From August 9th to 11th, 2024, Pennsylvania was the place to be for the Elements Music & Arts Festival! With a lineup packed with diverse electronic music, attendees danced under the stars in a beautiful outdoor setting. Car camping and glamping were on the menu, offering different ways to enjoy the festival vibe. The art installations were as lively and colorful as the crowd, creating a unique and unforgettable atmosphere. It was more than just a festival—it celebrated everything we love about music and art.
Read EDM Maniac’s full report card on Elements Festival 2024 below.
Vibes: A-
The vibes at Elements were nothing short of amazing! From the moment we arrived, it was clear that everyone was there to have a great time and make new friends. The people were incredibly welcoming, and it felt like one big family. Whenever we wandered off, someone always invited us to join their group. It was heartwarming to see people who might have seemed a little lost quickly find themselves dancing with a bunch of new buddies they had just met.
The generosity of the festival-goers was indeed something special. People were happy to offer up their car camping spots, share their drinks and food, and even make room for more dancing.
Although there was some confusion when the festival was canceled on the first day, which cast a temporary shadow over the event, the spirit of the ravers remained unbroken. Many quickly organized hotel parties and renegade gatherings at campsites, turning the situation around. Despite the rain and mud, smiles remained abundant. Performers and attendees persevered through the weather, showcasing nothing but positive attitudes. The festival ultimately proved to be a testament to the community’s ability to come together and make the best of any situation, with a strong sense of gratitude and uplifted spirits prevailing throughout the weekend.
One of the standout aspects of the event was the overall friendliness of the staff and security, whose cheerful and welcoming demeanor added to the festival’s overall vibe, helping to offset some of the logistical challenges and weather-related difficulties.
Production: B
The overall production was moderately impressive. While it wasn’t the most extraordinary setup we’ve ever seen, but it struck a happy medium. The unexpected highlight was the remarkable display of fireworks shot up in the middle of the night, which caught everyone by surprise. Seeing so many fireworks at a festival like Elements was awe-inspiring, adding a thrilling touch to the event that exceeded our expectations. It was a delightful moment that showcased the festival’s ability to deliver surprises even when we thought the production couldn’t improve.
The performers and themed decorations enhanced the festival’s atmosphere, creating a vivid and immersive experience. Characters like those in carnival outfits playing Frick Frack Blackjack and the Raveman in full costume contributed to the unique vibe of different areas. The stages were creatively decorated to reflect themes of air, water, earth, and fire, with each area’s decorations aligning perfectly with its theme. The production in the forest was particularly unexpected, featuring a variety of intriguing elements such as a campfire, an abandoned ship, and a fluorescent neon trampoline. These additions, along with various characters wandering through the woods, demonstrated a thoughtful focus on thematic coherence, making the overall production both engaging and memorable.
Music: B-
This year’s lineup was impressive, and we all had high expectations for the three-day event. However, the cancellation of day one significantly impacted the lineup, removing a third of the anticipated artists from the festival. We were particularly disappointed to miss Kaskade, ILLENIUM, and Sullivan King. Despite this setback, the festival made up for it with some extraordinary performances, including surprise back-to-back sets like Tape B B2B Disco Lines and INZO B2B TVBOO, as well as individual sets from Tape B and Boogie T. These performances during the day one cancellation period added a unique and memorable touch to the festival experience.
Days two and three were fantastic, especially as the festival resumed its full schedule. We witnessed some standout acts, including Excision and SLANDER on day two, whose sets were unforgettable. Another incredible set we experienced over the weekend was by The Disco Biscuits. On day three, Subtronics delivered a high-energy performance that drew a massive crowd of headbangers and bass enthusiasts. Unfortunately, this large turnout, around 9,000 people, led to overcrowding at the stage, which was a bit overwhelming given the venue’s size. Despite this, the music was outstanding, and the sets were memorable.
Venue: B-
The festival’s venue, set within the expansive grounds of a racetrack, offered attendees a unique but challenging experience. The layout featured distinct camping sections, which, while providing a sense of separation and privacy, also required long walks to reach different festival areas. This made navigating the site a bit of an adventure, with transportation and accommodation presenting their own set of challenges. For those flying in, the small nearby Scranton Airport was a convenient option, though accessing the venue from larger airports like Philadelphia or Newark involved a more extended drive.
Despite its logistical challenges, the festival grounds were beautifully decorated, creating a visually stunning immersive atmosphere and capable of handling large daytime crowds. However, as the night set in and headliner performances took the stage, crowding became a significant issue, making it difficult to move through the sea of people. The venue’s persistent problem with rain and mud added to the challenge, turning certain areas into slippery, muddy messes… a recurring issue that seems to plague the event yearly.
Overall: B
In summary, the festival was set within a beautifully decorated environment that provided an immersive and different experience. Although the cancellation of day one was disappointing, the event quickly recovered with surprises that sustained a high level of energy throughout the weekend.
However, one significant health and safety concern emerged: the issue of overflowing porta-potties, which became increasingly problematic as the festival progressed. These sanitation challenges detracted from the overall experience and underscored the need for improved planning and infrastructure in future events.
Despite these difficulties, the enthusiasm and resilience of the attendees, along with the spontaneous and unique experiences, made the festival genuinely memorable. Even in the face of rain, mud, and sanitation concerns, the strong sense of community and creativity prevailed, leaving a lasting and positive impression on all EDM enthusiasts.
