Held in Rothbury, Michigan, at the Double JJ Resort, Electric Forest Festival is an annual eight-day event that centers on electronic and jam band genres. The festival was formerly called Rothbury Festival, with a focus on rock and jam bands, and first debuted in 2008.
Long has passed since then, and 2015 event drew an estimated 45,000 attendees, and in 2017, it was nominated for Festival of the Year at the Electronic Music Awards. The event is an alternative to the field-only and conventional festivals we are used to, as it fuses bands with electronic DJ's and festival attendees are immersed in the colours of the nature surrounding them, as thumping sounds follow them around from stage to stage.
The 2018 lineup included The String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, Griz Live Band, Galantis, Zhu, Green Velvet, Bonobo, Chromeo, Thundercat, Washed Out, San Holo, Marian Hill, Keys N Krates, Marshmello and Testpilot, among other great acts.
If you have any queries, you might want to read the most frequently asked questions:
Can I bring a grill or have a fire pit, tiki torches, or candles? According to the festival's website, “No. Only small, coleman-style propane or butane cook stoves are allowed. No other open flame is permitted.”
If I am staying off site, can I leave and come back? “Yes. If you are staying off site, you will be able to come and go throughout the weekend.”
How long can I leave my car in Day Parking before it is towed? “If your car remains in day parking an hour after music has ended each night, it may be towed at your expense.”
Will you be posting set times in advance? Where can I find exact set times? “Set times will be posted as a print-at-home schedule on this website as the festival date approaches.
How hot will it get in the day and how cold will it get at night? “Historically, the town of Rothbury receives very little rain during the months of June and July, and temperatures hover around 65-80 degrees fahrenheit during the day and 55-65 degrees fahrenheit at night. Please come prepared for all kinds of weather.”
I am not a photographer but would like to bring my own camera. What are the specs on the cameras allowed? “Small handheld/point and shoot cameras without additional lenses are acceptable within the festival venue. Yes, you can bring your GoPro.”
Are you hiring people to work or volunteer at the event? “Stay tuned for opportunities to work in the Forest!”
Can I pass out flyers in the venue or outside the venue on the festival grounds? “No, there is no unauthorized solicitation on the grounds o in any of the parking lots/camping areas.”
Will there be an information booth/area? “Yes, there will be several information booths near the venue entrance and inside the festival grounds. They will be listed on the map. In the campgrounds, please visit your closest Neighbourhood Pod once you have set up camp to get oriented to your local hub! Neighbourhood Pods will have 24 hour information and medical staff, showers, ice, and more.
Will there be first aid onsite? “Definitely. Inside the festival grounds, there will be several medical booths. They will be listed on the map. In the campgrounds, please visit your closest Neighbourhood Pod once you have set up camp to get oriented to your local hub! Neighbourhood Pods will have 24 hour information and medical staff, showers, ice, and more.
Will there be drinking fountains? And/or how much is water? “There will be free water refill stations throughout the campgrounds and within the festival venue. Water will also be available at very reasonable prices from food and beverage vendors throughout the grounds as well.”
Will there be sunglasses/visitors or hats/sunscreen sold? “These items will be available at the General Store near the Venue Entrance. Please check the map upon arrival for exact location of the General Store. Event merchandise will also be available at Official Forest Goods locations.”
Will there be flushable toilets and sinks available? “There will be hand-washing stations in select areas in the campground and venue, and flushable toilets in The Good Life areas only.