This year’s LouFest definitely succeeded in meeting festival goers’ expectations.

Of course, a music festival all starts with the music. Having a wide range of artists including everyone from Young the Giant to Nate Ruess to Ludacris, it seemed like there was a little bit for everyone to enjoy. Although they contrasted to last year’s thrilling endings with Arctic Monkeys and Outkast, Hozier and the Avett Brothers were able to end the night on a calming note while still keeping the music festival ambience alive.

Furthermore, at every performance on the main stage, the artist was accompanied by a translator who repeated the song in sign language for the audience, which definitely helped to include those people who are hard of hearing.

One thing that had always been a problem for many people is the cigarettes. This year, however, the number of tobacco smokers present had gone down significantly, making the entire experience even more enjoyable.

The ‘Nosh Pit,’ LouFest’s array of local cafes, offered many different types of cuisine. If you were in the mood for pizza, St. Louis favorite Dewey’s had a stall. Wanting coffee? Kaldi’s stood right next door. Even if you were looking for mediterranean food, you could find it there. Yet, it is important to note that the options in the variety of stalls were limited. Each booth only served a few dishes and the lines for these limited dishes were long. However, price-wise, everything in the Nosh Pit was under ten dollars, so a small meal or snack—depending on what it was, of course—-usually cost a reasonable amount.

Facilities also play a part in the total experience of a music festival, and LouFest succeeded in improving their facilities from the previous year, making everyone’s experience more comfortable and enjoyable; the bathrooms could be found in all corners of the festival, decreasing the lines found last year. Additionally, functional hand-washing stations with running water, soap, and paper towels were not only found outside the restroom area but also by the ‘Nosh Pit.’ Staff continually cleaned the trash from these areas and kept the space as clean as possible, and even approached audience members during performances to ask them to help keep the park trash and litter-free. By doing this, the people attending the shows seemed to become more aware of their actions, feeling included in a group attempt to care for the space.

Referring back to the personnel, LouFest’s staff were incredibly helpful and attentive to each person’s individual needs. By the entrance, some gave directions (and helped festival-goers who had accidentally tightened their bracelet too much). In different tents, workers could help you find information, such as the lineup, or available services, as well as provide maps and similar pamphlets. Several different help stations were set up throughout the area, such as water-bottle filling and phone charging, in addition to a specific spot where parents or likewise could go if the child they were accompanying had gotten lost.

With the combinations of good music, good food, and good fun, LouFest again held up previous standards, and kept St. Louis charmed with its very own Lollapalooza.