Ryan Cormier

The News Journal

It might be quicker to mention what's the same about 2014's edition of Firefly Music Festival than what's different.

There's still a boatload of national acts, relaxing "Hammock Hideouts," an arcade, the festival's trademark hot air balloon and the popular "silent disco," a DJ-fueled headphone dance party in the woods.

In fact, this year's Firefly will be unlike either of the previous two with 106 acts across an expanded four days, starting at 5:45 p.m. Thursday with a pair of acts: Chicago singer/songwriter Andrew Belle and roots Nashville band John & Jacob. (Some campers will be arriving as early as Wednesday evening this time around.)

The festival grounds have been modified to fit the 80,000 fans expected to swarm Dover to see Foo Fighters, OutKast, Jack Johnson, Beck and more – up from the 65,000 last year.

So before you pick up your money and pack up your tent, here's what you need to know about what's new for #Firefly2014:

Extra days and effect on traffic

Like Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival before it, Firefly is now in business on a Thursday.

Firefly Music Festival Director Greg Bostrom of Chicago-based Red Frog Events, the event organizers, explains why: "One, our fans wanted more music. And two, the driving factor for adding a fourth day was to help spread the load-in of the 70,000-plus people coming into The Woodlands. By adding Thursday, a third of our fans will load in by Wednesday evening. Last year, 100 percent were loading in Friday morning."

Since the vast majority of fans camp on site, the total breakdown of arrivals for this year is projected to be well-staggered with a third of of the expected 80,000 music fans also arriving Thursday and the final third pulling into Dover Friday. The check-in process should be faster this year with 56 active lanes and new, faster technology used this time around. Also, there are now four entry points for festival-goers, up from the one last year, Bostrom says.

Last week, Delaware Department of Transportation's management center operations manager Gene Donaldson was confident that last year's maddening, hours-long traffic jams on U.S. 13 and Del. 1 would not be repeated.

"The ghost of Firefly last year is not here for this year. It's different volumes that we are dealing with each day. We are confident we can better manage that. You will not see that delay," Donaldson said. "This event will not be the last event."

Even so, DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt added an asterisk to Donaldson's bold prediction, jokingly calling it "Sherman-esque": "If this plan works correctly and things go smoothly, we should not get a traffic back-up to Smyrna. However, if there is an incident or 100,000 people show up, we could have an issue."

DelDOT and Firefly officials urge fans to listen to WTMC 1380-AM or download DelDOT's free traffic app for real time traffic alerts to festival-goers.

Since 70 percent of Firefly's traffic is coming from the north, officials once again urge festival-goers to pass by exit 104 on Del. 1 south, which is north of the festival site. Instead, travelers should take the next exit – exit 95 – just south of the speedway to avoid back-ups.

More space, new layout and additional stages

Remember when Firefly's festival grounds were only 87 acres when it debuted in 2012? Well, cling to that memory as long as you can because you will never see that again.

Over the winter, The Woodlands was expanded to 300 acres to handle the additional festival-goers and the additional Forest Stage and Big Break Stage. The Forest Stage is another large-scale stage for the main acts and the Big Break Stage will host unsigned acts that were chosen by fans through online voting.

With the dedicated unsigned stage, Firefly will host two Delaware bands this time, following in the footsteps of Lower Case Blues (2012) and The Spinto Band (2013). This year, Newark's Mean Lady will deliver pop goodness at 1:30 p.m. Friday and Wilmington's New Sweden brings its rootsy brand of Americana to the masses Saturday at 12:30 p.m. -- both on the Big Break Stage.

"It's nice that they are from Delaware, but both of those bands are really talented and deserve to be here in the line-up," says Jordan Diehl, a Firefly spokesperson.

Outside of the six stages on the festival grounds, there will also be a pair of Red Bull Sound Select stages outside near the camping areas with music starting at 10 a.m. each day.

The biggest change with the grounds can be found in the placement of the Firefly Main Stage, which has moved from the southernmost point to the northernmost. It allows for more space when Foo Fighters and OutKast are the only bands performing and nearly all of the 80,000 people on site gravitate to one area.

Additional entrance/exit

In addition to the same main entrance and exit at the southern end of the grounds near Del. 1, a second entrance/exit has been added up north between Firefly's Main Stage and The Brewery.

More vendors and dining options

There will be more than a dozen restaurants on site selling everything from hot dogs ($4) and cheesesteaks ($8) to chicken and waffles ($10) and turkey burgers ($10). In addition, there will be more than 55 vendors inside and outside of the grounds, including Delaware-based Caffé Gelato (Newark), Frankie's at Dover Downs (Dover), I Don't Give A Fork food truck (Newark), Fifer Orchards Farm (Camden-Wyoming), Good Earth Market & Organic Farm (Clarksville), Greenman Juice Bar & Bistro (Rehoboth Beach), Grotto Pizza (Rehoboth Beach), Grassroots (Newark), The Deer Park's Roaming Raven (Newark) and Tin Lizzy (Rehoboth Beach).

Heineken out; Bud Light in

Heineken and it's futuristic green dome lasted only one year at Firefly. While Milton-based Dogfish Head remains the king of beers at Firefly's Brewery, Anheuser-Busch has been added to replace Heineken with Bud Light being sold, along with Landshark Lager. Dogfish, as always, will have several of its craft brew varieties on hand. Jack Daniel's and Ketel One will be providing the whiskey and vodka.

The Brewery's TVs

While downing Dogfish's 60 Minute IPAs in the air-conditioned Brewery, music fans will still be able to watch live Firefly performances on large-screen TVs for the first time. Some of the televisions will also be showing World Cup matches for soccer fans needing a fix.

Port-A-Potties

Firefly officials say they heard your complaints loud and clear: more Port-A-Potties were needed and they needed to be serviced more often. "We heard the negative feedback and have taken steps to make 2014 better than 2013," Firefly's Diehl says. "We have increased the number [of Port-A-Potties] on-site, as well as the scheduling of their maintenance."

Extra Hubs

After going two years with one "Hub" -- a place for showers, morning yoga, a general store, food trucks and more -- fans will find a pair of Hubs this time. One will remain by Del. 1 and the speedway with the other added on the north side in the forest. Each will be paired with a Red Bull Sound Select Stage.

Addition of campsite "posts"

Seven "posts," or mini-Hubs, have been added throughout the camping areas to cut down on campers' commute for basic need items like ice, water refills and cell phone charging stations.

Get TRASHed

Firefly has partnered with Global Inheritance, a non-profit social change group focused on the environment. The organization, which also operates at festivals like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Lollapalooza, will have a TRASHed Recycling Store on site where festival-goers can earn points for Firefly merchandise by redeeming empties and recycling.

The Market

Another new feature, The Market will house about 10 retailers like "higher-end" Alex and Ani jewelers and the returning TOMS.

IF YOU GO

What: Firefly Music Festival

When: Thursday through June 22

Where: The Woodlands, Dover International Speedway, Dover

Cost: General single-day passes: $49 (Thursday) and $109 (June 20-22)

FIREFLY MUSIC FESTIVAL COVERAGE

The News Journal will have a team of reporters, photographers and videographers at Firefly Music Festival throughout the weekend. Journalists will be posting stories, reviews, photo galleries and videos to a site created just for the always-growing festival: MyFireflyFest.com.