Written by: Kierna Sprague
Looking for an end of summer festival with that multi-faceted, dynamic vibe, right on the cusp between summer and fall? Every year near the fall equinox Gem & Jam and 4 Peaks Presents host the annual Cascade Equinox, a 3 day music festival located on the majestic Deschutes County fairground in Redmond, Oregon. This year’s dates were September 19-21st. While the festival is fairly new (this year was year three), the organizers are extremely experienced so it feels like a festival that has been around for decades. With Gem & Jam having 20 years of festival building pedigree, and 4 Peaks Presents having 18 years of experience! This is reflected in every aspect of Cascade Equinox, whether its the stacked diverse food options, the endless unique vendors, or the banger multi genre line-up. This festival crushes it in every category, making it one the best ways to close out festival season and one of the best festivals in the Pacific Northwest; a true hidden gem!
The Vibe
Think high desert: warm days, cool nights, the smell of western juniper and sagebrush in the breeze. Multi-genre curation. Small intimate capacity. Art installations and live artists everywhere…. That’s Cascade Equinox, maybe that was too many descriptors but I could have kept on going. This festival has so much to offer! The production of the light and sound was top tier. Thanks to Funktion-One and Void sound systems, and EG Sound & Lighting, the music was felt, not just heard. It had the production level of a mega festival with the warmth of a small town fair. The crowd was giving friendly, artsy, burner-adjacent, and very costume oriented. The creativity was flowing at this festival! Because it’s located at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds, pretty much a livestock complex with actual dairy and sheep barns, the festival leans into the setting in the best way. With Boogie T rattling the Dairy Barn while the sheep barn was transformed into the Solar Spin, an indoor roller-skate rink with live DJs. It’s a gorgeous clash of the town’s farm oriented roots with lasers, bass, and skates!
Lineup Highlights
Cascade Equinox covered a serious range. This lineup had everything you could imagine, whether its electronic & dance headliners like Disclosure, Chromeo, and Passion Pit, or bass/trap/dubstep headliners like Boogie T, Mersiv, and Troy boi! Then they offered live bands and livetronica like Big Gigantic, Moontricks, High Step Society, and The Funk Hunters! They did a great job transitioning the genres with the time of day, and the programming flowed with the sun. During the day they had more chill music but once the sun set the bass started thumping. On Saturday after the sunset Troy boi threw down one of the best sets I’ve experienced in my decade of festivals. The crowd was alive, from front to back every single person was dancing! That blend of global rhythms, Indian/South Asian samples, and big bassy trap, had everyone losing it (in the best way). It was a set I will never forget!
Food & Drink We Loved
The “Culinary Commons” was stacked with variety, bringing global flavors next to classic festival comfort food. They clearly planned for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free eaters. Just like every other aspect, they thought about everyone and had so many available options for different diets and desires. Highlights we saw/enjoyed: Latin bites from La Guaira Bistro, wood-fired pizza from Al Forno Ferruzza, fried rice bowls,and loaded tater tots from the TOT truck! Taking a lap around the vendors could take you from pizza to Venezuelan to Asian comfort food without leaving the plaza. They sourced local & regional food vendors to keep it fresh while also supporting local businesses. My must try recommendation is the loaded tater tots, I swear I transcended reality while eating them!
Art & Workshops
The focus on art at this festival was apparent, with it having the most art installations I have ever seen at a festival. From an all day schedule of interactive workshops, to giant LED crystals, a full dome of tactile, playful installations and even a sphere you could strap into and become a human gyroscope! It felt like a collision of art gallery energy and festival magic. During the weekend there was nonstop hands-on workshops at the Cosmic Drip, the Healing Garden, and the family-friendly Orbit. Yoga flows, breathwork journeys, flow-arts jams, sound baths, arts and craft style make and take sessions and more!
Camping or Glamping situation
The circular camping layout is clutch: wherever you camp, you’re close to an entrance. We were actually camped in an overflow lot, the furthest option, and it was still only an 8 minute walk to the front gate! It made navigating to and from our campsite so easy and we were the furthest ones away! They also provide plenty of porta potty stations and refill stations for water! If you like to have your daily shower they also offer some of the fanciest looking shower stations within the venue. If camping isn’t your style, there are also nearby hotels available!
Tips for First-Timers: FAQs
Is it kid-friendly? – Yes! It is all ages and they have fun workshops for all ages and even have a designated area for kids to play!
Can I re-enter? – Yes! Heading back to your camp and re-entering is super easy! Just have to go through the security check on your way back in.
What’s the dust situation? None! Despite being in the desert, the entire venue is grass! There was zero dust.
What’s the weather like? Moody! During the day it is super hot and once the sun dips the temp DROPS so be prepared for the intense temperature difference.
TL;DR / conclusion
Cascade Equinox is where small-town fair vibes meet big-league production. Lasers in livestock barns, rollerskates in the sheep barn, and bass you feel in your bones. Come for the multi-genre lineup, stay for the art, the workshops, and the shockingly easy camping. Hot days, chilly nights, zero dust, max smiles. See you under the high desert stars next equinox!