Written by: Autumn Stone

When I say I was healed from the inside out at the Seven Stars Festival, I really mean it. I personally have never cried so much at a music festival and I’m so grateful I was able to experience the very first one in its creation!

Griz, who we all know and love, made the biggest and best comeback announcement after his almost 2 year hiatus when he said he was throwing a music festival in Arrington, Virginia. He did a fantastic job at teasing the festival and artists on the lineup which in turn created even more excitement for his return. The anticipation for tickets to go on sale was overwhelming because everyone under the sun wanted to get their hands on one. Especially now knowing that it was sold out in 45 seconds, I can’t believe I was able to snag one myself! 

With the festival being held in early October, the weather called for sunny days and chilly nights. It was absolutely perfect fall weather! It’s definitely important to note that you need to make sure you are bringing extra layers for when the sun goes down, especially if you are camping! There was also a little bit of rain, but nothing us seasoned ravers haven’t dealt with before. In fact, the light sprinkle felt really nice in the crowd because we had layered up so much!

The Seven Stars crew really knew what they were doing when setting up all the activities around the fest. From being able to tie-dye a SS t-shirt at Tie-Dye World, to taking flight on air Griz to the moon, to sending postcards to loved ones at the general store, they really made the weekend so much more memorable. My personal favorite interactive was the Rainbow Reliquary. It was something so simple yet so thoughtful at the same time and the rules were simple. With the corresponding color, you were to leave an offering or trinket as a sign of love. This and every other activity and art installation at this event was so well thought out and created with intention. 

What was even more amazing was the performances from the Griz team. I told my friends that the first day was so good, it felt like it was the finale and I couldn’t believe we still had two more days of this. I think everyone in that crowd was simultaneously hugging one another crying while Griz was giving his speech and then cried even harder when he too shed a few tears. Who am I kidding, I was blubbering like a baby. And the weekend just kept getting better with the most spectacular sunset I’ve ever seen at Griz’s sunset set of course. It was like something out of a movie watching the pink and orange colors melding together in the sky with bubbles flying all around and the sea of people vibing to the music being shared. 

Let’s not forget about all the other artists that helped make this weekend as incredible as it was. Artists like Alleycvt, Levity, Level Up, Inzo, Daily Bread, Subtronics, and so many others just made my brain go ahhhhhh in the best way possible! I’m just sad I couldn’t see everyone! If only I could clone myself, that’s how stacked this lineup was! The afters also did not disappoint! There were two stages that were uniquely designed and hosted some amazing talents, but the party didn’t stop there. In the campgrounds, there were renegade afters being held by The Best In Tents crew who entertained their crowd with a silent disco which was such a great way to end the night! 

Now if you saw the voicemails live or on social media, I know you were crying at how cute and wholesome that truly was! By this time, I was crying for the thousandth time and was wondering if I was ever gonna stop. Hearing real voices of excitement for Griz’s return and uplifting personal stories with the crowd cheering them on was honestly so heartwarming. This was a moment that I will never forget and I know this is true for so many others as well. 

All in all, Griz really made this weekend so magical and left everyone wanting more. I’m so glad I was able to watch him make history and be able to live it myself. I can’t even imagine what the next one will be like, but I know that I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Until then remember always, Show Love Spread Love my dudes!

With luv,

Autumn Stone