LuckyFM Ibaraki Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture), in collaboration with BARKS Inc., will hold LuckyFes ’25 over the three-day weekend from August 9 (Saturday), 10 (Sunday), and 11 (Monday, a public holiday) in 2025 at Hitachi Seaside Park (Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture).
LuckyFes was launched in 2022 as a brand-new festival under the theme of “A Celebration of Music, Food, and Art.” The festival aims to create a crossover of various musical genres, featuring artists popular across generations from POPS, ROCK, HIPHOP, JAZZ, Anime Songs, Idols, K-POP, and more. With a focus not only on music but also on gourmet festival food and art, the festival offers an experience akin to a theme park. It has been well-received as a festival where all generations can have a great time, with free admission for elementary school children and half-price tickets for middle and high school students.
In its third year, LuckyFes ’24 saw a venue change to the Grassland Area, where 60,000 fans gathered in a frenzy to enjoy performances by 10 artists from five Asian countries. The event concluded with great success.
In its fourth year, LuckyFes ’25 will be co-hosted by LuckyFM Ibaraki Broadcasting and BARKS, Japan’s largest music information media outlet, celebrating its 25th anniversary. With BARKS joining the event, they plan to leverage their longstanding relationships with artists to secure an even more exciting lineup. LuckyFes ’25 will be held under the theme of “The Biggest Theme Park-Style Festival in Asia During Summer Vacation,” shifting its schedule from July to the three-day weekend of August 9, 10, and 11. There are two main reasons for moving the event to August: the summer vacation period and past event track records.
1. Summer Vacation
Hosting the event in July presented challenges, as many high schools and universities are in their exam periods, and the final day often conflicted with school schedules for elementary and middle school students. To align with the spirit of LuckyFes, which aims to be enjoyable for visitors of all ages, we concluded that holding the event during summer vacation would be more suitable, allowing everyone to fully immerse themselves without worrying about school obligations.
2. Past Event Track Records
For over 20 years, Japan’s largest rock festival has been held at the same venue, Hitachi Seaside Park, every August. This well-established schedule not only accommodates local residents but also makes it easier for past festival-goers to plan their participation.
However, there were concerns about moving the event to August regarding three aspects: “temperature,” “thunderstorms,” and “heatstroke.”
3. Temperature
When we analyzed the temperatures recorded at the nearest observation point to the venue in Mito, comparing temperatures near Marine Day in July and Mountain Day in August over the past seven years, we found that the highest temperatures were actually higher near Marine Day in three of those years. Therefore, the temperature difference is not significantly large.
Reference: Japan Meteorological Agency “Past Weather Data Search”
Additionally, Hitachi Seaside Park, the venue for the event, is a nature-rich location with grassy areas, shaded spots, and a coastal breeze, which is expected to lower the perceived temperature even further.
4. Thunderstorms
Over the past five years, the occurrence rates of thunderstorms in July and August have been relatively balanced.
Data Provided by: Japan Meteorological Corporation (*1)
5. Heatstroke
Regarding heatstroke, there is a nationwide trend of more emergency transports in July, when people are not yet accustomed to the summer heat, compared to August (*2). The same trend is observed in Hitachinaka City, where the venue is located.
Data Provided by: Hitachinaka-Tokai Regional Fire Department Headquarters
Taking all five of these considerations into account, we have decided to hold LuckyFes ’25 in August. Despite the change to an August schedule, we will enhance our efforts to ensure that all our friends (visitors) can enjoy the festival safely and comfortably by reinforcing measures against the summer heat. Specifically, we will continue to rigorously implement and update the “5 Key Principles for Heatstroke Prevention.”
<5 Key Principles for Heatstroke Prevention>
1. All stages will be set up in grassy areas.
2. The front area of the main stage will have a priority admission system with scheduled rotations.
3. All food and rest areas will be located in shaded spots or covered locations.
4. An increased number of water supply stations will be installed, along with water play areas for children.
5. Four first-aid stations will be set up, with spacious resting areas secured.
LuckyFes ’25 aims to become Asia’s largest theme park-style festival, combining the 60th anniversary of LuckyFM Ibaraki Broadcasting with the 25th anniversary of BARKS. Together, we will strive to make this event an even more powerful experience, ensuring that both our friends and the artists can fully enjoy and be satisfied with the festival.
(1): Japan Meteorological Corporation
(2): Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, “Heatstroke-Related Emergency Transport Situation in August 2024”
Message from General Producer Yoshito Hori
As we enter the fourth year of LuckyFes ’25, the event is set to become even more powerful with the co-hosting of BARKS, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. We decided to move the event from July, where it was held for the past three years, to the second week of August during summer vacation, a period that has been the traditional timing for rock festivals at this venue for over 20 years. This change will make it easier for families to participate. Regarding concerns such as temperature, thunderstorms, and heatstroke, the results show no significant differences between July and August. With the slogan “The Biggest Theme Park-Style Festival in Asia During Summer Vacation,” we are dedicated to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all our friends. We will continue to work tirelessly on preparations. See you next year on August 9, 10, and 11!
■LuckyFM（https://lucky-ibaraki.com/）
LuckyFM is the only private broadcasting station covering Ibaraki Prefecture at FM 94.6 MHz / 88.1 MHz. In July 2021, the FM Tsukuba station (88.1 MHz) was launched, and with the expansion of the free radiko streaming area to one metropolitan area and six prefectures (the entire Kanto region), LuckyFM has become a radio station accessible in the Greater Tokyo Area. Focusing on five core concepts—“Diversity in Music,” “Local Major,” “Niche Top,” “News,” and “Sports”—LuckyFM is dedicated to producing original programs. The station is also actively involved in organizing large-scale events and concerts, with LuckyFes at the forefront.
■BARKS（https://www.barks.jp/）
Launched in April 2000, it is one of Japan’s largest specialized music media outlets with a rich history and a vast amount of data. With a mission to share the appeal of all types of music and artists, regardless of genre, to as many listeners as possible, the platform has earned the trust of both domestic and international artists through its sincere coverage and high-quality articles. In recent years, it has been highly acclaimed for its real-time reporting on large-scale festivals and on-site initiatives that engage audiences, such as karaoke and instrument performances at festival venues.