The 24th edition of Nocturnal Wonderland just passed. After over two decades of music and dancing, this festival has been through it all. The highest of highs. The lowest of lows.
For the past few years, the San Manuel Ampitheater alongside Glen Helen Regional Park served as the home of this seasoned event. San Manuel was Insomniac’s lush counterpart to the industrial NOS Center, both perched in the throws of San Bernardino county.
Rather than the gritty concrete of the NOS Center which is admittedly more versatile for constructing an event, San Manuel offered abundant fields, mountainous views, and an all-around serene atmosphere. The wooded grounds also opened the opportunity for camping, which thousands of headliners enjoyed over the years.
Unfortunately though, due to new sound ordinances recently passed in the county, this venue would now only allow amplified music until 12 am. Not the worst strictures overall, but incompatible with the Insomniac vision for Nocturnal Wonderland. After all, an event can’t have “nocturnal” in the name if it’s only dark for a couple hours throughout.
So the 24th edition of Nocturnal was the final event at San Manuel Ampitheater, and Insomniac honored this unique space more than properly.
There was an air of nostalgia permeating every bit of the event. Everyone in attendance was happy to be there and even happier to know they were the last ones to be there. Artists brought it home in fine style. The condensed space allowed the DJs to lock into the crowd even better than they could before, delivering sets that went a step beyond what was expected.
Then as the sun came down and the main event closed the campgrounds became a mecca of positive vibes and connection. Silent discos were not silent. Rather they were filled with the happy sounds of people enjoying each other. Whether that took the form of letting of excess energy through dance or sitting together in a circle, sharing experiences of their past times at San Manuel.
24 years later, and Insomniac still understands how to deliver a Nocturnal Wonderland that is just that, a nocturnal wonderland. Hopefully, the photos below will give some insight into just how special this event was.
Graham John Bell for Insomniac
Graham John Bell for Insomniac
Graham John Bell for Insomniac
Graham John Bell for Insomniac
Graham John Bell for Insomniac
Graham John Bell for Insomniac
Graham John Bell for Insomniac
Juliana Bernstein for Insomniac
Juliana Bernstein for Insomniac
Juliana Bernstein for Insomniac
Juliana Bernstein for Insomniac
Juliana Bernstein for Insomniac
Juliana Bernstein for Insomniac
Juliana Bernstein for Insomniac
Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac
Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac
Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac
Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac
Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac
Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac
Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac
Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac
Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac
Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac
Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac
Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac
Scott Hutchinson for Insomniac
Scott Hutchinson for Insomniac
Scott Hutchinson for Insomniac
Scott Hutchinson for Insomniac
Scott Hutchinson for Insomniac
Andrew Kinder for Insomniac
Andrew Kinder for Insomniac
Andrew Kinder for Insomniac
Andrew Kinder for Insomniac
Banfy for Insomniac
Banfy for Insomniac
