What is the Electric Daisy Carnival?
It’s the party your parents warned you about in high school. Produced by Insomniac Events, the festival has dominated the EDM scene since its 1997 Los Angeles debut. Ravers have moved on from the baggy pants and frosted tips of the ‘90s, and the festival has moved on to PLUR-ier pastures. Now bigger and better than ever, EDC calls Las Vegas home. It’s true that the event gets a bad rep for drawing in unruly crowds of intoxicated frat boys, but Insomniac’s founder, Pasquale Rotella, truly throws one of the best parties in the world. Whether you’ve already purchased your ticket or are thinking about scalping one on Craigslist (do it), we’ve got all the 2015 EDC information you need right here:
Enjoy Wiggle Room
GA or VIP? That is the question. In terms of price, you’re talking $349 vs $699. That’s no small potatoes—is the $350 difference really worth it? At this year’s event, VIPs will receive access to a private viewing area near the cosmicMEADOW stage, as well as special viewing decks at kineticFIELD and circuitGROUNDS. Sure, you’ll be away from the majority of the sweaty heathens, but you’ll still be surrounded by richer, (slightly less) sweaty heathens. On top of secluded spaces to get your groove on, VIPs can take advantage of Wi-Fi hotspots, phone charging stations, photo booths, free makeup touch ups, and ball pits. Yes, ball pits. If you have the cash, it’s worth it to splurge. However, you’ll be up close and personal with a bunch of balls instead of the musical acts.
Prepare for Anything
You’ll probably be wearing just a tutu and sequined bra, or a speedo and top hat—the severe lack of pockets means you need to bring along a small backpack for necessities. Be ready for anything and everything. Temperatures rise in the Nevada desert during the day, so you’ll want to tote around some sunscreen. The evenings will be significantly colder at the Speedway, so bring along a light jacket (your yia-yia was right, you should always carry a cardigan). Also be sure to pull out plenty of cash before entering the festival grounds (or prepare to be slapped with staggering ATM fees), and bring along an empty reusable water bottle to stay hydrated during the event. For a full list of things you can and can’t bring into EDC, check out Insomniac’s guidelines here.
Ride or Die
Even if you drove to Sin City, ditch your set of wheels and don’t even think about hailing a cab. Taxis are normally a great option in Vegas, but wait times and prices for taxis are astronomical during EDC weekend. The festival-operated shuttle is the best way to get in and out of Wonderland. A three-day transportation pass will run you $90, but offers nine convenient pick up locations throughout the Strip. Once you board the crazy train, you can expect to see pumped up ravers dancing in garish light-up outfits, and chagrined bus drivers wondering where their lives went wrong.
Drop the Bass
Rolling into its fourth year in Las Vegas, the festival continues to attract the biggest names in EDM. This should come as no surprise, considering that the Electric Daisy Carnival is the Woodstock of our generation (yeah, I said it). Yes, it’s not as rockin’ and people have swapped out their substances of choice, but it brings together thousands of people from all over the globe to bond over one thing—music. Some names you might recognize on this year’s lineup include Calvin Harris, Kaskade, Tiesto, Afrojack, and Armin van Buuren. Those who are in Sin City looking to check out the up and comers should flock to sets by Flume, 3LAU, and Chris Liebing.
Marry Mayhem
What happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay in Vegas. Tie the knot with your favorite kandi kid this year and make the nuptials an affair to remember. Offering full-on legal marriage ceremonies, commitment ceremonies, and vow renewals, you and your snuggle bunny can be married by Elvis or a traditional minister. Just don’t forget to secure a marriage license beforehand if you want to make it legit, which will run you $199. Once you seal the deal with a kiss under the electric sky, you can dance the night away with 134,000 of your closest friends!
Attend the festival with your best friends, take tons of pictures, and be open to trying new things. The Electric Daisy Carnival will certainly lead you down the rabbit hole, so get comfortable with the idea of strange situations (Vegas is weird on its own, throw a bunch of ravers into the mix and you’re in for the perfect sequined storm).
Header Image Attribution: Flickr/Creative Commons/Tony Nungaray/Via/https://flic.kr/p/aBtdbw
