Something to Write Home About
Camp EDC
It’s been years now since I first heard of the spectacle of EDC, and ever since then it has held a place high on my bucket list of festivals. There is something about this one though, that had always made me err on the side of caution before attempting to tackle this enormous challenge. “Vegas scares me” and “I’m not ready for that” people said. People that had been to plenty of festivals and raves before. According to EDMTunes.com, EDC drew in a crowd of 525k people to Las Vegas, making it the most populated music festival in the world. Certainly not something to brush off when considering if this is the right festival for you. The festival itself is held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, about 20-30 minutes from the strip, and produced fifteen stages with over two hundred different acts across the three-day weekend. Initially, I set my mind on taking on this venture alone, but as fate would have it, I made a friend over the last summer who was looking to fill an RV for event. I said yes, and before we knew it, the weekend was just around the corner.
There was a buzz of anticipation in the air leading up to this one. Maybe it was the three week break I took between Coachella and EDC, or maybe it was the fact that this would be my first “new to me” festival this year. Whatever it was, the tension was palpable. The group chat was formed, the outfits were planned, and all that was left to do was pack. Easy enough, right? Wrong. Somehow I had the brilliant idea of sending not only EDC, but also Lightning in a Bottle. IYKYK. These two are scheduled b2b weekends every year. Taking this on wouldn’t be anything to laugh at. I decided that instead of riding in the RV with my group, I’d load my EDC necessities in the RV, and pack all of my camping gear for LIB in the car and drive separate. Once everything was packed, I ran around about four more times to make sure I had everything I needed, each time adding more unnecessary stuff to the load. When I was finally satisfied, I took a deep breath… “I guess this is it” I thought, knowing that whatever happened over the next two weeks, I’d be coming back a different person. I met with the crew at the rendezvous point and off we went.
By the time we got to Vegas we only had a few hours to kill before it was time to get in line for the venue. We parked at a gas station nearby, slept in the RV until daybreak, and began our trek across the desert to the Mecca of dance music. We could see them testing the lights off in the distance, every inch covered felt like the climb up a rollercoaster before the first drop. A fitting parallel for the weekend ahead. It wasn’t long before we were set up at camp. We found a spot for our RV, plugged into shore power, set up our tapestries, and made ourselves at home. 5th Street and E, a five-minute walk to the mesa, if that. Day 0 was here. Now that everyone was finally awake, we got to know each other a bit more. The crew consisted of six. Alexis & Spencer (rave mom & dad), Louie (our rave baby), and then Laura, Hunter, and myself. A perfect band of misfits. Some of us broke away, eager to explore the mesa, while others chose to catch up on rest before the long weekend ahead. I had files to format and devices to charge before adventuring out, so I did that and settled in for a nap.
“YO!!” The door swung open; a stranger standing at the top of the stairs to the RV. “Oh shoot, this ain’t my RV haha my bad!” It was one of our neighbors. Unfortunately they had rented from the same company and parked in the spot next to us, so this would happen at least three more times throughout the weekend. Oh well. Time to get up. I grabbed my gear and headed out. It was time for Hunter and I to explore the Mesa and catch up with the others. For those who don’t know, the Mesa is the central camping hub at Camp EDC, where you can find food and beverage, vendors, music, and a whole slew of fun activities. You can just vibe out and hang in a hammock, partake in arts & crafts, sit in on some yoga & meditation, catch a comedy show, or stick around for the surprise dj sets. They even had two pools this year. Campers at EDC (or any festival really) live for Day 0. It’s where you can jump start the weekend, make early connections, and have an extra day to really disconnect from reality and get into that festival mentality. Every festival has its own bubble. A series of quirks and niche qualities that make them unique, and EDC definitely had an identity of its own.
It was early afternoon when we first set foot on the Mesa, and there was so much to take in, it was hard to know where to start. We gravitated toward the merch tent to scope out what was available this year, and picked up a few gifts for the homies. Just around the corner was this spectacular art install called Unity. A clear-cut line to the U in PLUR, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. It wouldn’t be until nightfall that we would be able to take in all of it’s beauty, as its inner light shined through the metallic overtone with shimmering LEDs like stars in the night sky. Hunter and I went back to the RV to reset for the night. The rest of the crew was headed out to the city for family dinner before the weekend swept us all away. I stayed behind to meet up with Kristina and her friends. Part of me wishes that I went, but the rest of day proved to be worth it.
I crossed 5th Street to where Kristina and her crew parked their RV, knocked, and there they were. The girls were still getting ready, but this is where I met Ani (or Annie?), Joe, Taylor, and the rest of their gang. Once everyone finished looking cute we had to sidequest over to Ani’s camp so she could get changed too. Everyone’s gotta look picture perfect for the first night and all that. It was a hike. We trekked through the Mesa, and to the farthest corner of the campgrounds to where she parked her U-HAUL and set up camp. She busts out her keys, unlocks truck, and throws the garage door open. The inside was completely converted to a wook safe haven, complete with tapestries, food & water, and an air mattress. What the hell. I knew EDC would have plenty of surprises in store for me, but this was not on my bingo card. She shut the door on us as she transformed from gremlin into cat girl, somehow losing her keys in the process. About five minutes of very entertaining scrambling ensued, and a small crowd of neighbors stopped by to watch the cat girl stress out in the back of her U-Haul before we decided to help and eventually found the keys. She locked up shop and we were off. Back to the comfort of the Mesa!
The heat would’ve been unbearable if we weren’t coming from Arizona by comparison. We plopped down on the turf in the first bit of shade and misters we found, and cooled off for a moment, but not before having a small photoshoot for the fam. Vogue.
It was the perfect day, and there was so much to take in. The pools were full, people rode around on bikes, others were juggling a ball, and the group next to us made a pretty impressive pile of twisted teas. Once we caught our breath, we migrated to the vendor stalls to do some window shopping. From there we split off again. Some of the crew returned to the RV, but not me… I had work to do. It was golden hour. I fired off some shots as people struck a pose in front of the Camp EDC fountain, connected with people, and I couldn’t help but be reminded that this was what it’s all about.
Night fell quickly, but not into darkness. Quite the opposite actually. As the sky dimmed, the campsite sprung to life with an otherworldly effervescence. Not only did the venue illuminate with brilliant color, but the people did as well. Everyone was eager to show off their gear, whether it was an LED panel backpack, or light strips in their hair. Totems quickly followed, and with them the crowd of the first night. Like moths to a flame, campers flooded the Mesa and made a beeline to the main stage. Mochakk was kicking things off and the vibes were vibing. Everything I said about people taking it easy before the long weekend? Out the window. We were here to enjoy ourselves, and we’d be damned if we didn’t soak up every last minute of it.
I found a nest up on the pool deck where I had a decent vantage point of both the crowd and the stage. I put on my custom kintsugi oni mask (@xKandilandx) and clocked in. The energy was high, and it wasn’t long before I found myself in the pit, dancing with the rest of you.
Suddenly, the set was over, and the sun was rising… The weekend was off to a great start. On the way home I noticed that the showers were open 24/7 and there was no line. That was a first. “I bet there’s hot water right now too…” I thought. One last sidequest to end the night. As I freshened up, I couldn’t help but wonder what more the raceway had in store. If the campsite was this much fun, I could only imagine what awaited inside. I hurried home, charged my devices, accidentally stepped on Hunter’s head as I climbed into my bunk and was out like a light. It was a long, beautiful day. Good morning EDC.
