Ultra Music Festival’s beating high-energy EDM, flashing lights take over Miami’s Bayfront

MIAMI – Ultra Music Festival welcomed over 150,000 from around the world on Friday, as beating high-energy electronic dance music and flashing lights took over the 32-acre Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami.

The three-day Ultra Music Festival started at 4 p.m., on Friday. It’s set to close at midnight and reopen from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday; and again from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., on Sunday.

Police officers closed a section of Biscayne Boulevard and rerouted the southbound traffic at Northeast Sixth Street and the northbound traffic at Southeast First Street.

This year’s UMF Miami’s lineup of headliners includes Swedish House Mafia, Afrojack, Alesso, Carl Cox, David Guetta, Marshmello, and Tiësto. It also includes performances by M.I.A., Grimes, and Miami locals Christy “Cuci” Amador and Tony “Smurphio” Laurencio from Afrobeta.

Police officers asked drivers to expect heavy traffic during the festival along Northeast Second Avenue and North Miami Avenue and before the after-parties in Miami and Miami Beach.

Police officers and Fire Rescue personnel were on standby to deal with incidents related to drug use, drug dealing, dehydration, and theft. Last year, thieves’ most common target was iPhones.

“We will have plenty of officers at hand and that includes undercover officers inside,” Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales said during a news conference Wednesday.

UMF organizers sold out of the nearly $1,500 three-day VIP tickets, and the $750 PGA tickets. There were still some three-day general admission tickets for about $400 on Friday night that were to go up to about $450.

Ticket holders will be allowed to carry small clear bags and hydration packs without pockets.

UMF RULES

At the gates, UMF security will be checking for weapons, drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, flammable items, or opened packs of cigarettes, over-the-counter medication, or eye drops.

UMF organizers also prohibit umbrellas, food, beverages, canteens, flasks, coolers, chairs, blankets, sleeping bags or tents, or opened packs of tampons.

The list of banned fashionable items includes backpacks, purses, large chains, chained wallets, or spiked jewelry. The list of accessories prohibited also includes pacifiers and stuffed animals.

Party animals also need to avoid bringing balloons, confetti, streamers, loose glitter, musical instruments, noisemakers, air horns, glow sticks, laser pens, laser pointers, or similar focused light devices.

Artists will have to leave behind their pens, spray paint, and markers. Toy lovers won’t be allowed to bring water guns, squirt guns, spray bottles, misters, balls, inflatable balls, frisbees, or flying disks.

UMF organizers prohibit drones, unmanned aerial vehicles, professional cameras, flash cameras or video and audio recording equipment, or camera poles. They also prohibit bicycles, skateboards, hoverboards, scooters, and personal motorized vehicles.

For more information, visit this page and follow UMF on Twitter.

Watch it live: UMF shares live streams on YouTube

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