Balm To My Anxious Soul: Innings Festival Tempe 2024

Stepping outside of a comfort zone is not an easy thing to do. It can require a leap of faith. Finding the confidence, support, or desire to do something that steadfastly stands against the normal. Whatever that individual sense of normal might entail.

On the final weekend of February 2024, I took one of those leaps. I flew into Phoenix, Arizona to attend the music and baseball-centered Innings Festival Tempe 2024.

Anxiety mixed with depression is the brew I’ve been served up my whole life. Like any roller coaster, there are highs and lows, depending on numerous factors. While I’ve learned greatly how to control things and accept my situation, it still influences my daily life. One way pertains to my reluctance to go out and do a lot of stuff, especially if it’s mainly composed of strangers.

Younger me at parties was very much that person against the wall, nursing a drink, looking for an exit or opportunity to sink through the floor to disappear.

To make a long story short (you really don’t want my life story), this was all on my mind when I accepted the opportunity to attend this festival. My editor showed confidence in me by asking me to cover the event, knowing I was a huge fellow baseball fan, and my girlfriend stood in full support as she accompanied me on this journey.

I dug up the confidence to attend, as slight bits of anxiety were crackling at the back of my mind for weeks. Luckily, all that was washed away as I waltzed into Tempe and the festival itself.

Whether it was the lower crowd, more chill beginnings or the tightly-packed energetic evenings, I felt welcomed at every turn. A swath of people gathered to revel in our shared love of baseball, food, and music. There was no flashing sign for anyone to know I was a first-time festival goer, and even if there was it wasn’t like anyone would judge me. I highly doubt I was alone in that designation amongst such a vast crowd.

My general wariness of other people washed away. I saw people making new friends, letting the vibe overtake them, and displaying great acts of kindness and simple common courtesy. Within the borders of that park, we were all fellow human beings just trying to enjoy these moments of life. Any preconceived notions, biases, or issues were pretty much left at the door.

Those who brought those in with them were rightfully laughed at or avoided as they brought down the vibe.

A perfect example happened during Macklemore’s set.

Between songs, he riffed with the crowd and spoke about various things. Before moving into his song “Same Love,” the artist spoke about the planes descending above (as the airport was nearby). He was saying how lucky we were to be there, not fearing those planes, unlike so many Palestinians in Gaza currently. This was not the first time Macklemore has taken a stand on world issues, not even close.

“Same Love” is a song all about calling out homophobia.

Predictably a handful of people grumbled and began to leave, proving Macklemore right that some just wanted him to “shut up and sing.” It was a small number of people, and those who remained shook their heads, laughed, and said “What did they expect?” Collectively, we knew how ridiculous they were, and as we raised our hands in support of human life, the vibe returned with the music.

While I don’t really dance, my girlfriend, a veteran of festivals, found numerous strangers she instantly was vibing and dancing with as they reveled in the beats. Cool breezes swirled as we sat on the grass cuddled up, letting the beats from Third Eye Blind wash over us. Masses gathered around, dancing the night away.

People made room for others to grab a spot on the grass to wait for various artists, even if it meant that person was now in front of them. So many gathered in circles, patiently waiting as they got to geek out over heroes and legends of MLB who stood among us.

It was an energy that seemed to break the festival boundaries, pouring into every space of the greater Phoenix area. Everywhere we went, we met so many kind and open people. A whole weekend trip that was like floating on clouds, including tons of satisfying and well-priced food and drinks.

As a newbie, I cannot speak to if this feeling covers all festivals. All I do know is that as a first festival, Innings Fest has got it going on. Nothing but pure joy and contentment flooded my body the entire time I was in attendance. I was soaring high off those feelings hours after we left.

What I do know though is that in 2025, there are no doubts I’ll be back. Anxiety is my constant companion, but when it comes to this festival and the experience in general, anxiety has no power over me.

Maybe next year, we’ll take it to the Extra Innings Festival as well.