Ozzfest [ tickets ] will celebrate its 12th year with a 24-date jaunt that kicks off July 12 in Seattle. As previously reported, tickets for the trek will be free.

The tour hits a slew of major markets before wrapping up Aug. 30 in West Palm Beach, FL; the itinerary is included below.

Aside from tour namesake Ozzy Osbourne [ tickets ], this year's band line-up has yet to be announced.

"For the last few years," Sharon Osbourne said in a statement issued earlier this year, "ticket prices have steadily climbed as artists demand more and more money for summer tours. We certainly want everybody to make money, however we also want the kids to be able to afford to come out and have an incredible experience. If we continued with the traditional touring festival model, we would have no choice but to raise ticket prices again this year."

Instead, Ozzfest and promoter Live Nation will turn to sponsors to provide added support for the festival.

"We're reaching the same point we did years ago when kids no longer wanted to pay for overpriced CDs," Sharon Osbourne said. "As a result, they found alternative ways of getting music. That's what's happening with summer touring in this country, it's out-pricing itself. We started this and we want to keep it and we want to make it bigger and bigger each year by getting bigger sponsors to be involved with the festival and underwriting the festival. That's what it's about."

To gain entry into the event, fans will need to visit the Ozzfest or LiveNation websites to find links that will direct them to special sponsor sites where tickets can be secured. More details regarding the process are forthcoming.

In other Ozzy Osbourne news, VH1 will pay homage to the rock icon as part of the second annual "VH1 Rock Honors." This year's celebration will also honor the music and influence of Genesis, Heart and ZZ Top. Premiering on May 24, "VH1 Rock Honors" will be taped at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on May 12.