“This is where it started for me.” — Cecilia Feliciano on Warped Tour 30
“This is where it started for me.”
When Warped Tour first hit the road in 1995, nobody could’ve predicted it would become a defining force in alternative music. For more than two decades, it was the ultimate summer pilgrimage for punk, emo, and pop-punk fans—a sweaty, chaotic, unforgettable mix of music, community, and discovery.
My Warped story started in 2008, right after freshman year. I woke up to MTV playing “Dear Maria, Count Me In” by All Time Low and fell down the rabbit hole. A few Myspace clicks later, I learned they’d be at Warped that summer. That was all I needed to convince my parents to let me go.
Walking into my first Warped felt like stepping into another universe. Overlapping guitar riffs from every angle. Fans sprinting between stages with Sharpie schedules on their arms. I didn’t realize how many bands I’d see there before they blew up—or how many new ones I’d discover in a single day.
Beyond the music, Warped was a culture. It put fans inches from artists—signings, meet-and-greets, pop-up sets—and it championed a DIY spirit so many of us grew up on: Vans sneakers, Myspace profiles, and sun-burned forearms. I went back year after year, collecting ticket stubs and memories. Like countless fans, I brought canned goods to donate at the gate for early entry. That mix of music, philanthropy, and community made it feel different.
Now Warped Tour turns 30, and it feels full-circle. I’ll be in the pit with my camera—follow along for live updates, artist moments, and the beautiful chaos that only Warped can deliver.
What Warped 30 Looks Like (Quick Guide)
Warped’s 30th anniversary returns as city-based festival weekends rather than a cross-country caravan—bigger production, same discovery DNA. Expect multi-stage lineups, set-time boards, and that familiar rush of sprinting to catch the next chorus.
Why It Still Matters
If you came up on Warped, you already know: this festival built a multi-generational community where discovery was the point. The 30th frames that legacy for a new wave of fans while giving veterans a place to reconnect with the bands and friends that shaped them. The demand for belonging never went away—it just needed the right stage again.
Follow Our Coverage
- Live photo sets & quick hits: on Music Coast all weekend (watch this space).
- From the pit: Cecilia’s notes, crowd moments, and favorite new-artist finds.
- Next year: Shay plans to be back on site, coast-to-coast.
