The Best December Festivals in the USA 2021

We're finally on the cusp of making it through 2021. There were some highs, there were some lows, but I think we can all agree that we're looking forward to 2022.

That being said December is by no means a write off. There are some huge music festivals going down throughout the final month of the year which features everything from hip hop headliners to underground dance boutiques to big NYE blowouts. 

Here are our picks for the best December festivals in the USA.

Rolling Loud California

Festival Lineup: Kid Cudi, J. Cole, Future, Wiz Khalifa, Kodak Black, Playboi Carti, French Montana

Rolling Loud is the biggest hip hop music festival brand in the world, with outposts in three states as well as one in Portugal. Every edition of the festival features a lineup of the biggest names still making waves in the genre supported by a collection of the most energetic, determined up-and-coming acts. Previously going down at the Banc of California Stadium in LA, this will be Rolling Loud's first edition in San Bernardino's NOS Event Center. 

When & Where: December 10-12, 2021; San Bernardino, California

Rolling Loud California 2021 Guide & Mailing List

Desert Air 

Festival Lineup: Dixon, Peggy Gou, DJ Koze, The Martinez Brothers, Channel Tres, Jayda G, Moodymann

This is a brand new festival brought to you by the people behind Coachella, Stagecoach, Day N Vegas, and many more of the country's top festivals: Goldenvoice. Desert Air is a much smaller scale production, taking over the Palm Springs Air Museum for two days of underground house, disco, and tech house. The boutique festival only has 13 artists on its bill, but each one is an absolute master of their craft. This will be a great time.

When & Where: December 10-11, 2021; Palm Springs, California

Audacy Beach Festival

Festival Lineup: Swedish House Mafia, 21 Pilots, Weezer, Steve Aoki, Lil Nas X, The Lumineers, Walk The Moon

Audacy is an online radio and podcast aggregator, which up till March 2021 was called Radio.com. To celebrate this re-branding the company is going all out, throwing a music festival right on the beach in Fort Lauderdale with an absolutely absurd level of talent crammed into the two day affair. Some of the biggest names in dance music, rock, and hip hop will all be there showcasing the power of music. 

When & Where: December 4-5, 2021; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Once Upon A Time In LA
 

Festival Lineup: Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Al Green, The Game, YG, Ice Cube, The Isley Brothers

From one stacked festival lineup to another. Once Upon A Time In LA somehow gives Audacy Beach Festival a run for its money in terms of star power, especially when you consider its eye-popping lineup is somehow for a one day festival. OUTLA is another new festival, curated by the king of West Coast lyricism, Snoop Dogg. The festival showcases influential old school hip hop and r&b, even older school funk and soul music, and some new era hip hop acts. It is not every festival where you can actually see the progression of a genres sound, from original influences to present day torch-bearers. 

When & Where: December 18, 2021; Los Angeles, California

Decadence

Festival Lineup: The Chainsmokers, DJ Snake, Steve Aoki, Marshmello, Alesso, Alison Wonderland, Chris Lake

With the calendar turning to December we are officially in New Year's Eve planning time. Decadence is one of America's most trusted NYE parties, with outposts in Colorado and Arizona. It's not hard to see why the festival has connected with people, great stage production, booming sound systems, and lineups packed with some of the biggest DJs in the world are absolutely par for the course. Do yourself a favor and grab your tickets now to save yourself the annual last minute scramble to figure out what you're going to do for NYE.

When & Where: December 30-31, 2021; Denver, Colorado & Chandler, Arizona

Lights All Night
 

Festival Lineup: deadmau5, DJ Snake, Above & Beyond, Illenium, Malaa, Svdden Death, Subtronics

Lights All Night is another high voltage electronic New Year's Eve party. This is Dallas' biggest NYE party, and further proof that everything is indeed bigger in Texas. Big room house, trance, bass, and dubstep are all represented on the star-studded lineup this year. Surreal light shows, art installations, and huge beats are the name of the game here all set up to help you ring in 2022 properly. 

When & Where: December 30-31, 2021; Dallas, Texas