Since 2011 Electric Forest has been on the cutting edge of live EDM. Massive stage productions, artist curated experiences, the biggest DJs, stacked lineups across over a half dozen stages, Electric Forest has everything a fan of electronic music, dance, house, techno, dubstep, and everything in between. Four full days and nights where you can move through the massive venue and even into the campgrounds and rage from noon until sunrise. It’s a Mecca of EDM.
This piece is about absolutely none of that.
On top of being one of the premier electronic music events of every year Electric Forest has truly set itself apart as a one-of-a-kind immersive experience. You can spend 4 full days raging to music. However, you could go to Electric Forest and spend 4 full days not focused on any of the music and still not get to experience all of the unique art, secret experiences, quests, workshops, speakers, and hidden gems that you find at the Forest.
The Scavenger Hunt
The annual scavenger hunt (or scavenger hunts) have been around for years. Initially they were secret. You didn’t even know there was one unless you talked to the right bartender or candy salesgirl. If you played your cards right they would give you a cryptic clue to get you started, and you didn’t know what you got at the end.
That’s certainly changed over the years. In recent years you could launch your scavenger hunt experience at the well-marked Time Travel booths along Shakedown and in the Forest. Some hunting in the Forest (and beyond), solving some riddles (often with the help of other friendly festy dwellers), and returning back to the Time Travel booth gets you a special souvenir and often access to some other secrets as well.
The fun doesn’t end there, however. Some years have had rumors of “second quest” scavenger hunts with other fun prizes. Secret stages. Secret sets. Is any of this true? And what will happen in 2025? I’m not going to spoil any secrets, and I don’t know how far down the rabbit hole goes. But I know there are always more secrets to uncover.
The Dream Emporium
For years the field near the Jubilee stage has included interactive experiences. After years of The Hangar, which included a barbershop, game room, and massage parlor, Electric Forest leveled up with the massive Dream Emporium. Over its first two iterations the multi-story Dream Emporium has featured puppet shows, a roller skating ring, pro wrestling, a “brain wash,” a human-sized cat room, an escape into the clouds, and many other mind-bending experiences. There are live musical performances, multiple bars, and more. You can even become a card-carrying “Registered Dreamer” with all of the rights and benefits that come with the title. The Dream Emporium is such a massive and interactive experience that I have not gotten close to seeing all of it either year that it’s been at Electric Forest.
The Brainery
The Brainery, on Main Street outside of the main venue, is a great place to check out in the morning or early afternoon before heading into the venue. This is the place to see panel discussions, do some meditation, and check out workshops. Slinky Manipulation has been taught, spirit painting, clowning, collage creation, and “Wally Talks” where festival veterans give their perspectives and advice. The options change every year, and the Brainery accepts ideas from fans about what they want to see there. This dedicated space to growth and learning is an exciting way to engage with the festival in a very different way than one normally would.
Sherwood Forest
Sherwood Forest, the massive growth of trees in the middle of the venue, is truly the heart of the Electric Forest Festival. The Forest hosts multiple stages, a library, a Chapel, massive art pieces, and is the best place to go to relax and get out of the sun.
It’s hard to say exactly what to expect from Sherwood because it changes so much year to year. The Reincarnation Garden has been a central part of Sherwood for years, and is a beautifully curated tranquil spot in the middle of the noise and beautiful chaos of the festival. The Trading Post and Grand Artique have been mainstays for years. The Trading Post is an opportunity to trade unique and antique items with the massive collection that the Trading Post staff has, and the Grand Artique is an opportunity to catch quirky folk, comedy, and sometimes bigger main stage bands in a smaller setting. You can chill out at the top of a 3-story tower, browse the artwork of dozens of independent artists, shop at unique booths, or just chill out in a hammock.
The Chapel is another completely unique performance space. You can see improv, puppet shows, weddings, and rodeos. It’s always worth peaking in to see what’s going on inside when walking through the Forest at 2 in the morning, and you may be shocked by what you see!
Overall it’s almost impossible to say what you’ll experience in the Forest. You can play party games, chill on a couch, meet friends, and experience festival life in a way that that is utterly unique to Electric Forest. Out of everything there is to enjoy at Electric Forest, Sherwood has been the main constant and a primary reason everyone keeps coming back year after year.
Overall
Electric Forest is not the only festival with a stacked musical lineup. The lineup is always excellent, but there are plenty of great places to see great music. But the Electric Forest experience is so much more than just the music. It’s art, it’s performance, it’s community. It’s an entire immersive experience meant to put you in a new reality, forcing you to be present and in the moment. Electric Forest puts 100% into their musical lineup and 100% into the experience around the music. It’s impossible to experience everything in one weekend or two weekends or 10 weekends. But it’s an amazing experience to try and find all of the secrets of the Forest.
