung Fu, Allen Stone, and Twiddle will also balance out the old and new classics with their fresh sounds.

Vibes is serving up an uncommon mix of acts again this year – peek more of the lineup here.

2. Silent Disco… On the beach!

This one speaks for itself. On the beach of Long Island Sound under the stars, the Silent Disco will be a magical way to wind up and back down to greet the sunrise. Stay tuned to Sensible Reason for the Silent Disco lineup and theme parties for 2014.

3. Social & environmental consciousness

Gathering of the Vibes’ Non-Profit Village encourages social, environmental, and political activism, housing organizations like HeadCount, OxFam America, the American Civil Liberties Union of CT, Bridgeport Community Gardens, and many, many more. You can learn more about the noble organizations you’ll see at Vibes here.

The festival also has created the Green Vibes Initiative in an effort “to reduce negative human impact on our ecosystems and encourage responsible stewardship toward the land, air, sea, and renewable energy resources” (GOTV). If you’ve ever seen the aftermath of a festival, you know the degree of waste and trash – Vibes’ ultimate goal is to be a zero-waste festival. So in addition to the Non-Profit Village, the festival hosts environmental & social action awareness opportunities through their Green Stage Workshops, provides solar-powered phone charging stations, has vendors use compostable products, and in 2013 they donated 12,516 lbs of non-perishable food, hygiene goods, and clothing to local food banks, among many other initiatives, like their Green Vibes Carbon Cutters Team. Vibes encourages a “leave it as you found it” attitude toward the natural environment, as well as a “trash your trash” mentality for what you bring into the festival environment. What better place to foster stronger environmental and social practices than at a festival with such a respectful, diverse, and connected community? Learn more about GOTV’s environmental initiatives here.

Festivals also incur high energy costs because such a large number of people travel to them. Vibes makes information to transport easily accessible, including mass transit options, which brings me to #4….

4. Many ways to get there

To get to this fest, you can easily travel by: plane, train, car, or ferry. Vibes provides information on mass transit to encourage festival-goers to travel in more energy efficient ways. The festival will have shuttles running to and from the the Port Jefferson Ferry and Bridgeport Transit Center (train and bus) starting at 8am, Thursday through Saturday, and 8am – 10pm on Sunday.

5. A festival for any age

It’s quite uncommon to see as diverse an age range at a music festival as Gathering of the Vibes draws. Most music festivals across the US are almost strictly millennials, but that’s not the case here. Whether you end up next to a diehard deadhead in his 60s, a young couple and their kids, or a 20-something who claims she was born in the wrong decade, everyone is there for the music and everyone cares about the community. The festival is great for all ages; learn more about what also makes Vibes so family-friendly here.

As a 20-something myself, Vibes presents a rare opportunity to party with and connect to those who aren’t my peers in addition to those who are; in some ways, age becomes irrelevant – everyone is simply an individual with experiences to share. We’re here because our love of music runs deep; it transcends the boundaries of age, occupation, and lifestyle. We the VibeTribe are an integral part of what makes this transient place so remarkable.

You can purchase single-day, weekend, and VIP passes to Gathering of the Vibes 2014 here!