Secrets of The Forest: Ur Ultimate Guide to Electric Forest
All Photos: Insomniac Events/Electric Forest
One of Insomniac's most magical annual festivals takes place each summer in the forests of Michigan. Just outside of Rothbury, Michigan, Electric Forest Music Festival is a weekend full of trippy vibes and fairy magic set deep in the trees of an enchanted forest. This festival is a must-do if you're into exploring the wilderness and chilling with ur rave fam.
Electric Forest is coming back to Rothbury, Michigan for an event full of music, art, and life-changing experiences. The three-day event will take place this summer from June 22 to June 25, 2023.
- Electric Forest Basics
- Traveling to Electric Forest
- Electric Forest Camping Guide
- What to Wear to Electric Forest
- Art and Stage Guide
- Reviews and Recaps from Previous Years
Electric Forest Basics
Lineup
In March Electric Forest released their lineup, and let me tell you, it’s stacked. Jamie XX and Sofi Tukker are a once in a lifetime set that u can't miss, just like Odesza, Above and Beyond and REZZ X Goose.
Electric Forest is a festival that caters to everyone, no matter what your music taste is. For those who are attending, you are in for a wild ride. This festival has more to offer than just electronic music, as u can see from the jam bands and other live music acts that are on the lineup for this year. You can check out the full lineup below for the 2023 festival, and we'll update this with everything u need to know about 2024 as soon as that information is available.
Tickets & Passes
Passes, camping, lodging, and RV passes are currently sold out. The general admission camping wristband includes one general admission wristband along with camping and carpool parking. General Admission tent-only camping is the best option for those arriving without a vehicle.
There are three different GA campsites. Camp Good Times gives you access to a larger space, showers, parking, and even air-conditioned restrooms. Camp Hush is just like Camp Good Times except it is a more quiet campground, making it a great option for older ravers or ravers that just want to be able to relax and get away from the hustle of the festival during their down time. Maplewoods Camping allows you to camp under the shade of beautiful trees in the forest. There are still some general admission early arrival parking passes that range from $60 to $75.
The festival map shows that this is a pretty massive festival with lots of camping options to accommodate all types of ravers. Some of the VIP options also include early arrival check-in for anyone wanting to come on Wednesday, which is a great option to get the most out of the whole experience. Check out the festival map below and learn more about the VIP wristband and camping options here.
Traveling to Electric Forest
Electric Forest is about a three-hour drive from Detroit and Ann Arbor. The closest airport to the venue is Muskegon which is 30 minutes away. There are a couple of different shuttles you can take to get to the venue. Grand Rapids, Chicago O’Hare, Chicago Midway, Chicago Downtown, Detroit Downtown, Detroit Airport, New York, and Muskego are the shuttles you can purchase. These range from $32 to $125. Reserve your shuttle here.
Electric Forest Camping Guide
Electric Forest is one of the biggest camping festivals in the United States. It brings a lot of laidback, boho vibes and is a great place to go all out with decorating your camp for a true camping festival experience. Check out our guides to getting the most out of a camping festival experience here:
The Ultimate Camping Festival Packing List
10 Festival Camping Tips from a Veteran Burner
Here is a list of some necessities you might need for your journey in the forest.
- Wristband and camping passes
- Spare car keys
- Cash for merchandise, food, and emergencies
- A portable battery
- Hydration pack
- Earplugs
- Cooler
- Jumper cables
- Games and decorations for the campsite
- Tent (depending on which camping pass you purchased)
- Tarp for the bottom of your tent
- Camping chairs
- Foldable table
- Portable fan
- Sleeping supplies
- Trash bags
- Toiletries for showering and getting ready for the day
- Toilet paper
- Towels
- Sunscreen
- Ibuprofen
- Tampons
- Food and water - We recommend one gallon per person, per day of water for drinking, cooking and anything else.
Insomniac Events/Electric Forest
What to Wear to Electric Forest
Like I said before, Electric Forest is all about the boho, forest vibes. Fairycore is a really cute aesthetic to go for at Electric Forest, but you also can't go wrong with anything trippy like trippy prints or pashminas. At night it can get pretty cold so be sure to pack some longer pants or a sweater just in case you need it. There are tons of cute options for fur jackets, chaps, mesh bell bottoms and other pants to cover up with once the sun goes down. Here are some great options for what to wear to Electric Forest, but u can also shop our trippy collection for tons of other ideas.
Take this quiz to find out what ur festival vibe is. For rave babes that have the trippy vibe, these fits will feel like they were made just for u.
Silly In Space Speed Clasp Crop Top
Trippy Toxin Shoulder Cutout Bodysuit
Zapped! Reflective Lightning Crop Top
Deep Night Rainbow Reflective Crop Top
Disco Diety Rainbow Fringe Top
Electric Forest Art and Stage Guide
Electric Forest offers as many as nine stages each year, which includes everything from the silent disco to the massive Tripolee Stage area. Stages at Electric Forest are hidden throughout corners of the forest, so taking the time to explore and find all of the secrets that the forest has to offer will definitely be rewarding. Here is a breakdown of the stages at Electric Forest:
Tripolee Stage
The massive equivalent to what I would call a main stage, the Tripolee Stage is an expansive area that offers sets from some of the weekend's headlining acts. You can't miss it, but definitely take the time to explore the other stages and art installations at the festival.
Insomniac Events/Electric Forest
Ranch Arena
This is a secondary main stage that also plays hosts to some of the biggest acts throughout the weekend. This stage has some amazing lighting effects so definitely check it out at night.
Forest Stage
This stage brings a lot of the forest magic to Electric Forest throughout the weekend. The lights up against all of the forest trees is pure magic that you can't miss out on.
Insomniac Events/Electric Forest
The Observatory
This stage is also set in the depths of the forest and brings a really sparkly, celestial vibe with its observatory theme. Take the time to explore this stage area because there are a lot of elevated viewing areas and things to check out.
Silent Disco
You can't go wrong with a silent disco. Electric Forest has a pretty amazing one so definitely check it out if you love this type of thing.
Sherwood Court
This is another must-see if you love lasers and lighting effects at night. Some of the bigger EDM acts will be here so you'll get the chance to check it out if you have any of those artists on your must-see list.
Insomniac Events/Electric Forest
Jubilee
This stage brings circus vibes since it's under a circus tent and has a lot of cool features. Jubilee is a great spot to check out some of the live acts.
The Hangar
This is more of a chill spot that offers laid back disco vibes and a place to just escape the heat during the day.
Art
Electric Forest is also an art festival! There are so many art installments and pieces to find hidden in the forest. Take the time to explore all of the nooks and crannies of this festival to get to know its secrets. You never know what you'll find!
Insomniac Events/Electric Forest
Reviews & Recaps From Past Electric Forest Years
Electric Forest is going to be one for the books. Make sure to arrive at the event with your whole group so you can get parking spots next to each other and make friends with your neighbors. The best part about festivals is meeting new friends and sharing experiences with them, so don’t be scared to reach out. Try to plan each day out by what artists you would like to see along with leaving time to explore. This event is full of art, music, and hidden gems that will add to your experience. Electric Forest has so much to offer, so don’t forget to explore and appreciate all the time and effort that went into this event.
Author: Lexi Horsey
Last Updated: 06/15/2023
