Warped Tour returns with packed crowds, heat and plenty of nostalgia

Vans Warped Tour is officially back in Long Beach, and by early Saturday afternoon, thousands of fans had already settled into the familiar rhythm that has defined the festival for generations: sprinting between stages, mapping out schedules and soaking up a full day of music despite soaring temperatures.

Moments after gates opened at 11 a.m., festivalgoers streamed through the entrance to cheers of “You made it!” from staff members welcoming attendees back to the Shoreline Waterfront. Just beyond the gates, crowds gathered around one of Warped Tour’s most recognizable traditions — the giant inflatable schedule board — while others refreshed the festival’s mobile app, comparing set times and plotting their next stop across the festival’s eight stages.

By early afternoon, the soundtrack to Warped Tour was already in full swing. Gym Class Heroes, Escape the Fate and Yelawolf had drawn crowds at the main stages, while newer acts like Winona Fighter, Chase Petra, Vana and LØLØ kept fans zigzagging across the festival grounds as they tried to catch as many performances as possible.

Among the earlier sets was a standout performance by Ohio pop-punk outfit Citizen. The band took over the Off The Wall stage and drew a large crowd extending into the neighboring Vans stage. They alternated between their pop hits and heavier tracks, including the live debut of “I Can See You From Here” that garnered some crowd surfers and a little bit of moshing in true Warped Tour fashion.

“I remember when I was in seventh grade, and I went to my first Warped Tour,” said Citizen frontman Mat Kerekes. “It’s so cool now to be part of this. “

Over at the Ghost stage, Suicide Silence brought their signature Inland Empire metalcore sound to a stage where fans didn’t seem to mind the heat. Frontman Eddie Hermida gave a shout-out to Warped Tour and festival founder Kevin Lyman for being a supporter of the group earlier on and inviting them on the tour. With the heavier set came heavier crowd participation, including a wall of death and vicious circle pit.

As Vans Warped Tour returns, women are helping redefine its future

The band also paid tribute to their late singer, Mitch Lucker, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2012, with their hit “You Only Live Once.”

“If you don’t know Suicide Silence, you should know that we do this to keep our brother Mitch’s spirit alive,” he said. “Mitch’s sets at Warped Tour were iconic; this is for him and shout-out to his family.”

The Southern California heat quickly became part of the day’s story as festivalgoers lined up for water, searched for pockets of shade beneath vendor tents and took breaks between sets before heading back into the crowd. Even with the high temperatures, the festival grounds remained packed as fans continued flowing from one performance to the next.

Beyond the music, Warped Tour’s community spirit was on full display throughout the festival grounds.

At Mortus Vivinti, a Los Angeles-based music brand and tarot-inspired clothing line that supports underground artists, welcomed attendees with free tarot readings and original artwork inspired by punk and emo culture. Visitors left with personalized tarot cards while learning more about local artists who continue to shape the city’s creative scene.

Just a few booths away, Gritty In Pink’s bright pink tent served as a gathering space celebrating women in music. Throughout the afternoon, the nonprofit hosted conversations with women working across the industry, artist meet-and-greets and networking opportunities for aspiring musicians. A timeline displayed outside the booth traced more than two decades of women’s history at Warped Tour, beginning with founder Shira Yevin’s groundbreaking Shiragirl Stage in 2004 and continuing through Gritty In Pink’s mission to create opportunities for women and gender-expansive artists today.