The highly anticipated three-day music festival, Hipnik, has enthralled music lovers and campers alike as it kicks off at the Fernwood Campground and Resort in Big Sur. With both the festival and campground completely sold out for the weekend, attendees are reveling in a weekend filled with entertainment, fun, and a vibrant camping experience.

Hipnik Festival offers a diverse lineup of genres including bluegrass and rock and roll, creating an open-air music atmosphere that can only be described as electrifying. Festival-goers like Gordy Simpson from Ventura are delighted by the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors while relishing in the festival's energetic performances. "Car camping is a tough life when you can bring all your goodies and all your luxuries of life, cots, and sleeping bags, and it's fun," Simpson conveyed.

This sense of communal joy is echoed by Jenn Cooke, another enthusiastic festival-goer from Ventura. She expressed her excitement, stating, "Oh, you're going to see so many happy people just loving the music. It's so communal down there; when you see the families, everybody's just stoked."

However, there were initial concerns that the festival might not be able to proceed smoothly due to the road closure at Rocky Creek Bridge. These worries extended not only to the event organizers but also to the bands scheduled to perform. For touring acts, the challenge of arriving, performing, and departing was a significant hurdle. Tim Bluhm, lead singer for the band Mother Hips, which is headlining the event all three days, expressed gratitude to Caltrans for their efforts in overcoming this obstacle. "Amazing that they were able to make that happen (at Rocky Creek Bridge)."

Fortunately, with part of the road at Rocky Creek Bridge now open 24/7, accessing Big Sur from the north has become much more convenient for campers, hikers, and tourists. This resulted in a sudden influx of visitors on Friday, as they eagerly poured into the scenic location. Ben Perlmutter, managing partner of the Big Sur River Inn, noted, "We already feel a buzz amongst everybody on the property. People are excited to get back to Big Sur, and we're feeling the energy."

While the state parks are currently open for day use only, camping within the parks is scheduled to resume on Memorial Day weekend. In the meantime, private campgrounds and hotels, including the Big Sur River Inn, are expected to reach maximum capacity. Perlmutter highlighted the positive impact of the reopened road, stating, "With this road reopening, there's an immediate demand coming back, and we're seeing our hotel rooms booking up, which is extremely exciting. I think Memorial Day weekend, we'll be full. Even this weekend seems like we're filling up, which is awesome news."

As Hipnik Festival graces Big Sur with its vibrant ambiance and the reopened road brings a renewed sense of accessibility to the area, both music enthusiasts and local businesses have ample reason to rejoice. The festival's success not only brings joy to attendees but also provides a much-needed economic boost to the Big Sur community, helping to recover from the estimated $50 million in losses caused by the slip-out incident.

Overall, Hipnik Festival serves as a testament to the resilience and unity of communities in the face of challenges, leaving attendees and locals alike with unforgettable memories and a brighter outlook for the future.