The final stretch of this school year is coming to a close, and with that, summer is fast approaching.

Unfortunately, it ends just as quickly as it begins and students are left with the daunting task of figuring out how to achieve maximum enjoyment during their limited vacation time before school begins.

Popular summer activities for anyone with a passion for music are music festivals, and California regularly hosts quite a few of them.

LIVE 105 BFD

Where: Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View

When: Saturday

Featured Artists: Panic! At The Disco, Misterwives, Sheppard, Cold War Kids, etc.

More commonly known as the “kick-off” music festival of the summer, BFD features some of the top artists in alternative music and a few up-and-coming artists as well.

There are four different parts of this music festival: the Main Stage, the Bud Light Festival Stage, the Bud Light Subsonic Tent, and the Local Band Stage.

The Main Stage is for the headline performances, and the Bud Light Festival Stage features even more notable names in the music industry.

For those who are more interested in electronic music, the Bud Light Subsonic Tent focuses more on EDM (Electronic Dance Music) with artists like GTA and St. John.

The Local Band Stage is where fresh faces are introduced and where some aspiring artists get their big break. BFD holds a contest for one lucky performer to win the opening spot on this stage.

Outside Lands

Where: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

When: Aug. 8-10

Featured artists: Mumford and Sons, Kendrick Lamar, Sam Smith, etc.

One of the more popular music festivals in California is Outside Lands.

The 2015 music lineup for this festival includes a variety of artists such as Mumford and Sons, Lindsey Stirling, Kendrick Lamar, and Sam Smith.

Alongside the standard musical performances, Outside Lands offers other unique attractions like GastroMagic and The San Francisco Comedy Festival.

GastroMagic is like a magic show, but with delicious and peculiar food to provide for an experience that’s unlike any other.

This show is dedicated to performances that highlight the cuisine culture of San Francisco, with some of the best chefs in the business creating some of their specialty dishes right before the audience’s eyes. Some people in the crowd are lucky enough to grab a seat at the tasting table to sample the food directly after it’s made.

Outside Lands is especially known for its gourmet cuisine, which features the best food trucks in the Bay Area and special areas that are sectioned off specifically for Choco Lands and Cheese Lands.

HARD Summer Music Festival

Where: Fairplex, Pomona

When: August 1-2

Featured Artists: DJ Mustard & Friends, Fetty Wap, The Weeknd, Jack U, etc.

For those with an electronic taste in music who happen to be in SoCal this summer, HARD Summer Music Festival is set with a star-studded lineup that is sure to make for a memorable weekend.

This music festival really focuses on the musical performances themselves, rather than having other various attractions that distract from the main event.

Its simplicity and loyalty to the integrity of a true music festival have earned it a considerably large fan base.

Unlike other summer music festivals, HARD is actually a brand/organization that has concerts and festivals year round.

Whether students decide to go to a more local event like Outside Lands or to one that’s further away, music festivals always bring the promise of a fun, unforgettable summer.