HAPPENING 12 JUN '26 | Rotterdam is getting a new live music festival this summer, with Good Times Festival set to debut in Kralingse Bos on Friday 12 June. The first edition runs from 16:30 to 23:00 and focuses on soul and funk singalongs, live bands and a headline set from Sister Sledge.
Good Times Festival is positioned as an early-evening Friday event, built around the theme “Where Soul meets Funk”, with food trucks and bar options on site.
What the first edition looks like
The programme is structured as a journey from a large-scale R&B singalong into live tribute and band performances, ending with a joint closing moment with the headliner. The opening segment is led by the Sing Along team of DJ Irwan and Rico Green, bringing in crowd favourites and familiar hooks to get the evening moving early.
R&B singalong with guest performers
For this Rotterdam edition, the singalong line-up is supported by guest performers Re-Play, Glennis Grace and Gio. The setlist is framed around big R&B and pop moments, with Bruno Mars named as one of the touchpoints for the singalong segment.
Bruno Mars tribute and a Candy Dulfer live band
Treasure, described as a Bruno Mars tribute band, is booked for the festival. The band is linked to winning the SBS6 series The Tribute: Battle of the Bands last year. After that, the 10-piece band Soul Connection from Candy Dulfer takes the stage, before the night closes with Sister Sledge.
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Sister Sledge to close the night
Sister Sledge is presented as the headliner, with the festival pointing to their catalogue of well-known disco and soul tracks including We Are Family, Frankie, Lost in Music and Last Dance. The closing is described as a combined final moment, bringing the line-up together at the end of the evening.
A festival build shared with Boothstock
Good Times Festival is organised in collaboration with Boothstock Festival, which has been running in Kralingse Bos for around a decade. The organisers say the set-up and site facilities are already proven, including practical basics like lockers and toilets. The festival site is described as a “festival village” build, with multiple food options, including Karma Kebab from Cas & Kas.
Why the organisers added a Friday event
JMR Event Makers is behind Good Times, and the festival is staged on the same site that hosts Boothstock the following day. JMR director Jasper Scholte is quoted as saying: “We always thought it was a shame that we built an entire village for Boothstock for just one day. After three editions of Kidsstock on Sunday, we’re happy that we can now also put on a strong, energetic festival with celebratory live music on Friday. A great start to your weekend.”
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Tickets, times and official links
Good Times Festival takes place on Friday 12 June in Kralingse Bos, Rotterdam, from 16:30 to 23:00. Tickets cost €49.50 and are sold via: https://goodtimesfestival.nl/
How to get there
Good Times lands in the Kralingse Bos, so think “woods and water” rather than a venue entrance with a big sign out front. The easiest public transport starting point is metro station Voorschoterlaan (lines A, B and C). From there, it’s a straightforward walk towards the Kralingse Plas, or you can hop on a bike and be at the park in minutes. Coming by tram, tram 7 gets you close to the Kralingen side of the area, then you continue on foot into the trees. If you’re cycling (the Rotterdam way), aim for the Kralingse Bos edge near the Kralingse Plas and follow the festival signage once you hit the park.
