One of Orange County's biggest music events of the year is coming to Irvine's Great Park on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

The inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival will bring 14 performances by leading women artists, immersive art installations, women-led businesses and makers, nonprofit activations, and an expected full day of activity to the Great Park. The festival is founded by Olivia Rodrigo, and net proceeds are being directed toward organizations that advocate for women and girls.

For anyone attending—or simply living near Great Park—there is quite a bit to know before August 29.

Daisy Chain Fields at a Glance

  • - Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
  • - Festival: Daisy Chain Fields
  • - Location: Great Park
  • - Address: 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine, CA 92618
  • - Festival hours: 10:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
  • - Great Park parking: approximately 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. according to the neighborhood notice; the festival's parking guide separately lists an 8:30 a.m. opening, so attendees should reconfirm the final arrival time closer to the event.

This is an all-ages event. Children age 4 and under may enter free with a ticketed adult, with certain exceptions for premium ticket areas such as Pit Viewing, Bungalows, and Suites.

Who Is Performing?

The festival features an unusually strong all-women lineup led by Olivia Rodrigo, with performers and special guests including:

  • - Chappell Roan
  • - Doechii
  • - Mitski
  • - Bikini Kill
  • - Garbage
  • - The Breeders
  • - KATSEYE
  • - Santigold
  • - Rachel Chinouriri
  • - Die Spitz
  • - Eli
  • - Quiet Light
  • - Not for Radio
  • - Special guests including Stevie Nicks, Karen O, and Sarah McLachlan

The festival website says attendees can expect 14 performances across the event.

What time does each artist perform?

That is one detail that has not yet been officially released.

The festival has confirmed the overall 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m. operating window, but I could not verify an official artist-by-artist set-time schedule as of August 7. Anyone planning around a specific performer should check the official festival schedule closer to August 29 rather than relying on unofficial schedules circulating online.

Two Main Stages

Festival materials identify at least two primary performance areas:

  • - Dandelion Stage — the main stage
  • - Marigold Stage — the second stage

Pit Viewing tickets provide front-of-stage access at both stages, although those areas remain capacity controlled and first-come, first-served.

This Is More Than a Concert

Daisy Chain Fields is being positioned as a broader cultural event rather than simply a day of musical performances.

The official festival site says attendees can also expect:

  • - Immersive art installations
  • - Creative spaces focused on action and engagement
  • - Handcrafted products from women-led businesses and makers
  • - Nonprofit organizations and advocacy activations
  • - Food and beverage vendors
  • - Brand activations
  • - Dedicated premium lounges and viewing areas

Partners listed by the festival include Depop, Etsy, LEGO, Taco Bell, Verizon, the City of Irvine, Great Park Live, UC Irvine, and Wild Rivers.

How Much Are Tickets?

Tickets originally started at approximately $250 for General Admission, with higher-tier options reaching roughly $500 for VIP and up to $1,250 for premium Pit Viewing, according to reporting at the time tickets were released.

At this point, however, the more important thing to know is that regular tickets are currently on a waitlist.

The official Daisy Chain Fields website directs fans who still want admission to join the official ticket waitlist in case inventory becomes available. The festival also says it does not operate an official resale or ticket-exchange marketplace.

Because of that, I would be especially cautious about buying wristbands from unofficial sellers.

Parking at Great Park

If you're planning to drive, do not assume you can simply arrive and find regular Great Park parking.

Festival parking must be purchased in advance, and availability is limited. Parking is assigned based on arrival order rather than a reserved individual space.

Important parking rules include:

  • - Advance parking pass required
  • - No overnight parking
  • - No vehicle re-entry once you leave
  • - Everyone in the vehicle must have a festival wristband
  • - Maximum vehicle size is 8.5 feet by 18 feet
  • - Parking placard should be displayed on the vehicle dashboard
  • - Entry to festival parking ends in the evening, with the current parking guide listing no entry after 8 p.m.

If you purchase parking, double-check your parking pass and arrival instructions before leaving home because traffic-control routes may affect which entrance you use.

The Festival Recommends the Shuttle

For many attendees, the easiest option may be the official Park & Ride shuttle system.

Shuttles are planned from:

  • - UC Irvine
  • - OCVIBE / Honda Center in Anaheim

Parking at those shuttle locations is included with the shuttle option. Shuttle passengers are dropped closer to the festival entrance than many of the regular parking areas, and the festival describes the shuttles as the preferred way to get to and from the event.

Shuttle passes must be purchased in advance and are limited. The official site currently indicates that Park & Ride shuttle passes remain available.

What About Metrolink or Amtrak?

There is another option for people coming from farther away.

The festival's accessibility guidance recommends taking Amtrak Pacific Surfliner or Metrolink's Orange County Line to Anaheim's ARTIC station, then using the festival shuttle from the Honda Center/OCVIBE area.

That could be especially useful for guests coming from Los Angeles, northern Orange County, or San Diego who want to avoid driving into the Great Park area.

Box Office Location and Hours

If you need help with a wristband, Will Call, ticket replacement, or an available upgrade, the official festival box office will be located just outside the main festival entrance on Field 6, west of the Great Park Balloon.

Current box-office hours are:

  • - Friday, August 28: 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
  • - Saturday, August 29: 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

A government-issued ID is required for Will Call pickup.

What Should You Bring?

This is an outdoor festival, and attendees should prepare for a long day.

Festival organizers specifically recommend:

  • - Comfortable walking shoes
  • - Hat
  • - Sunglasses
  • - Sunscreen
  • - Hearing protection
  • - An empty reusable water bottle
  • - Appropriate clothing for changing temperatures

Complimentary water-refill stations will be available throughout the grounds. The festival also plans cooling stations and recommends taking regular shade breaks during warm conditions.

The grounds include a combination of grass and paved surfaces, so footwear matters. Guests will also go through security screening that may include magnetometers and physical screening before entry.

What Will the Weather Be Like?

It is still too early to give an accurate August 29 forecast.

As of August 7, the event is more than three weeks away, which is outside the reliable window for a specific daily forecast.

Historically, late August is one of Irvine's warmest periods. Average August daytime highs are around 81°F, with overnight lows around 65°F, and daily highs can occasionally reach around 90°F.

Because festivalgoers may be outside from late morning through 10 p.m., plan for warm sun during the afternoon and cooler temperatures after sunset.

I would check the National Weather Service forecast approximately one week before the festival and update this guide once an August 29 forecast becomes available.

What Great Park Residents Need to Know

The impact on nearby residents actually begins well before August 29.

Festival setup is scheduled to begin on the evening of Sunday, August 23, with temporary fencing, staging, structures, deliveries, equipment, and additional event staff moving into portions of Great Park.

Breakdown begins after the festival ends and is expected to continue through September 2. That means residents could notice festival activity for roughly a week and a half.

Sound Checks and Festival Noise

Nearby homeowners should also anticipate amplified sound.

The current schedule includes:

  • - Thursday, August 27: Sound check time TBD
  • - Friday, August 28: Sound check time TBD
  • - Saturday, August 29: Amplified sound approximately 9 a.m.–10 p.m.

The festival also notes that pyrotechnics may be used. Information about any end-of-show fireworks will be released closer to the event.

Roads and Traffic Around Great Park

This will probably be one of the biggest issues for local residents.

The festival has already warned of potential lane or street closures affecting Skyhawk between Great Park Boulevard and Marine Way, and Marine Way between Skyhawk and Ridge Valley.

Several neighborhood intersections will also be restricted to resident access only on August 29, including locations along Ridge Valley, Cadence, Terrain, Bosque, Beacon, Hornet, Great Park Boulevard, and Marine Way.

Drivers should expect significantly more vehicle and pedestrian activity throughout the Great Park area.

Great Park Residents May Need a Dash Pass

The festival is establishing a Dash Pass system for residents whose normal routes require driving through resident-only barricades.

A Dash Pass:

  • - Shows traffic officers that the vehicle belongs to a local resident
  • - Allows access through designated resident-only barricades
  • - Is not a parking permit
  • - Does not allow residents to ignore normal parking restrictions

Residents will need to show proof of current residency to obtain one. Distribution is scheduled for August 26–28, with more detailed pickup hours still to be finalized.

If you live in Great Park Neighborhoods, I would take care of this before festival weekend rather than trying to resolve access issues on August 29.

Accessibility

Daisy Chain Fields has a fairly extensive accessibility program. There is no separate ADA admission ticket required.

The festival will provide:

  • - Accessible entrances
  • - Accessible parking for eligible vehicles with a festival parking pass
  • - Accessibility wristbands
  • - Accessible viewing areas
  • - Accessible restrooms
  • - An Access Center
  • - Assisted listening devices
  • - ASL accommodations for select performances
  • - Service-animal access
  • - Mobility-device charging at the Access Center

The Access Center will be located immediately inside the main entrance next to Guest Services. Guests with specific accessibility questions can contact the festival's accessibility team in advance.

What to Expect Inside the Festival

Guests should be prepared for a true large-scale music-festival environment.

Organizers specifically warn that the experience may include:

  • - Dense crowds
  • - Loud amplified music
  • - Strobe or flashing lighting
  • - Smoke and haze
  • - Pyrotechnics
  • - Extended sun exposure
  • - Long periods of standing and walking
  • - Changing weather conditions

If you're bringing younger children, are sensitive to sound or flashing lights, or have mobility concerns, it's worth reviewing the festival policies before arriving.

Why Daisy Chain Fields Is Significant for Irvine

Beyond the lineup itself, Daisy Chain Fields is another indication of how dramatically Great Park is evolving.

What was once primarily viewed as a large recreational park is increasingly becoming a regional destination for sports, entertainment, community events, recreation, and large-scale development.

Hosting an event with artists of this caliber introduces Great Park—and Irvine—to an audience extending far beyond Orange County.

For nearby residents, that comes with tradeoffs: traffic, sound, temporary closures, crowds, and disruption. But it also reflects the growing regional importance of Great Park and the amenities being built around it.

The Bottom Line

Saturday, August 29 is going to be a very busy day around Great Park.

If you're attending, my biggest recommendations are to arrange your transportation in advance, arrive early, wear comfortable shoes, bring an empty refillable water bottle, prepare for afternoon sun, and check the final artist schedule and weather forecast before leaving home.

If you live in Great Park Neighborhoods, pay particular attention to resident-only road restrictions and the Dash Pass program. Festival activity begins August 23 and continues through cleanup on September 2, so the impact will extend well beyond the concert itself.

And if you're still hoping to attend, use the official Daisy Chain Fields waitlist rather than relying on unofficial resale offers.

A few details are still pending as of August 7: the artist-by-artist set times, final traffic maps, some resident Dash Pass distribution details, possible fireworks timing, and the August 29 weather forecast. I would update those portions of the blog once the festival releases them.