I still haven’t fully washed off the mud that has caked on to my feet from Electric Forest, so to ease those muddy feet back into the real world I have put together a list of my five favourite moments from this year’s festivities.

1. Discovering all the forest has to offer

Two of the most beautiful things about Electric Forest were the unique venue in which it regularly takes place, and the ability to get lost on the festival grounds, exploring the activities and decorations that light up the forest itself. The photos of the festival don’t give you a true sense of the experience.

From the light-up clouds deep in the woods that led me from tree to tree, to the golden Hybycozo art pieces that dangled from high above welcoming festival-goers into the forest, the festival had so much to offer – if you were willing to let yourself go and explore. I don’t want to give everything away for future attendees, as discovering the forest is just as much part of the experience.

I will say though that anyone who attends Electric Forest can look forward to stumbling across a soothing garden with miniature Buddhas. Or finding a small temple with heart-shaped archways where festival-goers can write messages to lost loved ones. The forest held so many beautiful creatures, some on stilts, some in shoes, but all in costume and character, who wandered through the forest, interacting with festival-goers and bringing so much joy as they infiltrated the woods.

2. The Colorado Kaleidoscope

The Observatory held so much more for festival-goers than just music. Although this was also a stage that held some of the best nighttime surprise sets, The Observatory was set up in a way where festival-goers could climb up to a second level and watch the performance on the stage below from a comfortable vantage point.

The second floor of this viewing area was built on top of a mini marketplace where vendors were set up selling their products. One of the vendors in this particular marketplace was Leifers Look. Established in Colorado, the kaleidoscope stand had set up a large, wooden kaleidoscope for attendees to peer into and test out their product. Upon peering into the kaleidoscope and having someone turn the wheel for you, you would see all these different geometric shapes and colours melt into one before reshaping themselves.

After discovering the joy of this nifty toy, and admiring the beauty of the visuals, it was just as much fun and just as joyful to watch the expression of those individuals walking by who decided to stop in for a peek to ease their curiosity. The look of pure amazement and joy on everyone’s face as they discovered the beauty of the kaleidoscope was absolutely fantastic.

3. Kettle Corn

Speaking of pure joy… Although I personally did not try the kettle corn, the joy over the discovery of delicious free kettle corn by one of my campmates puts it in my Five Favourite Moments. During a quick journey back to camp to grab essentials for the night, one of the returning camp members became distracted by the smell of the kettle corn as we walked by the Candy Shoppe (and yes, there is a Candy Shoppe in the middle of the forest).

After turning around to find that the aforementioned campmate was no longer with the returning group, and completely baffled as to where he could have gone, he came bouncing out from behind the Candy Shoppe and loped down the hill like a baby T-Rex. “Guuyyyysssss,” he said with popcorn still in his beard and looking as though he could not believe what he had just experienced. “You have to try the kettle corn.”

4. Stumbling across Preservation Hall Jazz Band

The seven-piece jazz band brought the grooviness to the forest on three different occasions, with sets at varying stages. However, it wasn’t until spending some time wandering around the festival that I was fortunate enough to get drawn in to The Observatory by the funky tunes that the band was playing.

With tuba, saxophones, clarinet, trumpet and trombone, Preservation Hall Jazz Band treated attendees to an awesome dance party that had the intimate crowd swing dancing with one another.

5. Beach Day

Within a half hour drive of the festival location in Michigan, there are some incredible sand dunes. Electric Forest allows campers to leave the festival in their vehicles whenever they please and return to their initial camp spot.

After a few days of dancing in the hot sun and frolicking through the dusty woods, a morning group excursion to the nearby beach for a swim was gold. After our 30 minute drive and a steep and challenging climb up to the top of the dunes, it was easy to feel as though we had been transported to another planet. Or at least another part of the world. As far as I could see, smooth sand was rolling up and down, meeting the big blue sky. After a short walk across the dunes, we came across a steep, sandy hill that led down to the beach and opened up onto the cool, lake water below.

Bonus

The magical monarch that flitted from person to person in the silent disco, carrying with it the beauty of the festival on its delicate wings.