Outside Lands 2019 was a great iteration of the marquee Bay Area festival, as it moved into its twelfth year. From having the first-of-its-kind on-site sale and consumption of marijuana to bringing Paul Simon out of retirement, this year’s festival had a little something for everyone. Rap, rock, electronic, country and soul were collectively showcased on four stages for three days across Golden Gate Park. Better yet, sunny weather was in rare abundance for for much of the festival (though Karl the Fog bought a ticket and hung out all day for sold-out Saturday).

The Grass Lands entrance at Outside Lands was as prominent as the smell of the contents of the area. Photo by Adam Pardee.

The immediate buzz this year surrounded Green Lands, a 21-and-over theme park of marijuana. Vendors of all variety lined the green grassed meadow where festival-goers could learn about, shop for, taste, drink and smoke marijuana. An attendee could taste a sweet-laced treat at Kiva Confections, drink an infused carbonated water made by partners AbsoluteExtracts & Lagunitas Brewing or simply walk up to the budtender and purchase the flower freely. With designated consumption areas, folks were free to roll up a joint with marijuana they had just purchased and enjoy it with friends. Despite the designated areas, the smell of weed leaked out of Green Lands and was clearly present in every area of the festival.

Three big names—Twenty One Pilots, Childish Gambino and Paul Simon—headlined the three nights of Outside Lands, but it was clear from the size of the crowds surrounding the peripheral stages that a few of the other artists took a chunk of the crowd with them. The Counting Crows and the Lumineers both pulled a sizable following on an opposite stage Friday from the enormous crowd for Twenty One Pilots, while the Saturday night fans of Hozier and RL Grimes were astonishing for the small stages they held. On Sunday, crowds flocked to see Anderson Paak or Kygo on opposing stages.

A pumped-up crowd goes crazy for punk-rocker Blink-182. Photo by Adam Pardee.

Despite an overall incredible weekend, one rough spot that made guests feel uneasy and confused was Lil Wayne’s performance on Friday that featured an abundance of simulated gunshots. Some described feeling anxious and upset that after multiple mass shootings in public places within the nation less than a week prior, a major artist would still be tone-deaf to the moment, especially in a year when herds of uniformed police, park rangers and security were a heavy presence within the festival.

Yet the mood (and the weather) prevailed. Outside Lands in its twelfth year proved itself a formidable festival among the giants of Coachella and Lollapalooza. With the ever-impressive feel and setting of Golden Gate Park, the music-loving vibes of San Francisco and talent that the festival brings, Outside Lands is a festival worth making a yearly tradition.

650 Photographer Adam Pardee kept one finger on the shutter and braved the crowds all weekend, take a peek.