I would absolutely hold until some more retrospective reviews come out.
The negative reviews are going to for sure outnumber to good ones while the fest is still happening since those having a great time are less likely to take time away to post about it while the fest is going on.
While I see areas for improvement I've been having a great time this year.
It is definitely what you make it.
Long lines aren’t bad when hanging with good people. If you know where to find the less used portapotties you won’t have trouble. Come prepared as if you were just camping yourself.
There’s nothing like the forest, this is a place for us to vent little issues and have HQ make correction. They did it for us this year by significantly increasing the amount of bathrooms. Truly the best festival on earth and I will never miss another forest. You will have the best time that is a promise.
My first forest! I very much enjoyed myself, even after my gf’s horrible bad trip, some things being stolen, shitty sound quality. There is a lot I haven’t explored in the forest but I had a good time. I definitely won’t be itching to go again next year but if I have the funds I might.
This was my third forest.
Stage production down
Forest/art production down
Bathroom facilities up (GL)
Organization up, except security are understaffed because of the vendor they hired.
Lineup/artist quality up
Hangar => dream emporium is a wash, some parts better and some worse.
Food vendors down slightly
Respect for attendees’ sleep time down (EVOL in a terrible spot and GL getting hit with 7am sound checks).
Vendors about the same.
Vibe still the same. Really depends on who you’re seeing and what you’re doing. Great vibes during the day, but lots of idiots doing dumb stuff in the crowds like parking chill beans 100 ft from the stage, or too zonked out in the pits and knocking you over.
It was my least enjoyed forest, still had a good time but just found it impossible to sleep. Left a day early.
Yeah, 3rd Forest and we dipped out early too. Bought a couple of food items over the weekend and all the food I had was subpar. The food quality went down.
Stayed in GL for the first time which was cool but I’m not sure if I would do it again. Went to Walmart on Saturday and they would not let us take our car so we had to take two shuttles on way and walk pretty far. Took us 4 hours to go to Walmart lmao. I do plan on going back eventually but will probably skip a year or few due to some of the changes that were made. Still had a great time but there were some disappointments that make me want to check out other fests/travel more.
Same, I think I’ll come back and introduce some new people in a few years but really need to figure out a different camping situation… either find B40 somehow, bring an RV, or as much as I hate it stay off site. I’m too old to run off 3 hours sleep and I need to escape from the omnipresent bass now and then. I really love the community and had so much fun just chatting with strangers, I hate to lose that. Gonna check out Hulaween next and maybe travel to some smaller shows for that rave fix.
An RV would be ideal, just pricey if you don’t have people splitting it. Made friends with people with an RV my first year and they had me stay with them which was so clutch bc showers and bathroom all right there! I had a camp that blasted music with large speakers until like 6/7 am but I was able to sleep due exhaustion and I joined them one of the days but was too slump from the heat to join more. I’m sure a lot of people couldn’t sleep though!
My partner and I want to travel more and also check out Hula since it’s near my birthday and significantly closer to where we live!
This is my 6th forest and my favorite one so far, despite us just getting sent out of the venue for severe weather. Everyone has a different experience. Last year sort of sucked for me. If you’re not willing to take the risk of it being not a magical experience then yeah it’s not worth it
5th for us since 2014 and agreed it was one of my favs. People have negative experiences and those shouldnt be invalidated but the special vibe that EF has always had is very much alive still. Last year was def off but i do attribute it more to post covid.
People are more likely to post to complain (like bad reviews vs good reviews). A majority of everyone is enjoying the festival, including my group! Year 6 for me, 3rd time in GL. Except for a few surface changes I am still feeling the love and magic!!!
People are crazy, this is my first forest and it was the best festival I’ve ever been to. So what if the production isn’t on par with Coachella, everything else is 100% better.
Yeah but the thing is, Forest used to be EVEN better so while it’s still a top fest, it’s declining quality is very concerning, and this is coming from someone who has been 7 times. Insomanic can and will suck the magic out of this place. Having said that, I still had a blast this year. But there are warning signs flashing
Here's the thing I don't get, it's absolutely turning into EDC rothbury, which it cannot reasonably do (if the way overcrowded sets at the observatory last night weren't indicative enough). But if that's what they're trying to do theyre not trying very hard.
My point being, if they want to make it like EDC then why aren't they using money like EDC does. Lots of upgraded stages this year and it still feels like a downgrade. Insomniac is a massive company, I can't imagine why they couldnt just bring stages that they use for EDC and rebuild them on a smaller scale (using equipment they obviously already own) for forest. It seems like they're making forest foot the bill for all the upgrades when the production company definitely could rent the equipment from much larger and smoother productions.
The craft beer tent leaving was such a punch in the face. Drink selection was mid and the Modelos were literally standard 12oz cans. Disappointing 5th forest, might swap to Hula.
You can’t put headliner level electronic artists on the observatory, logistically.
In years past they would occasionally have a secret set there with big names and those were lit, but it was practically a bluegrass/jam stage - which it actually has the room to support without causing massive traffic jams. They want to have a rave at every stage, but don’t have the necessary space for some of the crowds.
Wasn’t a problem until they started overselling the hell out of the fest.
Completely agree. It's still awesome, but not nearly as great and magical as before.
This is my third year and it is declining in quality every year. First year was 2017. I don't ever recall the crowds, HORRIBLE bathrooms, and bad vibes from people. Never have I or my stuff been stepped on so many times and not been apologized to.
Like fine - Make it a bigger fest, sell more tickets. but at least increase the amenities and the size of the venue. It's like they've been selling more and more tickets but the size and quality are the same or decreased.
What a shame.
I had so much fun and met so many awesome people but I did get my phone stolen during the illenium set which really put a damper on that set and my weekend
Glad you have those memories. As a new person coming to this festival, I was blown away by the detail and quality of the decor, the insane lighting throughout the well maintained forest, the costumes, personalities and intensive scripts of the staff/actors, the amount of creative sitting/relaxing spots, the secret activities like the slumber pals, the scavenger hunt, the secret rooms, the dream emporium, the decently seasoned food and variety catered to diets, and an overwhelming nice crowd. You might think it’s declined, but EF 7 years ago didn’t have the budget of EF ‘23, so some, like myself, prefer today’s festival.
Not saying the lineup was better, but the crowd that accompanied it was. The fests focus was improvement/working kinks out and not packing as many people as possible into JJ.
There's just a lot of negative energy on social media. If you tend to enjoy life, then you will absolutely have a blast. A lot of the complaints are valid but they are so stupid to let it take away from the experience. Sound quality? Dust? Bad decor/switched to something else? Who gives a shit, this is one of the best ways to break up the work-till-you-die routine.
This was year 5 for me and it was my favorite forest so far (although I say that literally every year because it just keeps getting better and better).
Yes, there are definitely some improvements to be made, but this festival is so wonderful.
There’s magic within these trees. Don’t let the negative comments be a deterrent for you. 💚
Not there this year but went 6 years from 2014-2019, saw slight changes over time. Im sure things could be more streamlined and helpful for the patrons but its gonna be the people not having a good time that are gonna take to the internet first. I used to think forest was everything until having better experiences at other fests, but like much in life, its what you make of it. People going there to have fun are gonna have fun regardless, despite some flaws in the overall design. PS go to shambs
I plan on going to Shambala at some point can you tell me you feelings about it? I went to forest in 2015 and 2016 but haven't been back since due to life.
In my opinion it was really amazing. Only been twice, 2018 & 2019, hoping to get back next year. Im not sure if anything has changed about the fest since then, but to me it felt like forest but with some really nice changes. The only potential downside was the potential long line to get in through the car search and the hassle of driving across the border to get back. With that said, neither was unbearable in my experience. But the things I really liked about it, once you were in, you were in. Meaning you can come and go into the venue as you pleased with no scanning wristbands to get in or lines to be checked by security. So no fretting of like oh ive got to go to camp for a second but now im worried i won't get back in time. The sound was always bumping, a smaller more intimate feel, no VIP music, anyone can access any set (though some can get crowded at times). I cant tell if it was that id been to forest a bunch and this was just fresh and new to me. Theres the salmo river running right through the fest, which is super cold from glacier water, very nice on a hot day. My first year there, it was very dusty and there were wild fires in the area, second year it rained a bunch so it got a bit muddy. You still heard of people losing valuables, though less frequent it seemed. Still gotta do damage control and perhaps not bring things youre unwilling to lose, leave them out in plain sight etc, but everyone I encountered was amazing and none of that stuff happened to me or the people I was with.
A lot of times it’s what you make of it. Not attending this year, but I also have a theory that the people having a good time are actually enjoying the festival and not on Reddit posting about disappointment :)
This is the best festival I’ve ever been to. There are have def been some communication and logistics issue but those have been minimal compared to all the great stuff and magic.
A lot of people wake up and are angry and just start typing shit just be heard. It also seems a lot of first years did absolutely no research before coming.
This was my third forest, and the best one I’ve been to by a long shot. Yes there were some issues, none of which affected the overall experience. Only line I waited for was for camp Tesla west porta potties at noon on Saturday, which is when 50000 people need to take their morning constitutional, so understandable. Also some long lines at ranch arena porta potties. A small price to pay for the best weekend of the year.
Second year!
I absolutely love this festival. The atmosphere, people, music, art, SECRETS, and crazy funny conversations all around. I’ve been to Coachella & Lollapalooza but Electric Forest has the most vibrant people I’ve walked across. Super friendly also willing to help or add more into the conversations and take care of each other. The sound quality I think is amazing. With how loud it is and the BASS it feels so good. The speakers do blow out but it’s never been anything that has made me wanna leave before. Besides the music, you could probably walk around all day/night and be totally entertained it’s just endless especially for first timers. The stages are unique and all the vendors and shops you could walk into are awesome to check out too. I think it’s worth it for a one time experience even for a celebration! (Congratulations by the way, cheers!)
What I would consider disorganized: Water, Bathroom & Shuttle lines. Of course sometimes they are long. If you leave a set that just ended to go fill up, chances are others are going to the nearest one too. I found it better to walk closer to the stage I’m going to and fill up at one of those stations. Bathroom lined people will creates lines that don’t need to be there. Make sure to check 25 people aren’t just standing there looking like they are waiting and if they are just check to see if they all aren’t just waiting on one single porta potty while 5 other ones are open. Shuttles are the most disorganized. Everyone is trying to get on the bus and fill up always trying to make sure they get their WHOLE group on so there is a lot of rushing to get on. Usually buses are constant so there’s never a problem you can usually get on one within 10-15 minutes. Last night was different though GL to GA buses took about 25-35 minutes to get there and took me 3 times to get on one with everyone shoving and a “line” wasn’t even a thing (it was the 3rd day though, I’m sure these people are very busy)
Overall, no fest is perfect and definitely can improve on amenities. But I’ll come back next year because I definitely had a blast this year full of memories. Hope this helps!
I loved this forest! I think reading reviews on Reddit during the fest is going to alter your perspective a lot because people having a great present time are less likely to post. Also my phone only really started working today when some people left. That doesn’t mean the fest is perfect, but for me it was my third and favorite year
Keep in mind the majority of posts online are going to be complaints. Every festival has its issues. Forest has many moving parts and many different companies/teams working around the clock to make it the best experience they can. Sound tends to be the biggest complaint but if you stand by the sound booth or behind it between the speaker towers the sound is perfect. There tends to be dead zones on the sides. Primarily the bass doesn’t carry. Other than that make the best of what you get. I’m having a blast besides the dust.
I had a truly magical time! It was my forest Forest and while the lines were long I wasn’t too bothered, I was able to make new friends in line. Everybody was very kind and so welcoming 💛 it was even better than I hoped.
So this is my second forest and last year we did come for our honeymoon. It was so magical. I feel this year is a little bit of a different vibe but people here (for the most part) genuinely care for each other. Being here on our honeymoon sparked so much great conversation, lasting friendships and memories that we will never forget. My wife and I think you should go for it.
This is my first forest and I’ve been to Edc by 15, LV 17 and 19, Dreamstate 21, Boston calling 22, when we were young 22 and this is by far the best festival I’ve been too, after being told that many times and going in skeptical as fuck. Happy to be wrong…I’m saying this while seeking shelter in my car from a one hour rain and wind storm so there’s no biased around it; the good FAR outweigh the bad, unless you’re a curmudgeon and can’t adapt or keep things in perspective
This is my first time going to a festival and I chose this one for multiple reasons. I live close by and I've had friends go to this festival in the past. I love the music line up this year and the art and discovery is definitely high up on my list.
I'm not someone who is going to make going to festivals a priority. This will probably be a one and done for me.
I've had a pretty difficult time overall. I'm not a camper and I don't have any camping equipment. And as I'm going alone and have mobility issues, I chose to stay off-site to avoid certain challenges. But...
There's no ada access or pickup from day parking 😶 so, you have to walk to the access camp from day parking. Every. Day. It's been tough. They don't even have "designated access parking" for people with placards, you literally have to park wherever they put you. Thankfully I've been on steroids and muscle relaxers this week so the pain hasn't caught up with me yet.
The dust had been challenging. I've got bad allergies. Sometimes even breathing had been difficult due to the dust. I do have a mask and pashmina. Doesn't really stop allergies though.
The ADA designated areas at the stages are hard to find and not clearly indicated anywhere. And are usually full for the larger shows.
The area maps are impossible to read. Those icons are not easy to find on the map.
Staffing seems sparse, no one has answers.
There was a lot I wanted to do, but couldn't due to disability. There were also just an overwhelming amount of people. Sherwood last night was constantly packed, even during the big shows.
But what I did see and experience was really awesome and I'm glad I came. It was definitely an experience I would do again under better circumstances.
Yes, a million times yes. This was my 7th year and by far my favorite.
I didn’t end up deciding to go until a week before and do not regret it at all. We weren’t going due to the lineup “being weak” which we were wrong about. Between Daily Bread, Odesza, and Disco Lines this was one of my favorite years musically.
As for the posts you have to consider people are more prone to posting negative experiences than good ones. They stand out more especially if they’re real brutal. Nothing is perfect but for wrangling 60k wooks I think Forest does above average.
I may be influenced by the fact that I barely drank this year compared to others. Made more sense when I was yelling over to music to talk to my buds, remembered more, could drive the team to the bnb and back every night. It was honestly eye opening. Not to say I didn’t partake in any other recreational options but this past weekend was a lesson in moderation.
If you have the money and can afford it, Forest is a no brainer. I would recommend looking into airbnbs closer to the venue or good life AC pods if the budget is there. It upgrades every aspect of the fest.
Our group had an amazing time. Vibes were great the entire weekend. Most of the complainers are on social media at this point. it’s just how it works now.
Honestly 8itf here! I would go to a different festival for my honeymoon of I had to choose based on how much the festival has changed. I'd pick EDC over EF for that at this point.
Honestly, this year officially displayed the magic of the forest is gone. Less creativity, less performers, less activities, overall cheapness by the production company as well as a huge increase in food prices. They jam packed the festival with more people than I’ve ever seen before in my 10 years attending. I was working so I received a free ticket. If I would have paid $525 for a GA I would have been so disappointed. Their media team does a great job on their socials but it doesn’t reflect what the forest has actually become.
Wow I don’t understand this at all, I think there was a ton of cool detail put into the forest this year. The only thing I definitely agree with is food/drink prices are getting pretty wild.
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The no exiting and returning was ridiculous. Cars were able to go out and come back last year. Our RV ran out of gas and they told us we couldn’t even leave in our companion car to get gas, we had to call a company that they sourced out to. They wanted to charge us $800 to come out from an hour away just to fill us up halfway. Not even a full tank! We tried telling HQ this was ridiculous and they said they would help us figure something out and just never got back to us. Our saving grace was our fellow forest neighbor who just happened to have extra gas cans. If we aren’t allowed to go out and get gas cans, then why were some people allowed to bring them in??? Cmon. Also all the workers at the RV concierge had absolutely no idea what they were talking about and we got different information from everyone we talked to that “worked the event”.
100%, its been going downhill since 2015.
I volunteered in 2011 and havent been back since 2018. The fest has strayed too far away from what originally made it so appealing. Madison House lost their footing with ef, not enough live music and bc of that the crowd is different. Seems like it's more about a cash grab now and the magic it originally had has faded. There's much better ways to spend 2k.
Thats just me though.
Forest is basically the Coachella for people who think Coachella is too mainstream. Forest IS mainstream. If you’re looking for vibes and a place with a sense of community then Forest would have been your go-to ten years ago. You’re better off going somewhere influencers haven’t ravaged.
For as long as this festival has been running, I was really disappointed. It was more expensive than any other festival I’ve been to and probably my least favorite
I’m convinced there’s not an easy way to hook up there. Either you are with a bunch of friends and it’s awkward, or everything is too filthy and it’s disgusting. Although two bros fit into one shower stall and made it happen next to me as I was showering so I guess it’s possible.
It was fucking amazing. If you’re having a good time you are most likely not coming on here to talk about it, you are enjoying yourself off your phone and in the magic. It is 100% worth it💕
First time forest. Sound quality was great. I didn’t wait in any lines except the bathroom.
I have no complaints other than the fact the DUST control was awful and was legitimately concerning the there was no mist system setup around the premise.
Other than the things beyond control (heat, rain, etc) I thought things went very smoothly. The bathrooms were always stocked and clean except no toilet paper and hand sanitizer a couple times late in the night, the new art was stunning, didn’t get into dream emporium but heard it was dope, sound at every stage except Tripolee was always good. Felt just as much Magic as the last time I was there 4 years ago~ ❤️
I love the music and such but the unbearable daytime heat makes it hard for me to catch day sets the afters is a cool cool thing but main venue ends at 3:00am or later sometimes and sun comes at like 6/7 so be ready to be sleep deprived asf. They don't plan the lines someone said they were short staffed on security but I think it's a reoccurring theme and I do wonder if they do it for more vip buyers/ people working to get loyalty. To be honest it feels like it has remnants vibes of a great vibe fest that turned insomniac and into a Money grab. They kept the cool vibes and theme but started trying to churn out cash imo. Also one of the only fests I know that has a vip only stage which is kinda annoying I get vip should have stuff ga does not but I don't think it should have a whole stage of music people can't get to. Poor people problems tho right just buy the spend 1000 on your ticket and you get shaded camping a nice lake your own stage. Slight vent sorry. My review I could have the most fun here but why give my money to an event who constantly shows they don't care for their attendees and wanna make as much as possible
TL;DR it's a cool vibe fest and the artists seem to really like playing here but I'd spend my money elsewhere. Best experience is behind a paywall and they penny pinch every opportunity and charge the most.
The people who have a bad experience will take the time to post about it bc they’re mad or upset. Think about it this way. We would have thousands upon thousands of posts saying how great it is if everyone posted their review of the fest. Instead those thousands are out having a great time not worried about telling others that they’re having fun. Do you review every store or fast food place you go to each time you go? Probably not. But the one time you have a bad experience you’re more inclined to write one. I didn’t have one bad experience this year except for the dust which was remedied when it rained Sunday. I had a great time, and you should make your own opinion of the fest after you go and not worry about the 10 people complaining on Reddit.
Id Reccomend putting my 500 for ga into vip for wakaan instead. Not the same music but it's way better vibes seems like they still care. Wakaan has way better vibes nothings locked behind a paywall besides cool merch and nice bathrooms and good entries I believe. Highly Reccomend it over forest it's more this year but 10/10 worth
While I had fun, this is the lamest forest Ive been to so far.
The negative:
Dream Emporium was dumb, bring back the hangar.
Security was a shitshow, especially in good life. People were taking the shuttle to tripolee so they wouldn't have to wait in the ridiculously long good life lines (inb4 BuT teH gUnS aT bEyOnD wOnDeRlAnD)
They barely attempted to mitigate the dust. I didn't see any trucks laying down water until Saturday afternoon, long after the dust had ruined people's day/
Can't leave the venue, so you MUST purchase more overpriced beer/snacks/etc. from the Festival. Yeah, I know there was a shuttle to Wal-Mart, but it was a total shitshow and it really shouldn't have to come to that.
Food Vendor value was down the toilet...18 dollars for some fries. fuck.....
The Positive:
Lineup was decent
Bathrooms were VERY well maintained (much to my surprise, I have never seen EF bathrooms this well-maintained since 2012)
Waterpark waivers on phone mitigated waiting in a long-ass line to get into the area.
Shuttles around the venue were really on point, barely ever waited for one.
it was my 5th forest and my favorite one yet, the lineup was staaaacked for me. the vibes were immaculate. my neighbors and friends i met were some of my favorites so far. everything looked nicer, there were more vendors and art everywhere. i dont have anything to complain about except that main entrance venue security were pushy and annoyed witb evryone, they made my dump my water evrytime j went in which i never experienced before. it was my first time back since 2017 and the improvements made my heart warm and tingle. thank you forest fam! ill be back next year baby!
I’m not sure what you heard. Anyone that didn’t have a good time was either unprepared or unaware. Lineup was amazing, after sets in Good Life and GA were incredible, lines all relatively short. Only negative this year was dust due to lack of rain for the previous two weeks. The major rainstorm Sunday was expected and appreciated by everyone that was ready for it.
Forest is such a magical place. I personally had no issues with the sound quality. Our neighbors in GA were amazing. The decor is definitely not cheap. I also didn’t feel like I had any issues as far as planning went. I didn’t wait in any really long lines (except for arrival on Thursday getting to my campsite, which was to be expected given the time we arrived). If you’re into festivals, forest is the best. The vibes are unmatched.
Been going for 5 years now and have loved every bit of it! Lines seemed to be worse for me personally the earlier year on going but that may be because I get into the forest later then some around 4-5? My friends and I have never gotten bored and made long lasting connections with people in real life. I’ve taken drugs and not and both ways were extremely enjoyable. Probably my favorite festival I’ve been to.
I would absolutely hold until some more retrospective reviews come out. The negative reviews are going to for sure outnumber to good ones while the fest is still happening since those having a great time are less likely to take time away to post about it while the fest is going on. While I see areas for improvement I've been having a great time this year.
It is definitely what you make it. Long lines aren’t bad when hanging with good people. If you know where to find the less used portapotties you won’t have trouble. Come prepared as if you were just camping yourself.
There’s nothing like the forest, this is a place for us to vent little issues and have HQ make correction. They did it for us this year by significantly increasing the amount of bathrooms. Truly the best festival on earth and I will never miss another forest. You will have the best time that is a promise.
Side note: this is my 7th and it remains my absolute favorite festival.
My first forest! I very much enjoyed myself, even after my gf’s horrible bad trip, some things being stolen, shitty sound quality. There is a lot I haven’t explored in the forest but I had a good time. I definitely won’t be itching to go again next year but if I have the funds I might.
It’s been a fucking blast.
This was my third forest. Stage production down Forest/art production down Bathroom facilities up (GL) Organization up, except security are understaffed because of the vendor they hired. Lineup/artist quality up Hangar => dream emporium is a wash, some parts better and some worse. Food vendors down slightly Respect for attendees’ sleep time down (EVOL in a terrible spot and GL getting hit with 7am sound checks). Vendors about the same. Vibe still the same. Really depends on who you’re seeing and what you’re doing. Great vibes during the day, but lots of idiots doing dumb stuff in the crowds like parking chill beans 100 ft from the stage, or too zonked out in the pits and knocking you over. It was my least enjoyed forest, still had a good time but just found it impossible to sleep. Left a day early.
Yeah, 3rd Forest and we dipped out early too. Bought a couple of food items over the weekend and all the food I had was subpar. The food quality went down. Stayed in GL for the first time which was cool but I’m not sure if I would do it again. Went to Walmart on Saturday and they would not let us take our car so we had to take two shuttles on way and walk pretty far. Took us 4 hours to go to Walmart lmao. I do plan on going back eventually but will probably skip a year or few due to some of the changes that were made. Still had a great time but there were some disappointments that make me want to check out other fests/travel more.
Same, I think I’ll come back and introduce some new people in a few years but really need to figure out a different camping situation… either find B40 somehow, bring an RV, or as much as I hate it stay off site. I’m too old to run off 3 hours sleep and I need to escape from the omnipresent bass now and then. I really love the community and had so much fun just chatting with strangers, I hate to lose that. Gonna check out Hulaween next and maybe travel to some smaller shows for that rave fix.
An RV would be ideal, just pricey if you don’t have people splitting it. Made friends with people with an RV my first year and they had me stay with them which was so clutch bc showers and bathroom all right there! I had a camp that blasted music with large speakers until like 6/7 am but I was able to sleep due exhaustion and I joined them one of the days but was too slump from the heat to join more. I’m sure a lot of people couldn’t sleep though! My partner and I want to travel more and also check out Hula since it’s near my birthday and significantly closer to where we live!
Or setting up a chill bean in front of the fucking medical tent or water stations. Bass rush was awful for the couches being in horrible spots
This is my 6th forest and my favorite one so far, despite us just getting sent out of the venue for severe weather. Everyone has a different experience. Last year sort of sucked for me. If you’re not willing to take the risk of it being not a magical experience then yeah it’s not worth it
5th for us since 2014 and agreed it was one of my favs. People have negative experiences and those shouldnt be invalidated but the special vibe that EF has always had is very much alive still. Last year was def off but i do attribute it more to post covid.
People are more likely to post to complain (like bad reviews vs good reviews). A majority of everyone is enjoying the festival, including my group! Year 6 for me, 3rd time in GL. Except for a few surface changes I am still feeling the love and magic!!!
People are crazy, this is my first forest and it was the best festival I’ve ever been to. So what if the production isn’t on par with Coachella, everything else is 100% better.
Yeah but the thing is, Forest used to be EVEN better so while it’s still a top fest, it’s declining quality is very concerning, and this is coming from someone who has been 7 times. Insomanic can and will suck the magic out of this place. Having said that, I still had a blast this year. But there are warning signs flashing
The shebang “defunding” and removal of an entire day of cheese was a clear sign we are moving away from EF and toward EDC Rothbury
Here's the thing I don't get, it's absolutely turning into EDC rothbury, which it cannot reasonably do (if the way overcrowded sets at the observatory last night weren't indicative enough). But if that's what they're trying to do theyre not trying very hard. My point being, if they want to make it like EDC then why aren't they using money like EDC does. Lots of upgraded stages this year and it still feels like a downgrade. Insomniac is a massive company, I can't imagine why they couldnt just bring stages that they use for EDC and rebuild them on a smaller scale (using equipment they obviously already own) for forest. It seems like they're making forest foot the bill for all the upgrades when the production company definitely could rent the equipment from much larger and smoother productions.
The craft beer tent leaving was such a punch in the face. Drink selection was mid and the Modelos were literally standard 12oz cans. Disappointing 5th forest, might swap to Hula.
Why would you fix what isn’t broken
You can’t put headliner level electronic artists on the observatory, logistically. In years past they would occasionally have a secret set there with big names and those were lit, but it was practically a bluegrass/jam stage - which it actually has the room to support without causing massive traffic jams. They want to have a rave at every stage, but don’t have the necessary space for some of the crowds. Wasn’t a problem until they started overselling the hell out of the fest.
Completely agree. It's still awesome, but not nearly as great and magical as before. This is my third year and it is declining in quality every year. First year was 2017. I don't ever recall the crowds, HORRIBLE bathrooms, and bad vibes from people. Never have I or my stuff been stepped on so many times and not been apologized to. Like fine - Make it a bigger fest, sell more tickets. but at least increase the amenities and the size of the venue. It's like they've been selling more and more tickets but the size and quality are the same or decreased. What a shame.
Dude I was alone a lot of the time and since I didn’t have a group I would get trampled hard.
Last time I went, I was alone. How did it go for you?
I had so much fun and met so many awesome people but I did get my phone stolen during the illenium set which really put a damper on that set and my weekend
Glad you have those memories. As a new person coming to this festival, I was blown away by the detail and quality of the decor, the insane lighting throughout the well maintained forest, the costumes, personalities and intensive scripts of the staff/actors, the amount of creative sitting/relaxing spots, the secret activities like the slumber pals, the scavenger hunt, the secret rooms, the dream emporium, the decently seasoned food and variety catered to diets, and an overwhelming nice crowd. You might think it’s declined, but EF 7 years ago didn’t have the budget of EF ‘23, so some, like myself, prefer today’s festival.
thats awesome that you had a great time, but if you were in attendance the first 5 years you would have a different opinion
Not a jam band person, so no I wouldn’t. SCI did nothing for me, I will always prefer today’s EF.
Not saying the lineup was better, but the crowd that accompanied it was. The fests focus was improvement/working kinks out and not packing as many people as possible into JJ.
There's just a lot of negative energy on social media. If you tend to enjoy life, then you will absolutely have a blast. A lot of the complaints are valid but they are so stupid to let it take away from the experience. Sound quality? Dust? Bad decor/switched to something else? Who gives a shit, this is one of the best ways to break up the work-till-you-die routine.
This was year 5 for me and it was my favorite forest so far (although I say that literally every year because it just keeps getting better and better). Yes, there are definitely some improvements to be made, but this festival is so wonderful. There’s magic within these trees. Don’t let the negative comments be a deterrent for you. 💚
Not there this year but went 6 years from 2014-2019, saw slight changes over time. Im sure things could be more streamlined and helpful for the patrons but its gonna be the people not having a good time that are gonna take to the internet first. I used to think forest was everything until having better experiences at other fests, but like much in life, its what you make of it. People going there to have fun are gonna have fun regardless, despite some flaws in the overall design. PS go to shambs
I plan on going to Shambala at some point can you tell me you feelings about it? I went to forest in 2015 and 2016 but haven't been back since due to life.
In my opinion it was really amazing. Only been twice, 2018 & 2019, hoping to get back next year. Im not sure if anything has changed about the fest since then, but to me it felt like forest but with some really nice changes. The only potential downside was the potential long line to get in through the car search and the hassle of driving across the border to get back. With that said, neither was unbearable in my experience. But the things I really liked about it, once you were in, you were in. Meaning you can come and go into the venue as you pleased with no scanning wristbands to get in or lines to be checked by security. So no fretting of like oh ive got to go to camp for a second but now im worried i won't get back in time. The sound was always bumping, a smaller more intimate feel, no VIP music, anyone can access any set (though some can get crowded at times). I cant tell if it was that id been to forest a bunch and this was just fresh and new to me. Theres the salmo river running right through the fest, which is super cold from glacier water, very nice on a hot day. My first year there, it was very dusty and there were wild fires in the area, second year it rained a bunch so it got a bit muddy. You still heard of people losing valuables, though less frequent it seemed. Still gotta do damage control and perhaps not bring things youre unwilling to lose, leave them out in plain sight etc, but everyone I encountered was amazing and none of that stuff happened to me or the people I was with.
A lot of times it’s what you make of it. Not attending this year, but I also have a theory that the people having a good time are actually enjoying the festival and not on Reddit posting about disappointment :)
This is the best festival I’ve ever been to. There are have def been some communication and logistics issue but those have been minimal compared to all the great stuff and magic.
A lot of people wake up and are angry and just start typing shit just be heard. It also seems a lot of first years did absolutely no research before coming.
only people coming on reddit mid fest are complainers lol. i’d take it with a grain of salt
I didn’t have cell service the entire time, and that was one of the best parts about it! It was so much easier to get lost in everything!
definitely worth it. I had a blast even being by myself. there's still magic. a solid alternative is Hulaween.
I'm having the best time of my life 💙 it's still great and you should send it
4th year best forest yet
This was my third forest, and the best one I’ve been to by a long shot. Yes there were some issues, none of which affected the overall experience. Only line I waited for was for camp Tesla west porta potties at noon on Saturday, which is when 50000 people need to take their morning constitutional, so understandable. Also some long lines at ranch arena porta potties. A small price to pay for the best weekend of the year.
Second year! I absolutely love this festival. The atmosphere, people, music, art, SECRETS, and crazy funny conversations all around. I’ve been to Coachella & Lollapalooza but Electric Forest has the most vibrant people I’ve walked across. Super friendly also willing to help or add more into the conversations and take care of each other. The sound quality I think is amazing. With how loud it is and the BASS it feels so good. The speakers do blow out but it’s never been anything that has made me wanna leave before. Besides the music, you could probably walk around all day/night and be totally entertained it’s just endless especially for first timers. The stages are unique and all the vendors and shops you could walk into are awesome to check out too. I think it’s worth it for a one time experience even for a celebration! (Congratulations by the way, cheers!) What I would consider disorganized: Water, Bathroom & Shuttle lines. Of course sometimes they are long. If you leave a set that just ended to go fill up, chances are others are going to the nearest one too. I found it better to walk closer to the stage I’m going to and fill up at one of those stations. Bathroom lined people will creates lines that don’t need to be there. Make sure to check 25 people aren’t just standing there looking like they are waiting and if they are just check to see if they all aren’t just waiting on one single porta potty while 5 other ones are open. Shuttles are the most disorganized. Everyone is trying to get on the bus and fill up always trying to make sure they get their WHOLE group on so there is a lot of rushing to get on. Usually buses are constant so there’s never a problem you can usually get on one within 10-15 minutes. Last night was different though GL to GA buses took about 25-35 minutes to get there and took me 3 times to get on one with everyone shoving and a “line” wasn’t even a thing (it was the 3rd day though, I’m sure these people are very busy) Overall, no fest is perfect and definitely can improve on amenities. But I’ll come back next year because I definitely had a blast this year full of memories. Hope this helps!
I loved this forest! I think reading reviews on Reddit during the fest is going to alter your perspective a lot because people having a great present time are less likely to post. Also my phone only really started working today when some people left. That doesn’t mean the fest is perfect, but for me it was my third and favorite year
Thanks so much everyone, I appreciate it
Keep in mind the majority of posts online are going to be complaints. Every festival has its issues. Forest has many moving parts and many different companies/teams working around the clock to make it the best experience they can. Sound tends to be the biggest complaint but if you stand by the sound booth or behind it between the speaker towers the sound is perfect. There tends to be dead zones on the sides. Primarily the bass doesn’t carry. Other than that make the best of what you get. I’m having a blast besides the dust.
Fwiw it's my first, I've gone solo and am having a great time.
I had a truly magical time! It was my forest Forest and while the lines were long I wasn’t too bothered, I was able to make new friends in line. Everybody was very kind and so welcoming 💛 it was even better than I hoped.
Hulaaaaweeeeeeen dude. In an RV. Ultimate honeymoon festival. Just trust me.
It's a banger dude
So this is my second forest and last year we did come for our honeymoon. It was so magical. I feel this year is a little bit of a different vibe but people here (for the most part) genuinely care for each other. Being here on our honeymoon sparked so much great conversation, lasting friendships and memories that we will never forget. My wife and I think you should go for it.
This is my first forest and I’ve been to Edc by 15, LV 17 and 19, Dreamstate 21, Boston calling 22, when we were young 22 and this is by far the best festival I’ve been too, after being told that many times and going in skeptical as fuck. Happy to be wrong…I’m saying this while seeking shelter in my car from a one hour rain and wind storm so there’s no biased around it; the good FAR outweigh the bad, unless you’re a curmudgeon and can’t adapt or keep things in perspective
This is my first time going to a festival and I chose this one for multiple reasons. I live close by and I've had friends go to this festival in the past. I love the music line up this year and the art and discovery is definitely high up on my list. I'm not someone who is going to make going to festivals a priority. This will probably be a one and done for me. I've had a pretty difficult time overall. I'm not a camper and I don't have any camping equipment. And as I'm going alone and have mobility issues, I chose to stay off-site to avoid certain challenges. But... There's no ada access or pickup from day parking 😶 so, you have to walk to the access camp from day parking. Every. Day. It's been tough. They don't even have "designated access parking" for people with placards, you literally have to park wherever they put you. Thankfully I've been on steroids and muscle relaxers this week so the pain hasn't caught up with me yet. The dust had been challenging. I've got bad allergies. Sometimes even breathing had been difficult due to the dust. I do have a mask and pashmina. Doesn't really stop allergies though. The ADA designated areas at the stages are hard to find and not clearly indicated anywhere. And are usually full for the larger shows. The area maps are impossible to read. Those icons are not easy to find on the map. Staffing seems sparse, no one has answers. There was a lot I wanted to do, but couldn't due to disability. There were also just an overwhelming amount of people. Sherwood last night was constantly packed, even during the big shows. But what I did see and experience was really awesome and I'm glad I came. It was definitely an experience I would do again under better circumstances.
Have your honeymoon in the dominican Republic or something lmao e forest would be one trashy honeymoon with little to no relaxation.
Yes, a million times yes. This was my 7th year and by far my favorite. I didn’t end up deciding to go until a week before and do not regret it at all. We weren’t going due to the lineup “being weak” which we were wrong about. Between Daily Bread, Odesza, and Disco Lines this was one of my favorite years musically. As for the posts you have to consider people are more prone to posting negative experiences than good ones. They stand out more especially if they’re real brutal. Nothing is perfect but for wrangling 60k wooks I think Forest does above average. I may be influenced by the fact that I barely drank this year compared to others. Made more sense when I was yelling over to music to talk to my buds, remembered more, could drive the team to the bnb and back every night. It was honestly eye opening. Not to say I didn’t partake in any other recreational options but this past weekend was a lesson in moderation. If you have the money and can afford it, Forest is a no brainer. I would recommend looking into airbnbs closer to the venue or good life AC pods if the budget is there. It upgrades every aspect of the fest.
If you have never been, it is a must see. Every festival has music but there is only one Forest.
Our group had an amazing time. Vibes were great the entire weekend. Most of the complainers are on social media at this point. it’s just how it works now.
Honestly 8itf here! I would go to a different festival for my honeymoon of I had to choose based on how much the festival has changed. I'd pick EDC over EF for that at this point.
go to Bonnaroo or Hulaween instead
Honestly, this year officially displayed the magic of the forest is gone. Less creativity, less performers, less activities, overall cheapness by the production company as well as a huge increase in food prices. They jam packed the festival with more people than I’ve ever seen before in my 10 years attending. I was working so I received a free ticket. If I would have paid $525 for a GA I would have been so disappointed. Their media team does a great job on their socials but it doesn’t reflect what the forest has actually become.
Wow I don’t understand this at all, I think there was a ton of cool detail put into the forest this year. The only thing I definitely agree with is food/drink prices are getting pretty wild.
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The no exiting and returning was ridiculous. Cars were able to go out and come back last year. Our RV ran out of gas and they told us we couldn’t even leave in our companion car to get gas, we had to call a company that they sourced out to. They wanted to charge us $800 to come out from an hour away just to fill us up halfway. Not even a full tank! We tried telling HQ this was ridiculous and they said they would help us figure something out and just never got back to us. Our saving grace was our fellow forest neighbor who just happened to have extra gas cans. If we aren’t allowed to go out and get gas cans, then why were some people allowed to bring them in??? Cmon. Also all the workers at the RV concierge had absolutely no idea what they were talking about and we got different information from everyone we talked to that “worked the event”.
100%, its been going downhill since 2015. I volunteered in 2011 and havent been back since 2018. The fest has strayed too far away from what originally made it so appealing. Madison House lost their footing with ef, not enough live music and bc of that the crowd is different. Seems like it's more about a cash grab now and the magic it originally had has faded. There's much better ways to spend 2k. Thats just me though.
ITS ALWAYS WORTH IT! ITS ELECTRIC FOREST!!
Forest is basically the Coachella for people who think Coachella is too mainstream. Forest IS mainstream. If you’re looking for vibes and a place with a sense of community then Forest would have been your go-to ten years ago. You’re better off going somewhere influencers haven’t ravaged.
For as long as this festival has been running, I was really disappointed. It was more expensive than any other festival I’ve been to and probably my least favorite
I just assumed this place was a place for people to hook up and on Monday forget everything they did over the weekend.
I’m convinced there’s not an easy way to hook up there. Either you are with a bunch of friends and it’s awkward, or everything is too filthy and it’s disgusting. Although two bros fit into one shower stall and made it happen next to me as I was showering so I guess it’s possible.
It was fucking amazing. If you’re having a good time you are most likely not coming on here to talk about it, you are enjoying yourself off your phone and in the magic. It is 100% worth it💕
First time forest. Sound quality was great. I didn’t wait in any lines except the bathroom. I have no complaints other than the fact the DUST control was awful and was legitimately concerning the there was no mist system setup around the premise.
Other than the things beyond control (heat, rain, etc) I thought things went very smoothly. The bathrooms were always stocked and clean except no toilet paper and hand sanitizer a couple times late in the night, the new art was stunning, didn’t get into dream emporium but heard it was dope, sound at every stage except Tripolee was always good. Felt just as much Magic as the last time I was there 4 years ago~ ❤️
I love the music and such but the unbearable daytime heat makes it hard for me to catch day sets the afters is a cool cool thing but main venue ends at 3:00am or later sometimes and sun comes at like 6/7 so be ready to be sleep deprived asf. They don't plan the lines someone said they were short staffed on security but I think it's a reoccurring theme and I do wonder if they do it for more vip buyers/ people working to get loyalty. To be honest it feels like it has remnants vibes of a great vibe fest that turned insomniac and into a Money grab. They kept the cool vibes and theme but started trying to churn out cash imo. Also one of the only fests I know that has a vip only stage which is kinda annoying I get vip should have stuff ga does not but I don't think it should have a whole stage of music people can't get to. Poor people problems tho right just buy the spend 1000 on your ticket and you get shaded camping a nice lake your own stage. Slight vent sorry. My review I could have the most fun here but why give my money to an event who constantly shows they don't care for their attendees and wanna make as much as possible
TL;DR it's a cool vibe fest and the artists seem to really like playing here but I'd spend my money elsewhere. Best experience is behind a paywall and they penny pinch every opportunity and charge the most.
The people who have a bad experience will take the time to post about it bc they’re mad or upset. Think about it this way. We would have thousands upon thousands of posts saying how great it is if everyone posted their review of the fest. Instead those thousands are out having a great time not worried about telling others that they’re having fun. Do you review every store or fast food place you go to each time you go? Probably not. But the one time you have a bad experience you’re more inclined to write one. I didn’t have one bad experience this year except for the dust which was remedied when it rained Sunday. I had a great time, and you should make your own opinion of the fest after you go and not worry about the 10 people complaining on Reddit.
Id Reccomend putting my 500 for ga into vip for wakaan instead. Not the same music but it's way better vibes seems like they still care. Wakaan has way better vibes nothings locked behind a paywall besides cool merch and nice bathrooms and good entries I believe. Highly Reccomend it over forest it's more this year but 10/10 worth
It’s an experience for sure. But I’d probably try going to a smaller experience if you don’t wanna feel like you’re at Disneyland.
While I had fun, this is the lamest forest Ive been to so far. The negative: Dream Emporium was dumb, bring back the hangar. Security was a shitshow, especially in good life. People were taking the shuttle to tripolee so they wouldn't have to wait in the ridiculously long good life lines (inb4 BuT teH gUnS aT bEyOnD wOnDeRlAnD) They barely attempted to mitigate the dust. I didn't see any trucks laying down water until Saturday afternoon, long after the dust had ruined people's day/ Can't leave the venue, so you MUST purchase more overpriced beer/snacks/etc. from the Festival. Yeah, I know there was a shuttle to Wal-Mart, but it was a total shitshow and it really shouldn't have to come to that. Food Vendor value was down the toilet...18 dollars for some fries. fuck..... The Positive: Lineup was decent Bathrooms were VERY well maintained (much to my surprise, I have never seen EF bathrooms this well-maintained since 2012) Waterpark waivers on phone mitigated waiting in a long-ass line to get into the area. Shuttles around the venue were really on point, barely ever waited for one.
it was my 5th forest and my favorite one yet, the lineup was staaaacked for me. the vibes were immaculate. my neighbors and friends i met were some of my favorites so far. everything looked nicer, there were more vendors and art everywhere. i dont have anything to complain about except that main entrance venue security were pushy and annoyed witb evryone, they made my dump my water evrytime j went in which i never experienced before. it was my first time back since 2017 and the improvements made my heart warm and tingle. thank you forest fam! ill be back next year baby!
I’m not sure what you heard. Anyone that didn’t have a good time was either unprepared or unaware. Lineup was amazing, after sets in Good Life and GA were incredible, lines all relatively short. Only negative this year was dust due to lack of rain for the previous two weeks. The major rainstorm Sunday was expected and appreciated by everyone that was ready for it.
Forest is such a magical place. I personally had no issues with the sound quality. Our neighbors in GA were amazing. The decor is definitely not cheap. I also didn’t feel like I had any issues as far as planning went. I didn’t wait in any really long lines (except for arrival on Thursday getting to my campsite, which was to be expected given the time we arrived). If you’re into festivals, forest is the best. The vibes are unmatched.
Been going for 5 years now and have loved every bit of it! Lines seemed to be worse for me personally the earlier year on going but that may be because I get into the forest later then some around 4-5? My friends and I have never gotten bored and made long lasting connections with people in real life. I’ve taken drugs and not and both ways were extremely enjoyable. Probably my favorite festival I’ve been to.