Written by: Gabriela Mayte
Secret Dreams music & arts festival made it’s magical 4th year return at Legend Valley, Ohio this July. From the immersive art, delicious food vendors and amazing sets, this festival exceeded my expectations. I truly fell in love with the homie and intimate vibes that were curated all weekend long. A little mud and rain did not stop anyone from continuing to enjoy the music.
One of my favorite parts of the festival was all of the interactive art that was displayed around the venue. Live painters were set up right next to the portal stage and it was beautiful to see the progress being made each day. The “Doortals” that were placed by main stage and the woods stage were one of the coolest pieces I got to interact with. It really felt like I was entering another dimension when I would turn the handle. I definitely recommend to take the time to just explore all of the beautiful art that artists have taken the time to create as it can add to your experience in ways that you cannot imagine.
The headliners were no joke this year. This was actually one of the dreamiest lineups I have seen. This festival did a really good job at bringing different genres together into one space. From two Tipper sets, Come back to Earth: A Mac Miller live tribute band, Papadosio, two Pretty Lights sets, Of the Trees and many many more mind blowing artists that absolutely threw down this weekend. And don’t think that the music was done once it hit midnight. Late-night performances were available to enjoy until sunrise at all 3 stages in the venue as well the DeBussy renegade stage located in the GA campgrounds. It was my first time staying up for sunrise sets while at a festival and I absolutely loved every single minute of it. The vibes were still high and everyone was dancing as the sun was coming out. It was a beautiful experience to witness.Opiuo and Yheti were hands down my favorite late-night performances.
Lastly, I wanted to mention the INCREDIBLE staff. All weekend long, they made sure that the attendees were taken care of. I have never seen a festival be so on top of the safety and wellness of everyone. Not once where we left in the dark when it came to weather updates or with what was happening at camp and inside the venue. The big screens always had messages displayed for all to see with things like “when was the last time you… had a drink of water? had a snack? went to the bathroom?” and more. During each set, the staff in the media pit were always handing out water to the attendees. I truly appreciated how much effort and care they put into this event.
If you’re looking to support smaller independent festivals, I highly recommend adding Secret Dreams to your list for next year. The vibes were unmatched and you can feel the magic all weekend long ✨