Music Festival Camp Grows From 2 Friends to 100-Person Family

When David Fitzgibbons met Akash Gondalia at Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2017, neither imagined they'd build a family of 100 people from across North America. But that's exactly what happened.

Fitzgibbons, a Nashville native, inherited a small camp at the Tennessee festival in 2016. After meeting Gondalia, a Dallas resident, at a King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard show, something clicked. "I had a thought in my mind: 'Hey, I can just text Dave whenever I want,'" Gondalia remembered.

That text message was the start of something bigger. Over nine years, their camp "Just Boof It" has grown from two friends to more than 100 members who consider each other chosen family.

This year, about 45 campers from Vancouver to Washington D.C. set up their weekend home in C Block of the festival's Groop Camping area. The organizers use color-coded maps to arrange tents by region, with squads from Virginia, Memphis, Seattle, Chicago, and New York creating their own decorated spaces.

All the regional blocks surround a central hub filled with food, drinks, and a grill. Some areas burst with colorful tapestries and cozy setups, while others keep it simple with cots and blankets. But every space radiates the same warmth.

The camp continues welcoming new members each year. Minneapolis residents Josie O'Donnell and Shelby Renner joined last year after their previous festival group dissolved. They found exactly what they were looking for.

Sunny's Take

The magic of Just Boof It isn't just about music or camping. It's about people from different cities, states, and even countries choosing to show up for each other year after year. Keith Arnold travels from Canada, Seth Rickard from California, all to reunite with friends who started as strangers.

"We consider it very special and sacred," Fitzgibbons said about the annual gathering. For these campers, Bonnaroo stopped being just a music festival long ago. It's become an annual homecoming to a family they built themselves, one festival season at a time.

In a world where genuine connection can feel rare, 100 people prove it's still possible to find your tribe.