Electric Forest: What You Need To Know!

Last updated on June 29th, 2017 at 09:58 pm

In the upcoming weeks, thousands of people will find themselves deep in a magical forest in Rothbury, Michigan for what is sure to be an unforgettable music festival. While I have not yet attended myself, I’ve heard many people refer to this place as home; and from the energy past goers have emulated post event,  I can confidently say that it feels like it will become another home to me as well once I step onto the festival grounds of Electric Forest. Five years ago I had a friend who decided on a whim to attend this same festival, and since then, it has been a topic of numerous conversations full of equal parts excitement and enchantment.

Electric Forest seems to be a place where your imagination can run wild and you are truly a kid again, experiencing a whimsical world that one could only dream of in a land of make-believe. Not only does the fest bring this child-like wonder to life, it also introduces people to its many Plug in Programs to help build a sense of community and family. You can find a full list of the Plug in Programs on the official Electric Forest website.

On a personal standpoint, here are a few things I find most favorable:

Electricology, in short, is a recycle and respect the environment program. It challenges foresters to consider what they are buying even before entering the forest and has takeaways for cherishing the environment after you leave. During the festival, you can earn Ecopoints in many ways including bringing trash and recycling to designated ecozones or participating in any of the Electricology Programs listed in this section of the website.

Her Forest is another unique program which is described as “A collaborations between all who identify as women, and these who celebrate their enjoyment of and equality in the Forest Family.” Through this program, there will be a specific camp for people who identify as women who are camping alone or looking to make a connection with other women attending the festival. Some programs will be exclusive to weekend one or two. A must experience for me will be the “Her Forest Meetups.” Crews or solo foresters will be meeting up pre-show then travel to a set together to grab a spot and experience the show together. A longer list of the amazing experiences offered can be found on the website.

The last Plug-in Program to note is the Art Installation sponsorship. This fantastic opportunity to display art made with the Forest in mind is available to anyone through the application process that begins earlier in the year. If you are an artist who attends festivals and has inspiration from the Forest reflected in your work, I highly recommend looking into what this festival has to offer here. One of the two installations of 2017 is the Night Lilly. In short, the Lily blooms throughout the day into a beautiful show combining color, light, and motion that I cannot wait to spend a mystic night under.

This year will mark the first time Electric Forest will be split into two weekends in an attempt to keep the intimate culture while simultaneously expanding the range of the attendees. The first weekend boasts headliners specific to this weekend including Odessa, My Morning Jacket, Above and Beyond, Nero (Live), Tycho, Oliver Heldens, Breaking Biscuits, Kamasi Washington, and Maya Jane Coles. The second-weekend rivals with Flume, DJ Snake, RL Grime, Thievery Corporate, Nahko and Medicine for the People, Hi-Lo, and Conspirator. Performers you can expect both weekends include The String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, Dillon Francis, Big Gigantic, Lotus, Claude VonStroke, The Revivalists, and A-Trak.

With background information on the festival itself under our belts, it’s necessary to delve into the tough part: packing If you are a first timer like myself, I have made a packing list that may help a little with your needs!

• WRISTBAND
• ID
• Credit Card
• Bug Spray
• Rain jacket
• Umbrella
• Rain boots
• Tent
• Tarp for under the tent
• Sunscreen
• Aloe
• Air mattress
• Pillows
• Blankets
• Towels
• Water bottles
• Snacks/Food
• Sleeping bags
• Flashlights
• Duct tape
• First aid kit
• Clothes for warm weather
• Clothes for cooler weather
• Toothbrush
• Soap
• Dry shampoo/ baby powder
• Baby wipes
• Toilet paper
• Paper towels
• Cooler
• Trash bags
• Chairs
• External Batteries
• Ear plugs
• Cash
• Hydration backpack
• Comfortable shoes
• Camera
• Phone

And last but certainly not least…

• Alcohol

If you’re into going above and beyond at festivals:

• Kandi
• Flow Toys
• Jewels/Glitter
• Accessories
• Totem
• Bluetooth Speakers
• Flag
• Glowsticks

Finally, if you’re reading this and feeling a bit of FOMO do not fret! Tickets for Weekend 1 (June 22 – June 25) are available through the official ticket exchange.

Tickets for Weekend 2 (June 29 – July 2) are still available on the official website.

Hope to see you all in the Forest!