Written by: Emily Cuevas
You know a festival is special to you when you keep coming back every single year, and that commitment is somehow stronger than some of the jobs you’ve had…
And that, folks, is me with EDC Orlando!
This year will officially be my SIXTH year in a row attending EDC Orlando, and I’ve even traveled all around the U.S. for different music festivals, experienced some pretty incredible productions, and danced in more crowds than I can count. But somehow, every November, I always find myself right back at Tinker Field even though I swear its my LAST year!
Why? Oh, I have LOTS of reasons.
For starters, EDC Orlando was the very first music festival I ever attended, and clearly something clicked because I was absolutely hooked on raving after that. Little did I know that one weekend would turn into years of traveling across the country, discovering new artists, meeting some really good friends now, working with the festival babes, and spending an unreasonable amount of time planning and making festival outfits!
EDCO also has what I think is the perfect balance between a big and small festival. It’s massive enough to have incredibly beautiful designed stages, and a lineup that makes you say “OKAY FINE ONE MORE YEAR”, but not so overwhelming that you spend half your weekend trying to get from one side of the festival to the other.
And somehow, Insomniac finds a way to elevate the experience every single year. For example the Kandi Casino WOW! If you didn’t have time to check it out, definitely try to get there early and try it! My biggest piece of advice for EDCO ( or any festival really ) is explore!!!! Festivals are so much more than just the music it is also about all the extra experiences you can do that you cant have in everyday life!
The Lineup Is Stacked… But So Are the Set Conflicts
If there’s one thing EDC Orlando knows how to do, it’s deliver a lineup that makes you immediately start counting down the days.
This year’s lineup is STACKED on STACKED, with artists like David Guetta, Hardwell, , Mau P, Chris Lorenzo, Disco Lines, ATLiens, Wooli, Ray Volpe, Levity, Level Up, ALLEYCVT.. should i keep going?!
I already know where a good portion of my weekend is going to be spent. ( Bass head lovers UNITE! )
Every year, when the lineup first drops, I get ridiculously excited seeing all the artists I want to catch. But then the set times come out, and suddenly things get PERSONAL.
Because what do you mean I have to choose between two of my favorite artists?! (CRYING)
It’s the ultimate festival dilemma. Do I split the sets? Do I run across the festival? Do I accept defeat and hope I’ll catch the other artist somewhere else?
And don’t even get me started on trying to coordinate a schedule with your entire rave fam. Everyone has their must-sees, and somehow we’re all convinced we can make it to every single one.
Spoiler alert: We cannot but its the thought that counts right?
A Yearly Rave Fam Reunion ❤️
Another HUGE reason EDC Orlando means so much to me is because it’s become the one weekend every year when my rave fam gets back together.
As life gets busier and everyone ends up living in different places, it can be hard to find the time to see each other. But somehow, when November rolls around, we all have the same excuse to reunite.
And what better excuse than three days of dancing under the Electric Sky?!
Some of my favorite memories from EDCO aren’t even from the sets themselves. They’re from the random side quests, the group pictures that take approximately 45 minutes to organize, the group outfit themes ( last year we were all fruits, aka FRUITS GONE WILD ) and those little moments when you look around at your friends and realize just how special it is that music brought you all together.
I think that’s one of the most beautiful things about festivals in general. The music might be what brings us there, but the people are what make us want to come back.
And for me, EDC Orlando will always be a little reunion with some of my favorite humans.
The Daisy Era… And How Am I Supposed to Top That?! 🌼
Now, if there’s one thing I genuinely LOVE about any festival, it’s having an excuse to dress up.
And EDC Orlando? Oh, that’s basically my Super Bowl of festival outfits.
Last year, I decided I wanted to do something a little extra special and dress up as a DAISY to stay on theme with the festival.
But obviously, I couldn’t just stop at the outfit.
I also made my very own daisy totem! I don’t really like carrying anything but I do love crafting so I thought why not! I made the daisy out of crepe paper… BIG mistake. It was downpouring that day i brought the totem and well the daisy did in fact not survive however we still kept the wrinkly flower throughout the night hahah!
Not only did I do a totem but i also decided to customize a pair of fishnets by bedazzling the letters EDC onto them, complete with little daisies all over matching my daisy one piece!
Was it a little extra? Absolutely.
But extra is exactly what festivals are for!
Be extra, be creative because you don’t know if you will inspire something for someone else’s outfit next time too!
There’s just something so fun about putting time and creativity into an outfit and then showing up to a festival where everyone else is doing the exact same thing in their own unique way.
The creativity at EDCO is honestly unmatched. Between the outfits, the totems, the kandi, and all the random accessories people come up with, sometimes just people-watching is an entire activity in itself.
But now I’ve created a problem for myself…
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO TOP LAST YEAR?!
So if anyone has any ideas on how to outdo a fully bedazzled daisy outfit, I’m all ears!
Insomniac, You Really Know How to Throw a Festival
To be honest, if there’s one thing Insomniac knows how to do, it’s THROW A FESTIVAL.
From the production and stage designs to the performers, art installations, carnival rides, and all the little details that make EDCO feel like its own little world, there’s so much more to experience than just the music.
And that’s what makes it so special.
Every year, I discover something new. A stage I didn’t spend enough time at before, a random little area tucked away somewhere, an artist I didn’t know I needed to see, or a moment that ends up becoming one of my favorite memories of the entire weekend.
Even after six years, I still get that same feeling of excitement when I walk through the gates.
And honestly, I don’t think that feeling will ever get old.
So here’s to year SIX of EDC Orlando! To another stacked lineup, the inevitable set conflicts, getting lost at the bass stage, reuniting with my rave fam, and hopefully figuring out an outfit that can compete with last year’s daisy masterpiece.
EDC Orlando, you’ve had my heart since day one, and I can’t wait to see what kind of magic you have in store for us this year.
See you under the Electric Sky! 🌈⚡🌼