Who knew hippies could be so ambitious? Begun as an eco-friendly alternative to the L.A. nightclub scene in 2000, Lightning in a Bottle, the annual “renegade forest party,” has metamorphosed into an “an unforgettable three-day adventure in art, music and sustainable living.” More than 50 musical acts and a rainbow of performances (Pretty Lights, Thievery Corporation, Lucent Dossier Experience) will unfold on four stages. You can “rock your shakti” in the yoga-centric Temple of Consciousness, marvel at art installations and dozens of live painting demos, visit the organic vending village and bring your offspring to see Dr. Solar's Sunshine Medicine Show. With a “family zone,” LiB is no Burning Man alternative; kids 12 and under are free, no dogs are allowed, and it's unlikely you'll run into the E-crazed party nymphs native to Black Rock City. The “leave it better, leave it beautiful” mantra has led to LiB being voted the “Greenest Festival in America,” and the roster of lectures and workshops — on everything from permaculture, pollution, herbology and energy to the unified field theory, beat boxing and your inner Jedi — make this the coolest fest in the West.

Fri., May 27; Sat., May 28; Sun., May 29, 2011

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