By Jesse Higareda
Words will never be able to fully explain the magic and beauty that is Electric Forest. It’s something you need to personally experience in order to truly understand why Electric Forest is so magical and transforming and why the Forest fam is unmatched. Let me tell you a bit about my experience this year and share with you some of my favorite sets, foods, moments and more. There aren’t enough words to really explain this place but I’ll do my best to paint a vivid and vibrant picture for you!
Happy Forest
I waited a whole 52 weeks in anticipation for Electric Forest to come around again. After experiencing this festival for the first time last year, I knew that it would become the one festival I attend every year no matter what. After another magical weekend in Rothbury, MI, I can say that I still feel the same and I will wait another 52 weeks until I’m back in the magical Sherwood Forest. There is something about this place that is so hard to explain. As soon as you pull into the campgrounds, you begin to feel the unity and positivity that makes up Electric Forest. From meeting people while in line to get in, all the way to the last person you talk to at the end of day 4, everything you see and experience here leaves a lasting impression. Everyone you encounter will wish you a “Happy Forest” and will reach for a high five or will stop to ask where you’re traveling from. Forest Fam welcomes everyone with open arms and a big smile. No one here is judged for what their wearing, what they’re doing, or why they’re there.
The community at Electric Forest is just one of the many factors that contributes to the overall success of this festival. The main aspect that drew my attention and the attention of many others is the actual forest itself. Before I explain what you can find in the forest, let me give you a quick run down of the festival grounds so that you better understand what I’m talking about…
Lay of the Land
When you walk into the festival, the first thing you’ll encounter is Tripolee Stage. This is the stage that I spent most of my time. Bassrush hosted the stage on day 2 and I got to see Herobust, Kayzo, and jauz, in addition to Fisher, MK, Falcons, and a few others throughout the weekend. It was awesome to see Pasquale, Rainbow, and Forest dancing away to Fisher’s set on day 3. Definitely one of my highlights!
As you pass Tripolee, you’ll encounter the candy store, merch tent, a few other vendors (including amazing food), and Ranch Arena. Stop by for the Mozz Sticks, Spicy Pie, and freshly squeezed lemonade as I gave them all a solid 10/10. Ranch Arena is the second stage you’ll come across. This stage had Rufus Du Sol, Zhu, The String Cheese Incident, and more. Surrounding Ranch Arena are trees with tons of shade, hammocks, and picnic tables to sit and relax, close enough to still enjoy who ever is on stage. Following this stage you’ll see the entrance to the magical Sherwood Forest (quick side note- explore this part while the sun is still out-you’ll thank me for this later. I’ll go into more detail about this part of the festival below).
In the forest you’ll find the Observatory and Forest Stage. This was my personal favorite stage because it was literally in the forest, surrounded by trees that seemed to reach the sky. My favorite set at this stage was Kyle Watson. I saw him at his first US show back in March and knew right then and there that seeing him at the forest would be transcending. In addition, you’ll see the trading post, the chapel, and much much more.
As you exit the Forest, you’ll see Sherwood Court to your right and Jubilee and the Hangar to your left. Sherwood Court had performances by Louis the Child, Party Favor, Boogie T, Eprom, and more. At Jubilee I got to see Hayden James, Space Jesus, and Party Pupils. One thing I definitely recommend is to stop by the Hangar and get “buffed.” It’s relaxing and worth the wait, trust me. At the Hangar you’ll also find a tattoo parlor with press on tattoos, a barber shop, and lots more. Like I said before, take time on your first day to really explore the festival grounds and get acclimated with bathroom, medical, and water locations. Once you have familiarized yourself, go explore and enjoy the magic that Electric Forest has to offer.
The Forest
So the Forest…boy oh boy, the forest holds a special place in my heart, and my soul has been left behind. The forest healed me of things I didn’t know I needed healing from. It helped me clear my mind from things that I was experiencing in my everyday life. It helped me organize my thoughts, it showed me who I really am, and what I am capable of doing when I am true and genuine to myself. I have never felt so at peace with myself and my surroundings. As soon as I walked into the forest, I felt an over-joyous amount of purity and relief. It was like a switch had be turned on and suddenly, nothing else mattered except for the moment I was in with the people I was with.
So what exactly can you find in the forest? The answer is simple- you find yourself. While entering this new world, you will find happiness, creativity, peace, and acceptance. You will be stimulated in so many different ways- visually, physically, emotionally, etc. and will learn to appreciate and love everything that the Forest has to offer. There is so much to see and experience and you will get overwhelmed at first, but know that you have 4 days to explore and I guarantee you’ll see more than you expected by the time you go home. At night, this place turns into something beyond your wildest dreams. Lasers shine across the treetops, visuals are projected onto different art installations, and creatures roam freely. I took a “vacation” from reality and got to see a deeper beauty of the Forest. Although I was with my friends for most of the time, I did get a chance to go wander by myself. 12/10 recommend. I tripped into the forest and was left alone to really hear my thoughts and go wherever my attention was drawn toward. It was one of the best experiences I have lived through. As soon as I saw everything I could, I went back with my friends and enjoyed the music, companionship, and all around good vibes.
The People
While at EF, I got to meet so many great people. There was a guy we went up to on day 2 who had the most amazing totem I have ever seen. It was made up of tiny hands and the top was one big hand holding a sphere (sorta) with illuminating lights. I’ll be sure to link a video to it below so you can see for yourself. In addition to this totem, there were many others that really show cased the creativity that many people have. Further along, I got to stop by one of the “giving trees.” Apparently, there is more than one. One of them is located in between Tripolee stage and Ranch Arena and the other is located in Sherwood Forest. I didn’t learn about the one in Sherwood Forest until day 4 and unfortunately didn’t get to visit it but next year it will be on my list of places to go to on day 1. Another amazing thing I witnessed was the piano in the middle of all these trees. It was open to anyone who wanted to share their talent. Sitting around with strangers and watching someone perform was such a beautiful thing to witness. This is just a small snippet of what I got to experience.
Tips on Lodging
One thing I do want to mention is that this is a camping festival and there is also so much to experience and do in the campgrounds. Because I stayed at a hotel, I didn’t get to see everything the campgrounds had to offer but that only makes me more excited to experience camping next year. I did, however, stop by a few RV parties and got to explore some of the campsites during one of the days. Here’s what I know about camping:
- They do offer early arrival so if you want to get an extra day of Forest fun- definitely do this option! This also gives you more time to set up, meet your neighbors, and get the weekend off to a great start!
- Showers are $10 and are only open between 8 or 9 and 5pm (at least that’s what a sign said when I was exploring the campgrounds)
- RV Parties are lit and sometimes you get surprise guest like Louis the Child b2b Hotel Garuda b2b Jauz b2b Manila Killa
- People in the campgrounds (everyone in attendance for the most part) are extremely friendly and are willing to share and help you out.
- Be prepared for all kinds of weather. Weekend 1 was pretty nice but you never know when a thunderstorm may roll around. Make sure you have a plan to prevent your tent from collapsing in case of rainfall or from flying away if it gets too windy!
- You’re allowed in and outs so if you have down time or need a break from the festival- you can always retrieve to your campsite and take a quick power nap. I recommend taking breaks inside the festival and avoid naps during festival hours so that you experience more of the forest. There’s a lot to see and do so whip out every ounce of energy and save the sleeping for later.
As far as staying at a hotel goes, you also need to rent a car. There aren’t many hotel/motel options near Rothbury so if you do decide that camping isn’t for you, know that you will be doing some driving. My friends and I stayed at a Travelodge in Muskegon, MI- about 30 mins away from the festival. We thankfully had a designated driver each day so we were able to get to and from the festival safely. We were able to stop by Walmart and load up on food for the week as well as alcohol and other necessities we didn’t pack. Although it was nice to come back to a bed every night, I wish I was able to experience the sunrise during RV parties or staying up late and talking to the people neighboring the campsites. You can definitely see the community that arises among the Forest Fam and I’m very excited to be camping next year!
May the Forest Be With You
All in all, Electric Forest exceeded my expectations. I was worried that coming back for the second time wouldn’t be as magical as the first time but I was so wrong. The forest remained as sacred as it was last year. Being a Forest veteran also allowed me to help guide my friends’ first trip into the forest. My forest fam really helped shape my experience into a great one and there is not a single thing that I would change about those 4 days. I strengthened my relationship with some, met the incredible Pasquale and Forest Rotella, experienced a Hot Air Balloon Ride, and created memories I will treasure forever. I cannot wait to be back home in 2019. Until then, I will wait in anticipation and reflect on my past experiences. Happy Forest!
Thank you Jesse for sharing your EF Weekend 1 experience! Be sure to follow his festival adventures on: Twitter and Instagram.
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