With summer kicking into high gear it’s time to start preparing for the season’s outdoor music festivals. Gaining in popularity every year, it seems like every event from Lollapalooza to Pitchfork to Bonnaroo is competing to score a better lineup, which means more epic shows and a better bang for your buck. So where can you see The Flaming Lips, Conan O’Brien and Dropkick Murphys in one place this summer? Read on for our favorite picks of 2010 to find out.

Photo from Flickr/CC Justin Ward

Bonnaroo
Dates: June 10 – June 12, Manchester, TN
As part of a larger arts and music festival, Bonnaroo provides a bit more depth than the single-track music fest, with huge bands like Dave Matthews Band and Jay-Z tied in with Conan O’Brien and myriad other cinema and comedy features.

The four day festival provides enough arts and entertainment to make a person’s head spin, so plan well and move between venues quickly — else you risk missing a show!

Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Dates: June 17-20, Telluride, CO.
This three day festival in Telluride, Colorado is among the best in the nation for bluegrass fanatics, and set against the backdrop of the gorgeous Rocky Mountains it’s hard to not be inspired. 2010′s lineup includes big names such as Alison Krauss and Bela Fleck, so book your tickets as soon as you can!

Pitchfork Music Festival
Dates: July 16 – 18, Chicago, IL
If indie music is your scene then you don’t want to miss the Pitchfork Music Festival located in Grant Park in Chicago, IL. Long known for its snarky music reviews and hipster values, Pitchfork Media has been coordinating this event for several years now, and the festival keeps getting bigger and better. This year’s headliners include Modest Mouse, Pavement and LCD Soundsystem, so get your tight jeans on and get ready for a fantastic show.

Lollapalooza
Dates: August 6 – 8, Chicago, IL
As one of the larger mainstream festivals in the nation, Lollapalooza used to tour the country as a mobile music bonanza, but as of 2005 they’ve also settled down in the heady fields of Grant Park in Chicago, IL. The festival now has such epic name recognition that huge players like Lady Gaga and Soundgarden are slated to perform this year. As a result, tickets will go fast for this event, though if you’re having trouble locating a set make sure to check Craigslist for the current second-hand inventory.

Virgin Mobile Freefest
Dates: Late Summer, Washington DC
Though the official dates and lineups haven’t been announced yet, 2010′s Virgin Mobile Festival earns a notable mention for one reason: because it’s free. Located a few miles outside of Washington DC and Baltimore, the festival is sponsored entirely by Virgin Mobile, and will surely include dozens of A-list bands and a whole smattering of free activities, contests and ways to kill an entire day wandering around the fairgrounds. Just keep your eyes open for an official launch date sometime soon and sign up for tickets fast — they sell out quickly!

If these five festivals aren’t enough to satiate your appetite, check out Gadling’s guide to summer music festivals where you can find a comprehensive list of both foreign and domestic events for your perusal.