Every Halloween weekend, the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, California, transforms into Insomniac Events’ dark playground, Escape Halloween. The two-day festival, billed as the largest Halloween-themed rave in the world, brings together high-energy electronic performances, delightfully haunting stage designs, and a costumed crowd that comes alive with spooky spirit.
With its “Psycho Circus” theme in tow, Escape’s 2025 edition again proved why this event sits atop Insomniac’s roster as a favorite fall tradition for West Coast ravers.
This year’s lineup covered nearly every corner of dance music, with key names like Porter Robinson, Marshmello B2B DJ Snake, Deorro, Alesso, Gryffin, ATLiens, Chris Lorenzo, Eli Brown, The Martinez Brothers, deadmau5, and RL Grime. Immersive, organized, and full of memorable moments only the rave can provide, Escape continues to set the standard for what a themed festival can be.
Read EDM Maniac’s full report on Escape Halloween 2025 below.
Vibes: ★★★☆☆
The energy at Escape was contagious. From the second we entered the gates, we could tell everyone came ready to participate, not just attend. Nearly every person in sight was dressed in costumes representing anime, movie characters, musicians, and other displays that showed off the immense creativity we’ve come to love in the rave scene. There was a sense of shared excitement and playfulness that came alive in every set.
Carnival rides and midway games brought the circus theme to life. The Ferris wheel, spinning attractions, and prize booths added an extra layer of fun between the beats. With its sinister twist on rides, games, and costumed performers, Escape felt like a haunted carnival, resembling a scaled-down version of EDC.
Deep in the dancefloor, the vibe was pleasantly positive on both nights. People traded kandi, shared water, and hyped up each other’s outfits. Even at the busiest sets, the environment felt safe, welcoming, and full of mutual respect. It was a weekend where the crowd added to the energy as much as the music and artists on stage.
However, this experience wasn’t consistent across the entire festival grounds. We witnessed and received multiple reports of fighting, shoving, rude behavior, and other clashes that seem to continuously plague the Escape experience. Other video reports from fellow ravers highlighted a serious lack of respect from some fans, including intimate moments between couples that have no place in public at an 18+ event.
A safety concern occurred when fans climbed the scaffolding during Moore Kismet’s set at the Warehouse. Though they added to the lively underground atmosphere, these decisions risk serious injury and can affect musical programming as event producers seek to keep the area safe.
Production: ★★★★☆
Production at Escape Psycho Circus continues to be one of Insomniac’s biggest strengths. The Big Top stage was massive, featuring LED video panels, pyrotechnics, a giant Halloween-themed monkey inflatable, and layered set pieces that made every performance feel larger than life. A highlight for many, the lasers were vibrant, dynamic, and in sync with each artist’s style. Drone shows lit up the night sky, adding a magical touch.
From the spiderweb of the Feeding Grounds to the haunted vibe of the Warehouse, the minimal vibe of the Sewer District, and the metallic aesthetic of the Cage, each stage had its own personality. Expert attention to the timing of production elements kept the energy flowing between sets.
Every stage delivered a crisp, full-bodied sound that cut clean through the air and carried perfectly across the grounds. Whether you were front rail or hanging towards the back of the dancefloor, the bass hit deep, the vocals were sharp, and every drop landed crisply. That consistency in sound quality kept energy levels high and helped fuel an electric atmosphere from start to finish.
Music: ★★★☆☆
Musically, Escape delivered across the board. Many electronic genres were represented, giving the festival a sonically diverse feel, and aiding with crowd control, as attendees were pulled in different directions due to a stacked lineup with unavoidable set conflicts
Porter Robinson brought a wave of emotion with his melodic and nostalgic selections. Marshmello and DJ Snake went B2B for one of the most explosive sets of the weekend. Deorro unleashed his signature Latin-infused energy, while Jessica Audiffred shook the ground with heavy dubstep drops.
Black Tiger Sex Machine, Kayzo, RL Grime, ATLiens, Pauline Herr, and NGHTMRE B2B PEEKABOO took their bass sounds even darker, matching the Halloween mood. House and techno fans caught exciting performances from Angrybaby, Eli Brown, The Martinez Brothers, and Nicole Moudaber B2B Ilario Alicante.
Adding to the excitement, Love Island’s Nic Vans made his DJ debut on the Beatbox Art Car. After the reality TV star was outed as a basshead earlier this year, his first festival performance pulled hundreds of people to one of Escape’s smaller performance spaces. Another standout moment came from Moore Kismet, who threw down a thundering set in a Mad Max-meets rave atmosphere at the Warehouse Stage.
For fans who weren’t ready to end the night, the on-site afterparty was a win for both convenience and safety. It gave people an easy way to keep the music going while sobering up and avoiding post-show traffic. Thousands stayed to catch late-night sets from Ray Volpe, Virtual Riot, Eli Brown, Matroda, and others who kept the energy high until the early morning. As in previous years, it was a smart addition that made the festival experience feel more complete.
From house and techno to hard-hitting bass, the sonic diversity made this a strong edition of Escape, but we found the lineup was composed of many familiar names. There is always room for more variety.
Venue: ★★★☆☆
For better or worse, the NOS Events Center remains an iconic venue in California festival culture, offering a sprawling playground that perfectly complements Escape’s eerie atmosphere.
The festival transformed the entire grounds into a Halloween wonderland, featuring eight intricately designed stages that felt like stepping into a different haunted realm. From fire-breathing structures and neon-lit warehouses to the fog-drenched outdoor arenas, every corner had its own energy and aesthetic.
The centerpiece lake added a surreal calm amid the chaos, reflecting the lights, lasers, and costumed madness around it. The venue’s familiar layout made navigating between stages smooth, while still feeling fresh with each themed transformation.
In terms of layout, the standout area was the Sewer District. What some might have expected to be a secondary setup turned out to be one of the most well-designed and enjoyable areas of the festival. Behind the main dance area, stadium-style seating offered a comfortable elevated view of the stage. The surrounding grass and open space made it easy to move around, dance, and enjoy the music without feeling cramped.
The most anticipated sets were as packed as ever, but nothing we haven’t come to expect from an event of this scale. With only one entry lane for the on-site afterparty, what began as a single-file line quickly turned into a mob clawing its way to the front. It was impossible to tell where the line started or ended, which contributed to a moment of anxious tension. This could be fixed by adding guided railings for next year’s edition.
Food & Beverage: ★★★☆☆
Food and drink options were consistent but not remarkable. The vendor lineup offered standard festival options, but the variety felt diminished compared to other Insomniac events. Popular food and beverage vendors included Asian-infused options, pizza, grilled cheese, and vegetarian bowls for health-conscious ravers. Alcoholic beverage favorites came from Four Loko and Beatbox.
During peak hours, lines sometimes stretched to 10 or more people, especially near the biggest stages. Bars were strategically placed, but challenging to access quickly during major set transitions. Wait times were hit-or-miss depending on the location, though service remained fast once you reached the counter.
The drink menu stuck to basics and didn’t include many Halloween-inspired options, which felt like a missed opportunity given how immersive the rest of the festival was. Still, the food and beverage setup did its job. It provided what you needed without detracting from the overall experience. With a few upgrades in availability and themed presentation, this could easily be a stronger category in the years to come.
Overall: ★★★☆☆
Escape Halloween 2025 was another standout edition for one of the country’s most recognizable Halloween festivals.
The lineup was diverse, the production was bold, and, for the most part, the crowd brought the kind of positive energy that makes a rave feel like home. Attendee experience will always vary from person to person, but thanks to the infusion of carnival attractions and quality music curation, we had a positive festival experience.
A few operational tweaks, such as adding more than one entry line for on-site afters or offering additional vendor options, could further improve the experience. But overall, the weekend was immersive and well-executed. Escape Psycho Circus isn’t just a Halloween party with good music. It’s a fully realized world that celebrates the creativity and connection that dance music culture is all about.
Find EDM Maniac‘s complete Festival Report Card archive here.
Featured image courtesy: Insomniac Events.
