In less than two weeks, tie- dye wearing, hula-hoop twirling, dance craving young adults will take the place of the horses that usually inhabit Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore Maryland.
Moonrise is an Electric Dance Music (EDM) festival that is a fetus, established in 2014, compared to festivals that have been around since the early 2000s. Even though it hasn't been around for long the festival features top artists like Bassnectar, Zedd, and The Chainsmokers.
I sat down with some of my friends, who are Moonrise pros, and collected advice for you if you're attending the 2016 Moonrise festival for the first time or you just want to step up your game.
1. Be Friendly.
"Be friendly to everyone, it goes a long way with festival-goers. Everyone at festivals comes and does their own thing so you should do the same, " West Virginia Univeristy Junior, Grant Tebay said.
2. Know your Comfort Zone.
"Know that you are going to be up in people's personal space body to body dancing at most shows so if you don't like being really close to a bunch strangers the back of the crowd is more in your comfort zone," said WVU Sophomore Brad Morrison.
3. Stay Hydrated.
"Drink more water than you think you should be drinking, being dehydrated makes everything suck," WVU Junior Gabe Ingram said.
4. Be Yourself.
"Go dressed however you want and paint your face or wear light up sunglasses. Immerse yourself in the experience and the energy," Tebay said.
5. Talk to People.
"Any chance you get to make conversation you should do it because people at these festivals can be the most interesting people you meet in your life," Ingram said.
6. Check the Lineups.
"Check the lineup up artists and decide who you want to see and when because many times several artists will be playing in different places at the same time so it's good to have an idea of who is playing and when beforehand so you don't miss out on seeing someone you wish you could have," Ingram said.
7. Come with an open mind.
"All these people come from different backgrounds and yet there is no confrontation amongst the festival goers. You can feel the good vibes from everyone around you from the moment you walk in and that is what makes something worth experiencing," WVU transfer student Tyler Bro said.
8. Go.
Moonrise is home turf for East Coasters which makes it extra special to some. If you can afford a festival that is close to home, go for it. "Like going to a home football game. I feel more connected to it. Moonrise always offers a solid lineup with artists DJ’S that we otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to see in this area," WVU Junior Evan Fleak said.
