When I received the news on Christmas morning that I would be attending Electric Forest this year, I was beyond excited. Excited was an understatement.
Yet I had no idea what was in store for me.
I know a ticket to Electric Forest is expensive. In fact, I believe my own was approximately $300. I know, big bucks. But I cannot stress enough how worthwhile it was. This experience is worth $300.
I don't think I fully understood it until I quite literally walked through the passage to Sherwood Forest. It was so clear from the moment I stepped through how much time, thought and effort was put into the production of this festival. It was, quite literally, like walking into a magical fairytale. The forest is a place of magic, wonder, and unavoidable happiness.
The trees were decorated with pretty, brightly colored lights, paper lanterns and signs with soul-searching words. There was an area called "Reincarnation Village" that you could walk through and look at beautiful art. There were places to sit comfortably, there was an area for arts and crafts to create memorabilia to remember your trip, there were areas roped off specifically for hammocking, and everywhere you looked you could find a smiling face. The positive energy was palpable in the breeze, and I spent the entire weekend letting it wash over me.
I'm someone that struggles with anxiety, but while I was at Electric Forest, I hardly felt the effects of it. I was simply surrounded by too much joy. It's really interesting how music can bring people together like this. I shared my excitement with so many people and seeing my favorite artists live with such a passionate crowd all but heightened my experience.
One of my favorite sets was seeing the artist CloZee perform. I've written about her music before, yet I still find her genre so hard to explain. It's beautiful –– an electronic sound with hints of melodic classicalness, almost culture-y, and impossible not to dance to. She is one of my favorite artists.
I was pretty close up, and every single person around me in the crowd was soaking up that music like it was medicine. It was beautiful to witness, and I did it too. I reaped the benefits. It was an experience I'll remember forever. And that was only one of the thirty-something sets I saw at Electric Forest! And each and every one of them was just as special, memorable and fun.
At Electric Forest, I learned a lot about myself. Through music, through people, through art, and through my experiences. It was a weekend full of wonder, light, and pure happiness. It's almost indescribable. But it was a weekend I will remember forever.
