Dust off the cargo pants. Dial Up Festival, a new throwback festival built around the late ’90s and early 2000s, makes its debut at Castaic Lake Park on Saturday, November 7, 2026, with Nelly headlining and Sugar Ray, Lit, Alien Ant Farm, Paul Wall, and Unwritten Law on the bill. It is all ages, and kids 5 and under get in free.
Castaic is the first stop on a three-city fall tour produced by CODA Entertainment, followed by Chandler, Arizona, on November 21 and a holiday edition in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 12. Here is what you need for the Southern California date, from the festival’s site and ticketing page as of September 28, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Saturday, November 7, 2026. The ticket page lists doors at noon and GA hours of 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Where | Castaic Lake Park, Castaic Lake Dr., Castaic, CA 91310 |
| Headliner | Nelly |
| Ages | All ages. Kids 5 and under free with a ticket holder. |
| Tickets | GA Tier 1 $64.99 plus fees ($83.80 total); VIP Tier 1 $159.99 plus fees ($187.19 total) |
| Dress code | Y2K, strongly encouraged |
| Official site | dialupfest.com |
Who’s playing
The festival’s Castaic lineup lists Nelly as headliner, with Sugar Ray, Lit, Alien Ant Farm, Paul Wall, Unwritten Law, “and more.” Set times have not been posted.
The headliner
Nelly, the St. Louis rapper whose early 2000s run of hits is exactly what this festival is selling.
SoCal radio rock
Sugar Ray (from Orange County), Lit (from Orange County too), Alien Ant Farm (from Riverside), and Unwritten Law (from San Diego). For a Castaic date, that is a lot of hometown bands.
Houston rap
Paul Wall, the Houston rapper who broke out in the mid-2000s.
Know the song, find the stage
If you were there the first time, you already know these. If you were not, here is your cheat sheet:
| If you know… | Go see |
|---|---|
| “Hot in Herre,” “Ride wit Me,” or “Dilemma” | Nelly |
| “Fly,” “Every Morning,” or “Someday” | Sugar Ray |
| “My Own Worst Enemy” | Lit |
| Their cover of “Smooth Criminal” | Alien Ant Farm |
| “Sittin’ Sidewayz” | Paul Wall |
| “Seein’ Red” | Unwritten Law |
Dress the era
The festival wants costumes, or at least commitment. Its FAQ suggests tracksuits, denim on denim, band tees, cargo pants, tiny sunglasses, butterfly clips, and jerseys. The festival also promises era-themed bars with cocktails named after the hits, retro photo ops, games, food vendors and trucks, and a Vendor Village.
Tickets
Tickets are sold through the festival’s TicketSpice page. Each tier has limited availability, and prices rise as tiers sell out. Here is what was listed on September 28:
- General Admission Tier 1: $64.99 plus an $18.81 fee, $83.80 total. The page says GA runs across three price levels.
- VIP Tier 1: $159.99 plus a $27.20 fee, $187.19 total. VIP adds a commemorative laminate, dedicated entrance lanes, a VIP viewing area at the main stage, a VIP lounge with seating, air-conditioned flushable restrooms, and dedicated food vendors and bars.
- Kids: 5 and under are free with a ticket holder.
- Purchase protection is offered as an optional add-on at checkout.
Getting there
Castaic Lake Park is on Castaic Lake Drive in Castaic, in northern Los Angeles County just off Interstate 5 above Santa Clarita. The festival has not published parking, shuttle, or rideshare details yet, so check its site before you go.
What to bring
- Your best 2002 outfit.
- Layers. The ticket page lists music until 10 p.m., and a November night by the lake can get cold.
- A valid ID if you plan to visit the bars. The festival has not posted its alcohol rules yet.
Accessibility
The festival has not published accessibility information for the Castaic date. It has not listed an accessibility contact either. We will add details when they are released.
Still to come
Set times, the rest of the lineup (the festival says “and more”), parking, shuttles, rideshare drop-off, a bag policy, a list of allowed and prohibited items, re-entry and payment rules, and accessibility information have not been posted. The 824 Journal will update this guide when they are released.
Sources
- Dial Up Festival, official site (dates, Castaic lineup, experience, FAQ)
- Dial Up Fest Castaic Lake on TicketSpice (address, doors, hours, ticket tiers and prices, VIP perks)
- CelebrityAccess: Dial Up Festival Debuts With Fall Shows (June 19, 2026)
- mxdwn: Dial Up Festival 2026 Lineup Announced
Featured photo: Jason Ippolito via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
