Written by: Kathy Perez

If you’ve never been to Submersion Festival in Hammonton, New Jersey, let this be your sign: you need to experience this magical little world in the woods. As first-timers, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect—but what we found was a one-of-a-kind blend of music, nature, healing, and pure community vibes. To say that Submersion Festival exceeded our expectations would be an understatement—it completely transcended what a music festival can be. 

Camping in the Pines: Nature & Nightlife 🪵🍁🏕

One of the most unique things about Submersion is how close-knit the whole experience feels. The camping grounds are tucked away in the pine forests, just a short walk from the stages—meaning you’re never too far from the music or your cozy sleeping bag. No matter where you are camping, you’re so close to bathrooms, vendors, stages, workshops, neighboring camps. It was so easy for us to bring our camping chairs to stages to just chill and vibe out and bring them back. We were constantly coming back to camp to recharge, reset and move onto the next thing because the festival was right in our backyard. Some people even drove back to the city Philadelphia or neighboring pockets of New Jersey when the festivities were done because Hammonton is so centralized. Side note–a lot of people I met traveled far to come to this festival, so I felt super grateful that this festival was less than 45 minutes away from my home base. This makes it hard to not want to come back every year! 

A Multi-Genre Musical Journey 🎶🥁

What really sets Submersion apart musically is its dedication to showcasing a diverse lineup of electronic sounds. From deep, vibey downtempo and experimental bass, to tech house, UK garage, dubstep, psytrance, and beyond—the stages pulsed with an eclectic energy that kept the dancefloors alive day and night. Whether you were headbanging in the forest or flowing to ambient sunrise sets, there was something for every kind of raver. On Friday, Crawdad Sniper hosted a set with a crawfish boil, where everyone vibed out to rhythmic bass and had free seafood boil for lunch! On Saturday, Grll Smth chopped up the beats and the meats serving free burgers and hot dogs during their set! We enjoyed our burgers in our beach chairs at the beach stage to fire beats by kLL sMTH & Blitzkreiga. Festival attendees were encouraged to bring their own grills and everyone was grilling, vibing and dancing under the warm sun. Truly one-of-a-kind experience. 

Beyond the Music: Workshops & Activities That Nourished the Soul 🧘🏻‍♀️

Submersion isn’t just about the beats—this festival knows how to nourish mind, body, and spirit. Between sets, we explored a variety of wellness and creative workshops:

🧘‍♀️ Morning yoga sessions to stretch out the dancefloor soreness
🍑 A Twerkshop that had everyone shaking off inhibitions and finding their power
🔮 Tarot journaling and intention-setting circles for those seeking spiritual reflection
🎵 Sound baths that were the perfect reset after a high-energy night

There were also interactive art installations, flow zones, and plenty of spaces to chill, reflect, and connect with other beautiful souls. One of the highlights for me was watching all the artists live-painting, sculpting, glassblowing, flowing – there was creative magic happening everywhere you turned. 🎨👨🏽‍🎨

Packing Tips: Be Ready for the Elements 🥶🥵

Let’s talk weather. Submersion 2025 gifted us with warm, golden sunshine during the day—hello crop tops and hydration packs—but the nights got cold. Like, legit layer-up, hat-and-socks-in-your-sleeping-bag cold. We definitely weren’t prepared for how cold it was going to be the first night, we got 0 sleep and at 6 AM had to finally move to the car. If you’re planning for next year, trust us: bring your cozy hoodie, extra blankets, and a warm coat. You’ll thank yourself when you’re star-gazing at 3AM.

Food & Vendors: Fueling the Festival Fam 🍔🍤☕️

The food options this year? Chef’s kiss. 🤌🏻 From vegan-friendly grilled cheese 🥪, loaded glizzies 🌭, fresh smoothies and acai bowls🍌, the most delectable cinnamon pancakes 🥞and breakfast sandwiches 🍳, to birria tacos 🌮 and every kind of fried dumpling 🥟 you could imagine,  there was something for every craving and dietary need. When I tell you, I’ve never eaten so much food at a festival–everything was so affordable and looked too mouth-watering to pass up! And the vendor village was full of handmade clothes, glittering accessories, crystals, and art pieces—perfect for a mid-festival treasure hunt. I treated myself to a cute, cozy pashmina hoodie from Kamaru Clothing to stay warm.

Final Thoughts

Submersion Festival 2025 was more than just a music festival—it was a community, a reset, and a reminder of how magical life can be when we gather with intention, creativity, and love. Whether you came for the bass, the breathwork, or the bonding, you left with a full heart and unforgettable memories.

We’ll definitely be back—and hope to see more of our Festival Babes out there next year! 💫

Stay groovy, stay grounded. 🌲💃🌙
– The Festival Babes