As Labor Day passes we mark the end of summer and the beginning of fall festival season. We have seen many great festivals this summer like Electric Forest, Electric Zoo, HARD Summer, and many more. Those are some awesome great large festivals, but I’m here to show you one that you should just pick up and go to this weekend, because they haven’t sold out quite yet! This festival is none other than Dancefestopia (DFT).
Dancefestopia has been running since 2012 and is located in Sugar Creek, Missouri. Last year was f*cking great and this year should definitely top it. This is a call to action for every raver in the Midwest area. Check this festival out! Before you read anymore just check out this stacked lineup! It is going to be nuts and what is great is they are adding artists from all genres so everyone will get their fill of EDM. I am excited, you should be excited, so let’s see what’s in store for this year.
I could go on and on about the list of amenities for VIP campers: flushable toilets, upgraded “glamping," new shower installments, etc, but not all of us our balling out and going for VIP. So what is in store for us? How about for starters, the world’s largest shuffler meet-up. Here we will see fun loving souls shuffling and grooving their hearts out. The largest gathering of this sort the world has ever seen. Not enough? Let’s add in a glover meet-up to grab your eyes and melt your minds. If gloving and dancing aren’t your thing.. well, maybe hooping is.
On top of all this, Danfestopia will be featuring a national hooper meet-up as well. The Dancfestopia site says “top hoopers will be on main stage, leading hundreds of hoopers for the largest hooper meet-up EVER." You heard right. Largest meet up ever for these art forms. These are three events that are a must see for the flow artists and fans of the genre. I will definitely be watching these. If you plan to get Forest camping, you will be met with the first ever. The BASS HEAD SANCTUARY. What the f*ck is that?!? I’ll tell you. This feature will host fire pits, drum circles, bass-inspired art work and sooo much more. I’m pumped.. maybe I should have upgraded. If you aren’t already, sold let’s talk about the pre-party on Thursday night. For an upgrade charge of about $25 bucks they threw in a night with none other than Zeds Dead and Ghastly. Two of my personal favorite must see sets.
Last year, mother nature hit us with some fiery scorn. DFT had to cancel the Friday night’s Adventure Club set about halfway through and terminated plans for the evening. The torrential downpour really put a damper on our hearts.. and in my tent. Personally I couldn’t think the DFT crew enough as they have pulled out all of the stops to put hay in the walkways as the festival was going on. Just to ensure the safety of the guests and avoid any other collateral damage as the weekend filled with rage went on. We got to see Excision, GRiZ, the unveiling of Bear Grillz’s new mask, and one of the most prominent up and comers: Kayzo. This was truly special. So this year, to get ahead of the volatile midwester weather, the DFT crew has laid out thousands of cubic feet of mulch to pad the walkways and ensure an all-around great experience. This comes with upgraded showers, upgraded security, upgraded forest lighting, pedi cabs, double the restrooms, and 24/7 shower technicians. Which is good because I bought unlimited showers last year and didn’t even get to use em’. So this year I’m just going take some baby wipe showers and call it good!
All in all.. this is my favorite festival I have been to. With the intimate environment it doesn’t have the sheer volume of people as some of the larger festivals, which to me is a good thing. I enjoy having the space and freedom of movement. Plus, it is rather easy to get to the front and in the pit! This festival is truly a spectacle of the Midwest and many other festivals should model themselves after this. I’ve had a great experience at many festivals, but this crew at DFT truly shows that they put the festival attendees first. Midwesterners are proud to call this festival a home staple and we all urge the surrounding states to come check it out. If nothing has sold you let me repeat some of my personal favorite acts: Bassnectar (who could surpsie the Bass Head Sanctuary), Zeds Dead, Dillon Francis, Tiesto, Datsik, 12th Planet, Crizzly, Ganja White Night, Darude (from the original Sandstorm throw down), Liquid Stranger, Space Jesus, G Buck, J Phelpz, Ghastly, and so many more up and coming and popping talent. Spread across three stages, the weekend will be filled with bass, laughs, riffs, shuffling, gloving, artistry, magic, and a whole lot of midwester love. Thanks for reading, I hope to see you there!
