The reminder alarm was set for 10am.  I purchased two general admission 3 day passes for the country’s largest music festival a year in advance without knowing who would be performing, how I would get there, or where I would stay. 

The Electric Daisy Carnival music festival drew my attention for its reputation of being the largest festival in the country with music, visual arts, and colorful experiences that are said to be unworldly without comparison to any other event hosted within the US.  I was familiar with the general style of EDC and figured that the highly attended event would be an experience worth sharing.  

With a year to gear up for the 3 day frenzy, I had enough time to read through google questions, reddit forums, and converse with people who had attended to have a general understanding of what I was going to experience, so of course, I started planning and preparing.  

My first step was to gather all the items I decided I needed in order to best manage the 3 days of sleep deprivation, exhausted muscles, and over stimulation.  I collected a wide variety of clothing that branched out from full mesh bodysuits to lululemon biker shorts, watched videos, and read through every email that Insomniac sent so I felt educated enough to attend safely.  Although nothing can fully prepare you for EDC until you actually go for yourself, my first lesson learned was planning ahead saves you from many moments of stress that can be avoided, giving you more time and opportunity for a positive experience.

1. plan ahead

Planning ahead allowed me to have options for the festival that would have impacted my comfort and happiness if I had not learned about EDC beforehand.  I treaded lightly by not looking at too many images because I wanted to be surprised, but reviewing the festivals’ site map and listening to new artists after rosters were released greatly added to my experience and connection to the space and performers.  

We finally reached the day to leave and drive down to Las Vegas.  We always prefer to drive if possible because it allows us the freedom to shift our plans based on our needs. Living a lifestyle of balance, LEOLUNA teaches us to listen to our minds and bodies for best treatment.  After five hours of driving, I treated my body with rest, therefore we stopped mid way for a quick hotel stay for sleep and showers.  

We departed early the next morning and arrived in Las Vegas by the early afternoon.  Our hotel stay was at the Hilton Elara for 3 nights and 4 days.  It is behind Planet Hollywood and walking distance to most restaurants, shops, and sights as it is positioned mid strip.  We stay there every time we visit Las Vegas and I strongly suggest, as a traveler, to connect with a hotel program of any kind that best suits your travel needs.  As soon as I purchased EDC passes (a year in advance) I made hotel reservations.  

Fully settled in our amazing 1 bedroom hotel room with a view of the strip, we expected to leave for the first day of the festival around 9pm.  The Electric Daisy Carnival is a night time function that runs from 7pm to the early morning of the next day.  Closing ceremonies coordinate with the sunrise and festival goers have no in and out privileges.  We set the goal that we would make it to sunrise and skimmed through the timeline of performers listed on Insomniac’s app. 

Dressed to fit the scene, we provided our vehicle ticket to valet and headed north towards the Las Vegas Motor Speedway with google maps stating we would arrive in 43 minutes.  We expected traffic and accepted that parking was going to require patience, but after hitting the 2 hour mark and still sitting in our car, our excitement dwindled.  

2.  drop all expectations

I second guessed my commitment and thought about turning around and trying the next night.  All the cars around us sitting at a dead stop were filled with rhinestoned eyes and glittered braids swaying side to side with the beats blaring from the windows.  My eyes were burning with fatigue my yawns became more frequent, but as we crawled closer I dropped expectations and accepted the present moment.  

Parking and exiting the car eventually came and walking the long route to the festival gates ensued.  Our spirits returned to levels of eagerness, our feet skipped a bit, and we joined the hundreds of hearts wanting the same feeling of happiness, elation, and freedom.  

Helicopters hovered above our heads, returning from a roundtrip sightseeing experience that was offered to anyone with a wristband that would like to fly around the entire raceway and view the festival from above.  The wind and vibrations infused us with energy in an unexpected way and I felt my own body light up for EDC.

3. enjoy the energy

Walking in with a hefty crowd, I expected there to be moments of congestion and lack of personal space, but nothing prepares you for the amount of people, music, and activities simultaneously interacting within the 3 days of EDC.  It is a level of energy I have never experienced before and the best way to handle the stimulation is to release expectations and enjoy the energy.  

By the 2nd night, we had a grasp of stages’ layout and designated routes which gave confidence and safety to fully enjoy the energy of the festival.  People from all over the world join together in a space of love to release, relive, and revel in the seismic beats of music that flows through our bodies and connect us within the same sound waves.  It is a truly unifying space that reminds us that we are all here to create, build, and share.  

4. memorialize the moments

Dropping expectations that we were going to make it to sunrise released us from the anticipation of disappointing ourselves if we didn’t meet expectations, so by the 3rd night, we were truly free to experience each set with mindfulness and present moment attitude.  If we wanted to leave a stage and meander through the crown, we did.  If we wanted to station our tired bodies on the grass for rest, we did.  Our intentions were to enjoy the space organically and bond through the music.  

I intentionally live a present life and reflect on experiences after they have culminated into memories, but a lesson that I have learned from EDC is that memories deserve to be captured.  As much as I want to be fully aware of my current state, I also want to share and save these moments of unique experience.  Find your balance in mind and body with capturing a story through a screen.  

5. follow LEOLUNA’s must haves

With all of the lessons learned, I experienced the festival at a high level because I followed my own advice and had the must haves to survive and thrive at any festival.  I was prepared with items that were true life savers, giving me the opportunity to have comfort, safety, and knowledge in a space that was new and exciting.  

As humans, we grow from new discoveries, learnings, and moments that feed our internal desires for connection and experience.  Thank you for letting me be a part of your new adventures and share my story with you.

Love, Leah