The Ultimate Hang at Kaaboo Del Mar
I found myself at the Del Mar Fairgrounds last September almost by accident; while traveling to San Diego for work, I bumped into a neighbor from New York who was headed to this eclectic music festival (think Weezer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink, Jane’s Addiction, Muse, but also Michael McDonald, Ice Cube, Logic, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, X Ambassadors, plus, comedy, cooking, public art and more). So, inspired by my neighbor, I scored a ticket and went solo, and it was awesome: beautiful San Diego weather, super stylish attendees and incredible music. (Jane’s Addiction hasn’t written a new song that I know of in over a decade, but man, do they play the old ones with passion.) That combination of amazing weather, great people watching and incredible music was pretty special.
I later found out that, as good as the typical Kaaboo experience is, there’s a way to enjoy the festival that would kick it up a few notches. In an homage to San Diego surfing, it’s called the Ultimate Hang—general admission tickets are referred to as Hang Loose passes—and if you really wanted to blow it out for three days at Kaaboo, this would be the way to do it. The Ultimate Hang pass comes with a chauffeured Mercedes, which, since this festival lasts into the wee hours of the morning, would be much appreciated; a 24/7 concierge; free food and beverage; a “rock star tour bus” in a backstage area where you can take a shower or grab a catnap or hang out with a friend. Ultimate Hang-ers also get to see the shows from a VIP area literally right in front of each stage. Perhaps even cooler: The Kaaboo organizers set up some amazing ways to meet and get to know the musicians a bit. In 2017, you could wine-taste with Pink or go surfing with the Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis. You have first priority meet-and-greet with every single artist at the show.
Ultimate Hang passes aren’t cheap—they cost $15,000—but if money’s not an object, I can’t imagine a better way to immerse yourself within a music festival for three intense and memorable days.
Kaaboo sells just 40 Ultimate Hang passes and has sold several for 2018 already. For more information, visit kaaboodelmar.com.
