
By Rami Mansi
With over fifty artist performances of diverse genres, and packed audiences for all three headliners, the 14th annual 2025 Governors Ball, also known as Gov Ball, was held in Corona Park, Queens, to thousands of attendees.
This is Rami’s Reviews, a series where I, Rami Mansi, review anything pop culture related. Today, I’ll be reviewing my experience at Gov Ball.
Held over the weekend of June 6-8, the festival featured headliners Tyler, The Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, and Hozier, along with performances by Benson Boone, T-Pain, Tyla, JPEGMafia, Conan Grey, Young Miko, Marina, Raye, Clario, Glass Animals, and many others.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park has hosted the festival since 2023. Well-maintained and vast, the festival spanned across the park in stunning displays. Trees were decorated with pink furs and bright lights, and photo opportunities were placed throughout the entire field. The visual aesthetic of the grounds was a marvel to behold, with open space being a priority among the designers.
Attendees expected to be able to shop at pop-ups, eat at various food trucks, and listen to any artists they desired; however, something the general public wasn’t expecting was the unexpected delayed opening on Saturday.
Due to potentially hazardous weather, the opening of Saturday’s festival has been rescheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. With attendees waiting outside in rain and humid weather for hours before the gates’ eventual opening, and learning that the lineup had been shortened and pushed back significantly in time, the initial entrance had attendees in a frenzy to secure a good standing spot.
Throughout the festival, some of my highlights revolved around beautiful performances or hearing my favorite songs performed live. One of these moments was hearing Raye perform her memorable jazz songs, such as “Worth It,” and switching to German techno within minutes with beautiful musical transitions and a stunning display of vocal prowess. Another highlight was watching the electronic sibling Duo Frost Children perform one of my favorite songs of all time, “Shake It Like A”.
Other performances that I enjoyed include watching Olivia Rodrigo perform songs like “Vampire” and “Obsessed”; being so close to her that I could hear her without the microphone, I was genuinely obsessed. Being able to experience Olivia Lunny perform songs from her new album, “VELVET & DENIM,” was a truly magical experience. Honestly speaking, the best part of the entire festival was being able to interview Lunny; That interview can be read here.
Across the festival grounds, activities were held for all to enjoy, including a club-like room that played continuous music and sold Red Bull slushies. A dietary highlight was drinking those watermelon Red Bull slushies, delicious and refreshing on those hot days. Food trucks emphasized the diversity in culinary options, such as empanadas, various forms of sandwiches, burgers, loaded fries, mac and cheese, and that’s only from the food trucks.
The festival was packed with pop-ups from 32 companies and brands, including Hennessy, Electrolit Energy, and Dunkin’ Donuts, all of which had individual cabanas and pop-up stores where their products could be purchased. Some stands even handed out gift cards and other free merchandise, including Marvel Rivals, which gave out fans featuring the video game character, “Jeff the Land Shark”.
Throughout the three days, Gov Ball emphasized the importance of speaking up if help was needed. SafeFest, an organization dedicated to providing assistance at festivals, was constantly on the move, paying close attention to attendees and responding promptly to any emergencies that arose. Through security, SafeFest, and the kindness of festivalgoers, Gov Ball created a safe environment for all who worked, enjoyed, and attended the festival.
The festival was a powerful demonstration of the true willpower music lovers possess, the care we all share for one another in times of need, and the unfiltered power of live music. Gov Ball was a joy to be a part of and an even greater joy to capture as a member of the press team.
For information about the Governors Ball, please refer to their official website.