Electric Forest Continues to Up the Ante; A Lesson on Attendee Responsibility [Event Review]

Electric Forest is a festival unique from any other in today’s crowded market. Normally when curating a festival you have two avenues to go down; you can either be a smaller scale gathering (with a more individualized, family feel) or you can be a full-blown large-scale festival with over the top production and talent. Very few are successful in merging the best aspects of both large-scale and small-scale experiences, and the reason is quite simple. In most cases, the very qualities which make a small/large event prevent it from enjoying the benefits of the other side of the spectrum. Electric Forest, however, has bridged the two in a way we have not seen before.

One of the downsides of a larger festival is the sometimes distanced feeling an attendee has from the fest itself. At times it could feel like your voice isn’t heard due to the huge amount of attendees being catered to. Small inconveniences may persist from year to year, or requests for improvements may fall upon deaf ears. While this issue is seen across the map, I see no way how it can be said about EF, and this year only solidified that feeling.

The main qualms about last year’s overwhelmingly successful time were centered around three parts: ingress/egress from the festival, long lines at security each day, and trash. This year, each and every one of those concerns were heard and addressed to the point where they were of no notice. The car line into the festival grounds before Day 1? It took us ten minutes. The security checkpoints entering each day? They were near non-existent lines due to improved flow. The trash? In every direction we looked there was a stack of three cans…one for garbage, one for recycling, and one for compost. Based off what we saw, they supplied them every 25 yards from one end of the festival grounds to the other.

The festival can only supply the tools for you though, and it’s up to the attendee to make use of them. A beautiful difference we saw this year was the amount of guests going around picking up trash, especially following sets. Whether it was picking up a nearby paper plate or seeing an attendee walking around with a trash bag, it seemed to set off a snowball effect which made a huge difference over the course of the weekend. A cleaner, greener atmosphere led to cleaner vibes, and the interactive aspect of picking up with your neighbors led to a more connected feeling.

To our joy, throughout the weekend we saw attendees helping each other out and holding others accountable. Multiple times I spotted a guest (nicely) approaching another to ask if they could throw out the water bottle they just dropped. The amazing part…each time they obliged. No hurt feelings, no conflict, just a cleaner festival ground for all to enjoy. It’s this sense of responsibility that can sometimes get lost over the course of a long weekend, especially at a festival the size of Electric Forest. This kind of change grows from the bottom up, and attendees took full advantage of the improvements handed to them.

Living up to the high standards set for themselves, Electric Forest showed off an extremely impressive array of interactive sculptures, displays, roving costumed performers, and more. Jaw-dropping installations lined the forest walls and transformed Sherwood into a completely different animal once the sun set on the day, allowing guests to get lost exploring the seemingly endless amount of activities at their fingertips. EF is known just as much for the setting as it is for the talent, and this year delivered once again. Wonder through the Forest during the day and you’ll have the time of your life, but wonder at night, and you’ll be transported to a completely different world.

Also of note, the sound quality this year at the stages (specifically Tripolee and the Forest Stage) was fantastic. The use of PK Sound systems allowed the soundtrack to our adventure to be heard crystal clear, loud, and represented yet another upgrade from previous years. Just another great touch to round out a meticulously crafted long weekend.

From the overall vibes, to the always welcoming police presence, to the unbelievable sets (be on the lookout for our upcoming breakdown!), this year in Rothbury proved to be another great time spent with friends all around. EF holds a spot very dear in our hearts because it really feels like they are in lockstep with what their attendees want. The result is an unbelievable experience year after year, and we can’t wait to do it all again in 2017.

Connect with Electric Forest:

www.facebook.com/ElectricForest
https://twitter.com/Electric_Forest
https://www.reddit.com/r/ElectricForest
http://www.electricforestfestival.com

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