A Halloween Haven: How Escape Halloween Is Elevating the Festival Experience

For two nights out of the 12 months, the grounds of the NOS Events Center come alive as a part of probably the most immersive Halloween digital music pageant arguably anyplace. Produced by Insomniac Events, Escape Halloween utterly envelops attendees with all issues creepy alongside head-spinning bangers from a few of the greatest names within the sport.

The pageant, which has referred to as the San Bernardino venue house for over a decade, has morphed and developed all through the years. Having began as an Alice In Wonderland-themed rave as Escape from Wonderland, the occasion is now a full-fledged pageant coupling eletro beats with a number of haunting settings.

The Grimm.

Jamal Eid for Insomniac Events

Working with an expanded footprint, the positioning now provides 5 phases together with two extremely themed areas and detailed strolling paths that create a singular sense of place. From the larger-than-life skeletons flanking the Boulevard of Bones to the intricate fire-laden set items inside Crazy Town, Escape Halloween seems like Insomniac’s spooky reply to Disneyland.

Crazy Town clowns.

Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac Events

And in the event you assume Insomniac’s lavish designs ended there, you would be lifeless fallacious. Things bought much more extravagant for these fortunate sufficient to don VIP wristbands, notably on the essential VIP space adjoining The Grimm stage.

It was right here the place a ghostly girl perched atop her balcony would welcome friends into her area. From Dia de Los Muertos curios to Haunted Mansion-themed bars, all the expanse may simply rival Disney or Universal with its meticulous theming.

Stealing the scene have been the myriad of costumed performers discovered all through the venue. Whether they be fortune tellers, pyro dancers, skeletal stilt-walkers, blackjack sellers, creepy clowns or deranged butchers, these characters gave life to the pageant, permitting for a story to be advised round every nook of the occasion area.

Dia de los Muertos stiltwalkers.

Scott Hutchinson for Insomniac Events

Of course, it would not be an Insomniac pageant and not using a stellar lineup of artists guiding the symphonic journey. Over the course of its two-day run, practically all the genres that make up the digital spectrum have been represented between the 5 distinct phases.

At the Feeding Grounds, the bass was heavy because the Bassrush-hosted stage took over Friday evening. Zomboy, ATLiens, HEKLER and SVDDEN DEATH have been a few of the artists melting faces and inflicting heads to bang. Come Saturday, sounds shifted on the arachnid compound as Three 6 Mafia, William Black, MALAA and Rezz carried out to various crowds.

SVDDEN DEATH.

Jake West for Insomniac Events

The sounds of the underground seeped from the manholes and enraptured partygoers on the Sewer District stage. Surrounded by big containers on all sides, the Factory93 Experience gifted us to 2 days of techno and home music. Lilly Palmer, Jamie Jones, Hot Since 82, Green Velvet, Patrick Topping, Loco Dice, Charles D, and Reinier Zonneveld have been a few of the names that graced the stage all through the weekender.

Hot Since 82.

Ivan Meneses for Insomniac Events

As the most recent addition to the Escape footprint, Wicked Woods was the one indoor stage and took full benefit of its surroundings. In this scary backwoods setting, a big selection of performances might be discovered. From a drum and bass set by Nitepunk to a throwback set from okay?d, the enclosed area was a beehive of exercise each days of the occasion.

Meanwhile, on the hard-to-miss Saintarium, two distinct soundscapes encircled the air. Hardstyle dominated Friday evening, with acts like Ben Nicky, LNY TNZ, Lady Faith, Darren Styles, Code Black,and DJ Isaac b2b SayMyName. The BPM dropped drastically by Saturday, when the rhythmic sounds of home music have been introduced by the likes of Max Styler, Wade, MK and Matroda b2b San Pancho.

The grimacing skeleton identified merely as The Grimm is the place nearly all of the motion was to be discovered. It was right here the place hundreds of revelers gathered to bop alongside to the beats unleashed by a few of EDM’s titans. Above & Beyond, Zedd, Kaskade, Afrojack, Armin van Buuren, DJ Snake, SLANDER and Tchami have been among the many many heavyweights that created monster-sized crowds on the principle stage.

Above & Beyond.

Jamal Eid for Insomniac Events

As an digital dance music pageant, Escape Halloween delivers with its multi-genre method dispersed all through its 5 distinct phases. However, it’s in its immersive theming the place Escape leaves the realm of pageant and enters a world of sinister storytelling.

The atmospheric characters, the freakshow discovered contained in the Psycho Circus, the gargoyle fountain, the jack-o-lanterns and scarecrows lining the Haunted Hay Row, and the creepy image frames lining the VIP lounge all assist elevate Escape right into a bonafide Halloween haven.