Kayla Hawk flipped through the Goodwill racks with the practiced speed of a seasoned thrifter, filtering out the noise of a crowded store. Around her, people clung to carts stacked with hidden treasures, but she was looking for something specific. 

With Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival looming a week away, the clock is officially ticking on the perfect outfit.

This is the mission for many Bonnaroo attendees before walking into Great Stage Park. Hawk and many other patrons know that what you wear is important and another way to express yourself on the farm, but it should not come at the cost of comfort or breaking the bank. Four-time festival-goer Susannah Smith shares Hawk’s attitude: why buy an expensive piece of clothing and only wear it once? 

“I usually rewear a lot of my staple pieces, especially the ones that are specifically for festivals, and that I bought from vendors on the farm,” Smith said. “I love to thrift my outfits.”

Bonnaroo is known for flowy skirts, crocheted tops and body glitter. Feeding into the weekend’s free-spirit theme, Hawk was on the hunt at Goodwill for the perfect items to take with her. 

“Like one thing they [Bonnaroo veterans] told me is like, you’ve got to find like a, like a statement piece, like the first thing that catches your eye,” Hawk said. “And then you just kind of build off that.”

Walking through the aisles, Hawk knew exactly what she was looking for: comfort and functionality. She came to Goodwill in Murfreesboro on South Church Street with a $50 budget and specifically wanted relaxed skirts, colorful tops, and accessories like scarves she can style in multiple ways. Even though this will be her first Bonnaroo, Hawk is an experienced festivalgoer. She’s suffered through the uncomfy fishnets and tall boots that leave painful blisters. She doesn’t want to deal with a bodysuit, no matter how cute it is. When her eye caught an item, she scanned it, felt it, and went through a mental checklist in her head. 

Hawk won’t consider anything tight or restrictive and rejects some fabrics because of how they feel. 

“I don’t care how cute it is,” she said. “I am not wearing it.”

Hawk doesn’t just want these items for Bonnaroo. She wants to be able to get a life out of them. She saw an iridescent, sparkly top, perfect for festival life, but knew she wouldn’t wear it beyond Bonnaroo. She put it back and moved on. 

“I definitely am in here with the mind of, like, a festival,” Kayla said. “But if it’s something that doubles, I’m more likely to get it, because … why wear it once, you know?”

In recent years, thrifting has risen as a trend, and it has been a gem for Hawk. With some sewing skills under her belt, she can look at all sizes without worry. She is a petite woman, so finding her exact size in a thrift store can be challenging. But Hawk can ease her parameters a bit and expand where she can look. She picked up an item two sizes too big, but didn’t bat an eye because she was already scheming ways to upcycle and alter it to be the perfect piece for ‘Roo and everyday life. 

Though not everyone has these skills, some still find that thrifting pieces is the way to go when shopping for Bonnaroo. Experienced Bonnaroovian Kylie Hunter shared her own thrifting strategy.

“I love thrifting,” Hunter said. “I like to buy my swimsuits new, but coverups and accessories I like to thrift as much as I can.”

Hawk shopped for about an hour and found some pieces she deemed worthy of tying on. She usually sticks to neutral colors like brown, tan, black and beige, but wanted to try finding some pieces that were vibrant and festive, yet still comfortable, reliable and on theme. 

When she tried on a crocheted beige skirt, she lit up, knowing she had found a definite yes. Not every piece was successful, though. She came out in a denim skirt, and her face told it all: she was uncomfortable and way out of her zone. On the flip side, she tried on a neon green bathing suit top, exuded confidence in it, and brought it home with her. 

Hawk left Goodwill, under her budget, with a bag full of statement skirts, vibrant tops and sparkly scarves, excitedly waiting for the weekend ahead of her.

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