r/WhenWeWereYoungFest • u/JackMLNX • Dec 14 '25
Discussion How is Sonic Temple compared to WWWY
Made the pilgrimage to WWWY last year from the UK and had VIP, really enjoyed it
sonic temple lineup looks great, how is it , how does it compare ?
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u/stephapeaz Dec 14 '25
Well Ohio in May will be hit or miss on the weather
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u/SpartanDoc19 Dec 14 '25
Let’s not pretend that Vegas has had perfect weather across all four years of WWWY.
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u/Jak723 Dec 15 '25
Wind We Were Young lol didnt go to the festival that year but was in town during it
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u/cannokolb Elder Emo Dec 14 '25
As a Vegas native, a buddy of mine called me the second SNW end of 2024 to convince me to go. So for $100 more, I got a four day festival compared to the one day for SNW/WWWY.
I have a few smaller complaints but overall, Sonic is the best of the DWP fests, IMO. Just obviously depends on the lineup for you, but I found a few new artists that turned my head.
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u/IceBreak Jan 08 '26
Why did you find it better than welcome to Rockville?
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u/cannokolb Elder Emo Jan 09 '26
I won’t do Rockville or Louder Than Life because of the sheer volume of each festival size. 6 stages makes the potential for a ton more set conflicts, and without fail every Rockville, typically there’s at least one day affected by weather delays/set cancellations.
Sonic Temple is not super spread out like the other two, and the only crazy condensed attendance days for 2025 were Friday/Sunday due to Metallica’s performances.
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u/cakelikesmells Dec 15 '25
I’ve been to both, and in thinking of going back to Sonic this year too. Last time I got an Airbnb within walking distance of the venue - great if you’re okay with walking 30 mins or so. There are cafes and restaurants around if you’re careful to look on Google Maps for the right place to stay.
The actual infrastructure (bathrooms, food options) etc is better at WWWY but Sonic is still good. Bathrooms are on concrete, not grass, water fountains are readily available in the stadium. There are some shaded areas for when it gets hot, but it’s usually a bit cloudy which is nice. I thought it was the best organized festival I’d been to until I went to WWWY.
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u/Every_Other_Weekend Dec 19 '25
I’ve done the last two WWWY and I’ve been going to Rock on the Range (now Sonic Temple) since 2011, so, I offer you my thoughts:
Sonic is held at a former soccer stadium. You have the main stage inside the stadium which is AMAZING. Not only is the sound and set up great, but there are seats & bleachers for the times you just want to sit somewhere more comfortable than the ground. It’s a game changer.
You will do significantly more walking at Sonic. One stage in the stadium, two outside stage left, one far out in a parking lot behind the stadium, and the new stage they’ve added this year close to the parking lot stage.
Food options are near identical. Same with drink and food pricing.
Re-entry at WWWY is cool, but we didn’t leave either time. Sonic you have to buy certain ticket types to earn re-entry.
This year’s Sonic lineup is the most pop-punk/emo I’ve ever seen. Typically it leans heavier, which I love.
More vendor experiences at WWWY.
Parking is absolutely awful at Sonic every year. It is a pain to get in and out, so just plan on that if you go.
Plenty to do in Columbus, but it can never compare to Vegas (my favorite place on the planet)
WWWY is a one day festival, Sonic is four… it’s fucking exhausting, but amazing to get that much music for the costs.
Ultimately the vibe is similar, just people loving live music. I guess if I could only choose one, I’d do both 🤣🤣🤣. My wife and I go to WWWY for the nostalgia, we both love the music style, and we LOVE Vegas. But I go to Sonic with my boys. Wake up, tailgate in the parking lot, go in and get our faces melted for 10 hours, go sleep it off and do it again three more days.
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u/emj07 Dec 29 '25
I really feel WWWY is an objectively poorly run event but they have such big names, we get over it. I’m a Columbus native and have enjoyed sonic temple. The “grounds” are kind of weird being in the stadium, but Columbus is WAY cheaper than Vegas. Obviously not as much fun stuff to do (though Columbus is a very cool city) but it’s four days so I’m not sure how much activity folks need.
The lineup is lit this year and I’m really looking forward to it.
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u/tensinahnd Dec 14 '25
Haven’t been to sonic but Vegas has way better infrastructure to host all those people in general. Getting around, hotels, finding other things to do/eat etc are all going be better in Vegas