Festivals are always more fun in the sun. Unfortunately, New York City and Governors Ball Music Festival 2016 had to deal with their fair share of wet weather. Not only did it rain throughout parts of the first and second days, but organizers were forced to cancel the final day because heavy thunderstorms that were predicted for that afternoon and evening.

Even though the six-year-old festival was shortened from three days to two, festival-goers got a chance to not only get down to their favorite acts like The Strokes, Robyn, and Miguel but also enjoy a variety of sights, tastes and activities that give it an edge over other festivals on the Atlantic seaboard. In other words, the fest brought more than just a strong set of musical performances.

Here are some of the things we enjoyed while at this year’s Governors Ball.

The Eats

Music festivals aren’t just for those who love great sounds. Nowadays, these events are also raising their food lineup – and New York City is no stranger to good eats. With new restaurants and groundbreaking food trends churning out of the Big Apple every month, it wasn’t surprising to see some local favorites and new dishes people could try. 

With 55 stands to choose from, there was literally something for everyone including vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free diets. New York staples like Burger Joint, Mighty Quinn’s BBQ and Ramen Burger returned with their signature sandwiches. If you were looking for something more filling, there were Seamore’s poke bowls, or mac n' cheese from Beecher’s Handmade Cheese. 

Two of the fest’s big hits were the Gai Daan Jai (or Hong Kong waffle) ice cream sundaes from Wowfulls, and the shakes from Black Tap. Not only were they decadent but were great for sharing. That is, if you felt like it.

The Drinks

Gov Ball made sure to keep their bars stocked with multiple stations throughout the grounds. But the fest took it one step further by including special drink locations including the Miller Beer Hall, a Bacardi boat and a couple of cocktail stations that offer special cocktails that featured Don Julio tequila, Bombay Sapphire gin and Tito’s vodka. 

For those who didn’t want to turn up, they could quench their thirst with a number of non-alcoholic beverages from Matchabar, Bluestone Coffee Shop and fresh coconuts from Coco & Co. There were almost more hydration opportunities than we knew what to do with. The only thing that seemed to be lacking was the amount of water stations. Gov Ball might not be the largest festival as far as space, but having only three water stations on its grounds wasn't enough for the crowds.

The Games

Sure, we go to music fests for the sounds. But sometimes we need a little break from standing in the middle of a congested crowd. GB tapped into our nostalgic sides with play areas offering gigantic Jenga sets and cornhole. By the Big Apple Stage, attendees could enjoy a few rounds of mini golf. It was perfect for groups who wanted to get away from all the craziness of the main festival grounds. 

MTV’s stand gave people the chance to turn their dance moves into beats with a music-making dance floor. Sennheiser came back with its silent disco for people to have their own dance parties with the help of headphones. And just in case your phone died, many of the sponsors including Perrier, Diesel and Gov Ball itself had photo booths to capture some great moments and turn them into gifs.

Of Course, The Music

This year’s Gov Ball may have been shortened to two days, but there was no dearth of incredible performances. After performing in 2014, The Strokes returned to the Gov Ball main stage to play their hits while as well as new tunes from their recently released EP, Future, Present, Past. Action Bronson and Mac Miller's commanding performances hyped up the entire crowd. 

This year’s Governors Ball showed a strong set of female performers that included the soulful vibes of newcomers Elle King and Meg Mac, and high-energy rock of Holly Miranda and Christina and The Queens. Robyn dazzled everyone with her electro pop set and fluid movements. Alicia Bognanno of Bully may have looked nonchalant at the mic but wailed and riffed hard once the band’s set started. And Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! inspired everyone in the Bacardi House Stage. The Knocks's set was rife with awesome guest appearances from Carly Rae Jepsen and Wyclef Jean, who performed their collaborations with the New York City duo. And despite the rain on the second night, The Killers and M83 had the crowds bouncing around in the mud without a care in the world – closing out yet another year in Gov Ball history.

Find more Gov Ball scenes below.

Photo by: Emily Tan