After a long winter we’re all in need of some outdoor fun, freedom and relaxation. And with the beginning of warm spring days, a different kind of season isn’t far away—one filled with live music, art installations and big grassy fields. Yes, we're talking about festival season!

But before you lie back in the grass to soak up the sun and sound, take a minute to think about what’s going on behind the scenes. A music festival draws huge crowds and over the top performances, both of which can come with a high environmental price tag. So how can you be sure your favorite event isn’t an eco-nightmare? A Greener Festival has the answer.

The people behind A Greener Festival love a good concert just as much as the earth. But the bad news is that festivals can often be the opposite of sustainable, consuming massive amounts of energy while producing pollution from transportation, noise and trash. Cue the creation of a non-profit committed to helping events worldwide adopt environmentally conscious policies and practices. A Greener Festival provides both incentives and advice for festivals, doing everything that they can to ensure your aural experience is also an eco one.

Each year the organization commends a variety of environmentally conscious events with A Greener Festival Award. The coveted prize takes into account the festivals’ power usage and waste by-products, as well as its attempts to conserve energy and give back to the environment. And to be fair, A Greener Festival acknowledges that what is good for one festival may be impossible for another, and thereby takes into account what a festival can do within its means. Whether it be a recycling program, decreased carbon emissions or increased public transportation, every festival can promote sustainability while still putting on a good show.

So before you pick your festival this summer, make sure you’ve done your research. And check back in with Milkshake next week to find out which of our favorite festivals make the green grade.