Vans Warped Tour is a multi-artist rock tour that has travelled across the U.S. and Canada since 1995. This year, 2018, it will make its last cross-country run. Originally, the tour was known only as Warped Tour, but after Vans Shoes became their primary sponsor, the tour changed its name to Vans Warped Tour.  The tour is held outdoors, with the exception of 1996 in Washington D.C. Occasionally, the tour has left North America and gone to Australia, Japan, and the UK.

The line-up of Vans Warped Tour has varied from year to year, but some bands keep returning.  The punk band Less Than Jake, holds the record for most Warped Tours played, with 14 runs this year. Simple Plan and Anti-Flag are runner-ups with 11 and 10 runs respectively.  One of the most popular artists to ever play Vans Warped Tour is Katy Perry, who was part of the line-up in 2008. Other more popular artists and bands to play Warped Tour are Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Green Day, The Used, All Time Low, and My Chemical Romance. This year, Warped Tour will have its youngest band ever, Color Killer, whose members range in age from 8 to 11.

Vans Warped Tour truly does go coast to coast with venues from San Diego, California to Hartford, Connecticut, and everywhere in between. This year, the only Canadian location is in Toronto. The Pennsylvania venues for the tour’s last run are in Burgettstown, a Pittsburgh suburb, and Scranton.

The tour doesn’t just have a plain line-up. It consists of six separate stages, each with its own set of artists. The stages are known as Journey’s Left Foot, Journey’s Right Foot, Mutant Red Dawn, Mutant White Lightning,  owly.fm, and Full Sail Stage. The first two stages are named after another main sponsor of the tour, Journey.

Journey’s Left Foot features artists such as Asking Alexandria, Black Veil Brides, Mayday Parade, Sum 41, and Waterparks. Many Warped Tour veterans such as All Time Low, Falling in Reverse, The Maine, and of course, Less Than Jake, are playing  Journey’s Right Foot. Sharptooth and Turnstile are just two of the 12 groups featured at the Mutant Red Dawn stage. Mutant White Lightning, among other groups, is starring Motionless in White and Crown the Empire. Owly.fm and Full Sail Stage have Palaye Royale, Farewell Winters, and other bands playing on their stages.

Warped Tour will be traveling for the majority of the summer, and tickets are available at the door. If you have the chance to, and are interested, this is your last chance to see Vans Warped Tour. The tour suggests that you pack plenty of water and sunscreen, and to have lots of fun! Have a good time this summer, whether you’re going to Warped Tour or not.