What Are The Best EDM Festivals Ever?
EDM (electronic dance music) is a wide range of genres of electronic music. It includes trap, drum and base, trance, techno, house, and trap. This kind of dance music is most notoriously played at raves, clubs, and festivals. DJ’s rather than musicians control this genre, producing beats that reverb and drop making for the perfect party atmosphere.
So what are the best EDM festivals ever? Some of the best EDM festivals ever include Ultra, EDC, Tommorowland, Electric Forest, and Shambhala.
In the last 20 years, there has been steep competition to be considered one of the greatest EDM festivals. However, there are 5 festivals that have held their spots at the top of the list for years. These festivals grow and adapt to the ever-changing styles of music, guaranteeing returning attendees and attracting new festival-goers.
The Best EDM Festivals Ever
These 5 festivals have earned their spots at the top of the list. While there are multiple festivals that are absolutely incredible, there is one festival that has been and continues to be known as the best of the best.
While all of these festivals host some of the best performers in the realm of EDM, you’ll find every single one of the best DJ’s in the world at the best EDM festival ever.
Best EDM Festivals:
- Ultra
- Electric Daisy Carnival
- Tomorrowland
- Electric Forest
- Shambhala
Ultra has unquestionably established itself as the best EDM music festival in the world. It pulls the best artists from around the globe, and even non-EDM fans have heard it’s name. Ultra originated in Miami, but now hosts festivals all over the world.
Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) is the best EDM music festival outside of Europe. It travels across the United States hitting almost every major city from east to west.
EDC is a week-long festival that attracts more than 400,000 people, with its most popular location being Los Vegas. The Los Vegas location has tons of pre-and post-festival activities and events that you can purchase with your festival ticket.
Don’t get me wrong, Tomorrowland is host to some of the greatest artists and music in EDM, but what makes Tomorrowland stand apart from the others are the visuals. Just by watching their after-movie you will be astounded by the psychedelic visual show.
THis one is located in Belgium, and is one of the most well-known festivals in Europe. Tomorrowland attempted to extend itself by creating a festival called “Tomorrowworld” near Atlanta, GA, but the venue site turned out to be a total mess, leaving Tomorrowland without a reach in America.
Electric Forest has an incredible reputation, and even those who aren’t deep into the EDM scene are dying to go. It is located in the forest in western Michigan, giving it a beautiful natural environment that hosts the most modern of art. This festival is unique in that it doesn’t solely host DJ’s, it also hosts a few jam bands.
One of the hands down most scenic EDM festivals is located in the evergreen valleys of British Columbia. The festival is hosted in a giant open clearing surrounded by creeks, forests, and mountains.
It is Canada’s largest music festival, and pulls many Americans across the border to experience it’s natural charm. This isn’t a festival where you’re necessarily going to see the biggest names and hear the most popular music as it focuses on basic, bass-heavy dance music.
What Do You Do At An EDM Music Festival?
Obviously attending the live concerts and hearing the music are the number one reason to go to any sort of music festivals.
But there are tons of artistic venues to explore and people to interact with at an EDM festival. Music isn’t the only form of artwork displayed at a music festival, and the surrounding areas and the people are often just as great as the music itself.
Things to do at an EDM festival:
- See live performances
- Check out the artwork
- Ride the rides
- Shop
- Make new friends.
The first thing to do at an EDM festival is probably the main reason that you’re there; to see your favorite DJ’s perform. But don’t ignore the little guys. Take the time to go listen to some up and coming DJ’s that you’ve never heard of.
You might find a new favorite artist that’s about to blow up and be the next Avicci. Then you get to say that you liked them before it was cool!
One of the fundamental components of an EDM music festival is the artwork. Not just musical artwork, but visual as well. Take the time to appreciate the aesthetics of the stages, the props, and the lighting they use during the show.
You can also wander around and find pretty much anything art. You can see paintings, custom tapestries, handmade jewelry, dreamcatchers, T-shirts, and the list goes on.
You can find some rare talent at these festivals, and if you really love something, tell the artist! They’ll totally appreciate the compliment on something they worked incredibly hard on.
An EDM music festival is kind of like and adults-only techno carnival, complete with rides. Now, don’t expect Six Flags calibre roller coasters, but trippy carnival rides are everywhere.
Be sure to bring some extra cash with you so you can go shopping. Like I said before, there are TONS of artists displaying their work, so you could go home with an original, one-of-a-kind piece of art.
So get yourself a tapestry to hang over your bed or a handmade copper bracelet. The cool part about shopping with local artists is that you can haggle over the price. If you have the skills, you might be able to talk the artist into giving you some pretty sweet deals.
One of the best parts of attending a festival is making new friends! You already know that you share at least one interest with the people around you, so striking up a conversation shouldn’t be too difficult.
Get to know the people camping around you. Then you have a big group of people to hang out with around a fire! You may even find a couple buddies to camp out with you at a future festival.
EDM Festival Outfit Ideas
The outfit potential at an EDM festival are limitless. While there are some trends when it comes to dressing for an EDM festival, ultimately you should wear whatever you want however you want to wear it.
Absolutely nobody is judging you and there’s no doubt that you’ll be seeing some absolutely out-of-this-world crazy outfits. So use the general trends as a guide, not as what you HAVE to wear.
Channel your creativity and get together some outfits that are totally you. Guys, you don’t have as many options as the girls do, but you have a few.
Festival Outfit Ideas:
- High-waisted shorts
- Metallic crop tops
- Bathing suits
- Long sheer cardigans
- Sleeveless T-shirts
- Headbands
- Tie-dye
- Fanny packs
Ladies, denim high-waisted shorts are your staple piece at an EDM music festival. You can wear them with tons of different shirts, tights, hair accessories, and shoes.
A popular thing to do is throw on a pair of fishnets under your high-waisted shorts. Wearing high-waisted shorts will also save you from having to pack a completely new outfit for each day. Nobody’s going to notice if you wear your shorts more than once. Just mix up the tops and the accessories.
Crop tops are your second staple piece when it comes to EDM music festivals. They’re small and easy to pack, and since almost all of the festivals take place in the warmer months, you won’t get too hot.
Pretty much anything goes in this category, but showing a little skin is totally acceptable at these festivals. The most popular type of crop top that you’ll see looks like a bathing suit top, except that it’s metallic, lacey, bejeweled, or some other aspect that makes it a stand out piece
Yes, bathing suits are acceptable outfits for both men and women. A majority of men walk around topless, and although this may surprise you, many of the women just walk around in bikinis decked out with accessories. So if that’s what you want to do, go for it. You’ll probably get yourself a nice tan.
If you’re not comfortable almost completely exposing the top half of your body, a bathing suit top or a crop top with a sheer, knee to floor-length cardigan is a great option. It’s slightly more conservative, but not enough that you stand out.
The sheer cardigans also give you a little protection if it gets cold at night, but they’re not going to make you too hot during the day.
Sleeveless T-shirts. Yes guys, this one’s for you. If you’re not going to go shirtless, your next best move is to take a cool t-shirt and just cut the sleeves off.
Removing the sleeves will prevent you from sweating while still keeping your top half covered if you don’t want to show it.
Headbands are huge at EDM music festivals both for guys and gals. The men tend to tie bandanas around their heads. Try to find the most colorful, trippy bandana you can. Make yourself stand out!
And gals, the possibilities for you are endless. You can wear thick headbands with feathered cords hanging off the back, bright neon headbands, headbands with sparkles, or the ever popular daisy crown headband.
When in doubt, go with tie-dye. There’s no way to go wrong with tie-dye at an EDM music festival. You can wear it on your head, on your top, on the bottom, on your socks, on your shoes… tie-dye literally works everywhere.
Fanny packs are the universe’s gifts to festival-goers. Not only can you get awesome ones that compliment your outfit, everybody’s wearing them.
The reason for that is that you can use it to store your phone, cash, and rain poncho without the fear of anyone coming up behind you and stealing your things.
How To Get Tickets To A Music Festival
Getting affordable tickets to your festival of choice is probably the hardest part of the whole process. While you can get your tickets through the festival’s website, this isn’t your cheapest option.
If you’re willing to take the chance that you might not find tickets, you can score them online at a deep discount. Being that it’s 2019, buying tickets online is pretty much your only option unless you’re going to scalp them.
How to Get Tickets:
- Buy through festival’s website
- Join social media groups
- Scalp
The easiest way to get tickets is straight through the music festival’s website immediately when they are released. That way you’re guaranteed a ticket and don’t have to stress about it. However, this is the most expensive way to get tickets.
If you don’t want to purchase tickets through the festival’s official sight, or they’re sold out, join a social media group like a Facebook group. They have groups specifically for people buying and selling tickets.
The closer you wait until the festival date, the cheaper your tickets are going to be. However, you’re also less likely to get them.
If you’re really feeling risky, you can try scalping the tickets. This means standing in the parking lot of the festival and looking for someone selling extra tickets.
You might be able to pull this off, and if you do, you just scored incredibly cheap tickets off of someone who was desperate to get rid of them.
However, this is a really good way to end up with forged tickets, and you might not find anyone selling tickets. There’s a good chance you won’t get in this way.
There you have it! You have a complete guide to the best EDM music festival tickets ever So, go find yourself some tickets, plan some outfits, and get yourself to a festival!.
