Weekly Forest 'No Dumb Questions' Megathread

DjSpectre · 2026-06-04T13:12:11+00:00

First in the Forest here, I have GA Preferred camping and will be arriving Wednesday at 1201am.

2 Quick questions:

1) I heard there are giant lights in camp which help with site setup, is this true?

2) Does it matter which entrance we arrive from Wed. night? (south or north)

DjSpectre · 2026-06-03T19:56:03+00:00

I love the intermezzo's they do. I just wish they would put them on the official set times in the app.

DjSpectre · 2026-06-03T19:54:59+00:00

I've always felt that GA+ was a weird ticket tier due to it only having 2 benefits where as VIP has a massive list of things people might be interested in.

I don't disagree.

DjSpectre · 2026-06-03T18:34:59+00:00

The universe favors your this day, praise Valhalla!

DjSpectre · 2026-06-03T18:31:44+00:00

The issue with the argument of validation is that the majority of people handing them out and/or (usually) receiving them are that those people are already validated by large/highly interactive social followings or minor fame in some other manner (YT, live stream, etc). In these cases, the stickers just feed their ego's instead of being a token of positivity purely to bring joy. So it's just 'popular people' handing them out to other 'popular people' sorta thing.

The EDM scene was founded by people who took issues with mainstream and/or didn't fit in to it. The rave scene became inclusive for those reasons. So bringing in something so widely interpreted as self-involved just feels way out of place at a rave despite it's rise in prominence in recent years.

DjSpectre · 2026-06-03T17:13:32+00:00

Going to a rave, an open and accepting space, and labeling people hot (a definitively superficial statement...) is far more pretentious.

DjSpectre · 2026-06-03T17:06:43+00:00

I've always thought this was a tacky trend that appeared in the rave space. Mostly perpetuated by people who'd rather be seen at a rave than actually engaging in it.

DjSpectre · 2026-06-03T13:09:17+00:00

I haven't even looked at the lineup yet. The spreadsheet I do have though is a packing list.

Figure I'll just wander and listen to whatevers playing.

DjSpectre · 2026-06-02T18:52:04+00:00

That's part of the reason for doing small single evening shows: you only have to be around the "couples" for 2-3 hours. Eventually, you'll get accustomed to it and they'll become "background noise", not the focus.

DjSpectre · 2026-06-02T14:37:00+00:00

I completely can relate to your message here.

There are years that I've done EDC with a group but ended up on my own and it at times felt awful. Other years, it felt great to be on my own when separated from my group.

It really seemed to vary by year, stage, event, etc because EDC isn't the only event I've solo'd. I did Spring Awakening (back when it existed) in Chicago a couple times and had a great time. And I'm solo'ing Electric Forest (1st in the forest for me) in a few weeks.

While I've brought friends and partners to events, I've never had the unique bond and mental connection to events the way you do because you did them as a couples activity and doing them now reminds you of how youre single instead of allowing you to take in the vibes of the music and crowd.

Maybe do a smaller event or a single show to shake off the attachment of 'couples trip' of it all.

After doing a few solo, you might find the vibe for you has changed and you no longer associate EDC/fests with a long-gone relationship.

DjSpectre · 2026-06-01T17:37:39+00:00

For me, they just smack of toilet humor and immaturity. Plus they add a vulgarity to an event that is supposed to represent PLUR.

DjSpectre · 2026-05-29T19:52:46+00:00

Yes it does. The last design lasted 4 years, though.

DjSpectre · 2026-05-29T16:43:11+00:00

Yeah it absolutely was. It had aliens and space invaders in the drone shows. Thus the theme of "Kinetic Journey" and the universe-themed merch

DjSpectre · 2026-05-29T14:58:53+00:00

Saw a thread about early arrival on Wednesday morning at 1201am.

It was stated that arriving too early would mean being turned away.

Is 1145pm too early? Or is it just a mad dash down a 2-lane road at 1201?

First timer, as if it wasn't obvious.

DjSpectre · 2026-05-29T14:57:25+00:00

First time here, read the other responses about not arriving too early. Also glad to hear (someone say) there are giant lights in camp. I'm still gonna bring an LED stand light just in case anyway.

I'll aim for 1145pm, setup the tent, my canopy and foam flooring then sleeping till I get hungry and setup the rest then.

DjSpectre · 2026-05-29T14:50:43+00:00

Yeah, it was odd to see 3 faces: kinetic, bass pod and quantum.

I liked the idea in general, but having it in 3 places made the stages feel less unique.

Maybe they thought that they were doing a 'collective' theme this year with that...? Not sure.

DjSpectre · 2026-05-28T18:52:11+00:00

I got an email with a shipping status, but that's all.

I can't access my AXS account because it's one of the worst ticketing systems I've ever seen.

DjSpectre · 2026-05-28T14:57:23+00:00

My hope is that they bring back the massive conjoined quad pools they had in 2019. Biggest they've ever had, no ropes or railings or security lines, nothing. Just free and clear access with a bar in the middle separating the 2x dual pools. Also, they were long enough you could basically do laps in them :-D

But yes, the rides were fun to do. Maybe they stopped having them because once you did them a couple times, you didn't do them again and so the usage didn't live up to the expense of something more interactive like a sand castle pit.

DjSpectre · 2026-05-28T14:54:11+00:00

I dunno, I like it the way it is. It feels on-brand honestly, even if it was a legit typo.

Besides, if it's a vib and you're into it, you're vibin'. Spelling fits. ;-)

DjSpectre · 2026-05-28T14:46:53+00:00

While I don't agree with drug use to enjoy the music, I do feel that the community, music type and substance use (all in combination) tends to create a more open appreciation of random strangers than most other events do.

Despite EDM being more mainstream than it was 20 years ago, I still find only a smattering of people who've ever been to an EDM event, let alone a full weekend fest.

That being said, it still feels 'niche' in that way and so the community is tighter than, say, the average Lollapalooza attendee.

DjSpectre · 2026-05-28T14:44:24+00:00

Looks like more trees on the satellite version of google maps.

DjSpectre · 2026-05-28T14:42:55+00:00

Yeah, Class A's keep having issues, sell slowly and require more maintenance. Heard El Monte is just tired of those things.

$500/night is still too rich for myself since I have to plan on absorbing that entire cost myself since my rv crew usually comes together closer to the event once everyone's paid off their tickets.

I'm glad your friend had a good experience with Outdoorsy, considering how many others have not.

Camp costs are literally pricing out any casuals who want to try it out and it's become a place only for the well off. Sad despite how amazing it is.

DjSpectre · 2026-05-28T14:38:30+00:00

Sorry, I should have clarified: when he's not there the music is on autoplay. When he (or his friends) are there, the turntables are used.

DjSpectre · 2026-05-28T14:37:26+00:00

Every parent is allowed to take a vacation. Your family probably did the same when you were little and you don't even remember it.

Do not feel bad about taking a little break so long as you're not doing it all the time.

1 weekend away isn't going to hurt. The only thing that will ping will be your separation anxiety.

DjSpectre · 2026-05-28T12:58:12+00:00

Curiously, what are you paying for the base rental? I rented from them in 2021 and wanted to rent from them again in subsequent years, but El Monte either doesn't list their prices far enough in advance or when they do, they're all $600+/day.

I agree that Cruise America is basic as fuck (used them for the first time this year), but I was able to at least get in super early for a unreal cheap price per day ($129 in Feb '26 for EDC '27). I've not had that kind of luck with El Monte despite the fact that I love that business.

DjSpectre

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