As summer draws closer, so does the start of the music festival season. However, I will not be one of the estimated 400,000 people attending Lollapalooza in August or one of the 80,000 attending Bonnaroo in June. As much as I would like to go to a music festival, there are some major inconveniences with the cost and location of them.

With Lollapalooza in Chicago and Bonnaroo in Tennessee, neither are a close option for me to travel to this summer. As taking time off work for multiple days is not really a viable option during the busy summer season, not to mention I would also need one of my parents to take time off work to come with me. While it would be a dream to see a lot of my favorite artists at one time, the location of the events are not ideal for me to do that.

The cost of the festivals does not help the problem either. According to SeatGeek, Lollapalooza tickets range from $340 to $4,200. I have the type of parents who have me pay for events such as music festivals with my own money, adding to the other necessities I have to pay for like car insurance and gas. I’m sure I’m not the only one in this situation. The tickets are not the only payment necessary to attend a music festival. If you’re coming from out of town, you have to pay for a hotel plus the cost of travel, and both natives and tourists still have to pay for food, which is often overpriced at the venues.

Luckily, not all hope is lost for music lovers like me. There are a lot of local options for live music this summer. As Carmel, being nearby Indianapolis, provides many opportunities for concerts. In fact, some of the same artists performing at big music festivals are coming to Indy this summer, like Cardi B on July 30. This is a more cost-effective and closer option than traveling multiple hours away for a music festival.

Even more cost-efficient options are the many live music events right here in Carmel, like Music on the Monon and Live Music on the Patio. Even WHJE has its Last Rock of Summer music festival on Aug. 16 at Murray Stadium.

There are many more options a little outside of Carmel, like the Noblesville Summer Concert Tour that goes on throughout the summer. Some restaurants offer live music during your meal, like Britton Tavern in Fishers.

I know I can’t move where music festivals currently are, but I can try to enjoy the alternatives offered where I am, and I suggest the same for other people.