Electric Daisy Carnival electrified Las Vegas for the official 20th anniversary. The 3-day bash was held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and attracted over 130,000 people per day. This was the biggest EDC to date. I attended all three days and made some amazing memories in the process. Check out the 7 things I loved about EDC Las Vegas 2016:
1. The Music
I heard some fantastic sets at EDC. My top 6: Eric Prydz, Richie Hawtin, Gaia, A-Trak, Anna Lunoe and Paul Van Dyk. EDC has something for everyone – from trap to trance. Eric Prydz threw down an epic set with music I had never heard before. I love when a DJ plays all new material and takes you on a journey. That’s exactly what he did. Techno legend Richie Hawtin had the crowd at Neon Garden blossoming with excitement with every drop. Gaia memorized the massive crowd at Circuit Grounds on Sunday. A-Trak displayed his skills on the turntables at Cosmic Meadow and Anna Lunoe was one of two female DJ’s to play Kinetic Field at EDC. Her set was full of classic bangers and won me over. Paul Van Dyk made his return to the decks following a devastating fall that left him clinging to life. I caught the entire set and was overjoyed to see this trance legend back in action. I’ve been a fan of his since 1998 and seeing him at EDC was very emotional. I was standing by myself during the end of his set when he played his final song, Home. I started to cry because it was just such an emotional ending to his set – and his return to at EDC. Pass the kleenex again please!
2. The Stages
This year some of the stages were redesigned. It was a different feeling this year having two massive stages: Kinetic Temple and Circuit Grounds. Kinetic Temple 0r main stage, was a very intense stage that relied on lighting for a number of it’s dazzling effects. It was smaller than the massive cathedral last year, but still packed a punch. The whole stage put on quite the show during the opening ceremony on Friday night. It totally reminded me of the opening ceremony for the Olympics, or something you would see at Disneyland. Circuit Grounds was redesigned to be bigger than ever and hosted Dreamstate on Sunday. This stage was truly massive and was like partying in a big arena. It too was tricked out in lights and LED’s, but I enjoyed last year’s stage much more. I missed being enclosed because I feel the lights and lasers pack a bigger punch. Cosmic Meadow featured a new massive stage as well, but I missed all of the LED panels that were on last year’s stage. Neon Garden felt a bit stripped down this year. Last year it featured fake grass floors and giant plants inside. This year a giant disco ball hung from the ceiling which was pretty awesome when it got spinning.
3. Fireworks
Move over Disneyland, because once again, Insomniac Events pulls out all of the stops to put on the biggest and best fireworks display on the West Coast. The fireworks went off every night and lit up the sky above the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. If you missed out on watching these bombs burst in air, well check YouTube as there are countless videos featuring the festive displays. They are better than any fireworks you’ll see on the 4th of July!
4. The Art
There were more art installations than ever before this year. One of my favorites was the new LED daisy. I could have stared at that colorful creation all night! The installations were scattered across the grounds, from giant glowing mushrooms to fire breathing sculptures. They provided the perfect backdrop for your selfies.
5. Carnival Square
Did you make it to Carnival Square this year? It was totally redone with a lot more things to do. I ventured over there alone Sunday night to explore. There were carnival games complete with giant stuffed animals as prizes, food and drink vendors, music and a chill zone complete with seating. This was the perfect spot to enjoy some downtime from the festival. Carnival Square also featured free high speed wi-fi and phone charging stations. I’m glad there were a lot more options here this year!
6. VIP Perks
I had a VIP pass to EDC this year, and it was well worth it. VIP ticket holders receive a number of perks including separate entry lines, elevated viewing decks, private bars, and designated VIP areas across EDC. You never had to wait in line a long time for a drink in VIP. There were also food trucks, specialty drinks, kandi making stations, selfie stations and even a giant ball pit. Jumping in the pit was an awesome experience. I would urge you to do VIP just once so you can explore a whole new world at EDC..
7. The Vibe
This was my 12th EDC. I felt the vibes were a lot better this year. I didn’t see people pushing or fighting. Instead, I saw a lot of hugs, kandi trading and people having the time of their lives. The smiling crowd was there to rage until dawn, and did just that.
Now that EDC is just a memory, it’s time to start looking forward to some other big festivals here in California. Up next: Nocturnal Wonderland at San Manuel Amphitheater over Labor Day Weekend. Tickets are on sale. You can find more information HERE.
What were some of your favorite moments at EDC Las Vegas? Comment and let us know!
-Jared
