High Water Festival has become my second home in this industry. The atmosphere is so calm and memorable that it makes going to this festival such a fun experience. Besides the blistering heat and sweating within seconds of stepping onto the festival grounds, High Water Festival is perfect for all ages. It is perfect for those who want to listen to the music close up at the barricade or sit on a blanket away from the stage but still close enough to embrace the vibrations of each song played by all the bands, or just enjoy the company of friends. The festival is one of the most organized I’ve been to, and the staff treated us with so much respect. High Water Festival provides the media team on assignment a tent with Wi-Fi as well as snacks and a bunch of Liquid Deaths to keep us hydrated throughout the day. Since I didn’t bring a longer lens for the Stono Stage, I decided to photograph mostly at the Edisto Stage and focus on the crowd and the vendors that provide food and beverages to the attendees. This year I noticed there were two new vendors: Krystynas Authentic Polish Food and On! Nicotine Pouches.

This year I noticed more attendees participating in the recycling program that the festival has. Attendees receive a green recycling bag that allows them to collect cans from other attendees on the festival grounds, and once they fill up the bag, they receive a free T-shirt. I love this because I saw the younger generation participating, which teaches them that protecting the earth is important, as well as keeping the area clean. What I’ve noticed with other festivals is that they don’t have the same type of program as High Water Festival, which helps prevent the grounds from becoming unsanitary and very dirty, something that can ruin the whole experience and also become harmful to surrounding wildlife. There are also plenty of marked bins all over the grounds for waste management and to prevent attendees from placing all trash in the same section.

This year was the first time I was able to do portrait photos of a band on the lineup, and of course it was The Runarounds. I personally had never listened to this band before, but the musicians had such positive energy, and it was all smiles.

The Runarounds had the most energetic set of the day and possibly the whole weekend, in my opinion. The second they took a step onto the stage, the crowd started to scream in excitement, and the band fed into that energy and returned it at full force.

““Bleachers” was written initially about sneaking out when you were younger. While we’re all a bit too old to have to ‘sneak out’ these days, we wrote it as if we were still doing things we used to do in high school. Things like turning your headlights off before picking up a friend so their parents don’t see, or silently shuffling down the driveway so as to not make a sound — things that used to make our hearts race back when curfews mattered. It led us down a road of wanting to take back that fleeting nostalgia — the nights in the backseat, or under the bleachers. It’s a reconnection with youth, recognizing although you might not be in that same place anymore, why not try to keep the good days alive?” – guitarist/vocalist Axel Ellis

The Runarounds – Minivan Tour 2026

June 6 – Little Rock, AR – The Hall
June 7 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre
June 10 – New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore
June 11 – Branson, MS – City Hall Live
June 13 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
June 16 – Dothan, AL – The Plant
June 18 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
June 19 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues – SOLD OUT
June 20 – Jacksonville, FL – FIVE
June 21 – Greensboro, NC – The Pyrle – SOLD OUT

Throughout the weekend, I visited one of my favorite vendors that gave away pimento grilled cheeses. Cabot Creamery not only gave out grilled cheese sandwiches, but they also gave attendees chapstick as well as different types of cheese to try. The volunteers this year were very outgoing and friendly. The line never stopped for Cabot, and you were constantly waiting about 15 minutes just to try their grilled cheese. It was so worth it. Wicked Weed Brewing this year had a new beer called Vicious Nectar Watermelon, and it was one of the best beers I’ve had in a long time. Anyone who knows me knows that I HATE beer, but since the can itself looked interesting, I had to try it.

I was craving a drink during the second day of the event, and when doors opened, I ran to Mrs. Pucker’s lemonade truck. I was scanning what flavors of lemonade they had, and I saw the word coconut. I screamed internally because I love anything coconut-flavored. One of the workers inside the truck stated that they were experimenting with it to see if attendees liked it or not. Once I received the drink and took a big sip, I smiled. I said, “I am obsessed with coconut. And this lemonade tastes like heaven came down from the sky and landed in this cup.”

King of Pops was at High Water Festival again, and this year I tried the Banana Pudding and Orange Cream flavors. My mouth was watering with every bite, and I didn’t even care about getting brain freeze. The flavor was so bold and nostalgic. It honestly felt like when I was a kid on one of those hot summer days when all you could think about was something cold, something refreshing. And this is what King of Pops provides for attendees: flavorful nostalgia.

Hydration stations were available on the festival grounds. Hydration very important at events, especially ones held outside during the spring and summer. Festivals should not charge for water because sometimes not everyone has $8 to spend on a small water. Hydration stations should be required because they allow attendees to stay hydrated throughout the day, prevent dehydration, and decrease the risk of them passing out.

The next band I got to do portrait photos of was Peach Pit, and they were a band I had never heard of until that day. I got an email from the publicist asking if I would like to take photos of the band, and I said yes! Peach Pit is a band from Vancouver whose members are very friendly, and being able to meet them in person was a great experience. The band performed on Sunday on the Edisto Stage, and I was not expecting them to have this much energy on stage. Their performance ranged from high to low intensity depending on the songs they performed, but each song kept attendees on their toes. Sometimes it was so difficult to pay attention to the band because the attendees at the barricade were having the time of their lives. For their set, I saw individuals both young and old crying and becoming their most vulnerable selves as they watched Peach Pit perform. The members on stage were either calm or very chaotic, which created such a memorable atmosphere for everyone.

My favorite part about this festival is that they have an area where families and those who want to stay sober during the event can enjoy some quiet time. This area was such an awesome sight to see because we never see this type of accommodation for those who want to experience a festival in a different way. Every time I walked towards this area, you could see families playing games with their kids and adults relaxing without interruptions.

This year was so memorable because I got to photograph alongside one of my best friends, Daphne. It was her first time photographing this festival, and she did such an excellent job running between both stages constantly throughout the day to capture photos of attendees and the artists! Photographing High Water Festival is always such a fun experience, but doing it alongside someone who has become part of your life in the last two years made it even more thrilling.

I can’t wait to experience High Water Festival again for the fourth time next year. Seeing familiar faces and creating new friendships during the weekend is the reason why I love coming here. The food is delicious. The atmosphere is calm, and it makes you feel like you are pulled into a whole different universe: watching fans spring from one stage to another, seeing fans stay at the barricade all day through the blazing sun or through the horrendous winds. The staff at this festival are some of the most genuine people I’ve come across and are very easygoing and respectful towards everyone. High Water Festival is a community — a community filled with people who love music and want to forget about their lives for a weekend.

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