May's festivals — get them in your calendar now

May is such an in-between month. Spring is quietly packing up, and summer hasn't even reached the door yet. Festivals slip right into that awkward gap. Flip through the calendar and there's a stage standing somewhere every weekend. So I've pulled a few together in advance. If even one name here catches your eye, drop it straight into your calendar while you're reading.

The May weekends are already booked

First up, Seoul Jazz Festival. Three days, May 22 to 24, at Olympic Park. Herbie Hancock, HYUKOH, and Baek Yerin are among the 60 acts on the bill. The banner says "jazz," but the range of sound that actually reaches your ears is far wider than that. A set you half-listen to from the lawn in the afternoon and a set after the lights come up at night wear completely different faces. Clear a whole day for it, and there's that much more to carry home.

As a warm-up for the Seoul Jazz Festival lineup, here's one from HYUKOH first.

Next, Beautiful Mint Life. Two days, May 30 and 31, at Oil Tank Culture Park. You'll spot names like Jung Seung-hwan, Car, the garden, and Peppertones. It's a stage that has spent years building a springtime lineup, so it's just right for gently seeing the season off.

Third, GREENPLUGGED Seoul. Somewhere between mid and late May, at Nanji Hangang Park. The lineup leans on bands and indie, and the Han River flows behind the stage. River breeze, sunset, a guitar laid over the top — you can pretty much picture the mood already.

To keep from missing the tickets

All three run on different dates and in different places, so start by checking whether any weekends overlap. Whether you pick just one or get greedy and string two together changes your booking plan. Putting off booking just because the lineup is good is a fine way to miss the exact moment tickets open. For any festival with even one name you love on it, setting an alarm for the on-sale date is the easier path.

Here's your prep checklist.

• Seoul Jazz Festival: May 22–24, Olympic Park (Herbie Hancock, HYUKOH, Baek Yerin, and 60 acts in all)
• Beautiful Mint Life: May 30–31, Oil Tank Culture Park (Jung Seung-hwan, Car, the garden, Peppertones, and more)
• GREENPLUGGED Seoul: mid to late May, Nanji Hangang Park (bands and indie at the center)
• Tip: Early-bird tickets for popular festivals sell out fast. If you've got your heart set on one, keep an eye on the on-sale time from the start

How to make a day last

A festival isn't over the moment the ticket is in your hand. The real variable at a spring festival is the weather. In the afternoon the sun is warm enough to heat the grass, and once it dips, the chill sets in within minutes. Factor that swing in ahead of time, and you can hold your spot in front of the stage right to the end.

My bag's already packed. Fold in one thin layer and you can ride out the day-to-night gap by layering up. If you're planning to stay put for a while, a mat, water, and a power bank will keep you covered. The stage will fill in the rest for you.