Skipping this year

I’m heartbroken. This would be my sixth forest, but my friend wants to take me to Bonnaroo and PTO dictates I can only go to one. If the prices didn’t feel so gouged this year there’s really nothing that could’ve stopped me from going but I honestly feel so betrayed by this festival. Don’t get me wrong, it is unquestionably my favorite place on earth and if I have to pay all of my money to get there, I will; but with the circumstances it’s probably just better for me to explore other places. I really can’t put into words how sad it makes me to voluntarily miss it. Part of me still wants to say f*ck it and go anyway but when I look at the ticket costs I feel the sting all over again. Maybe if enough people are in the same boat as me, next year things might change. This festival is my home and knowing I won’t see it in 2026 blows, but I feel like it’s just exploiting us now. There’s no reason to split the included camping away from a $600 ticket, and on top of that, make the split worth $150. That’s ludicrous. Plus they’re keeping early arrival at $50 but removing Tuesday arrival? There’s really no pain like watching something you love sell out.

So who else is skipping? Is there any hope for next year to see an improvement, or has the forest gone pay to win?