The long-awaited return of Sun Soaked proved to be worth the wait, offering pristine ocean-side vibes and an invigorating lineup, with Kaskade at the helm.
After a seven-year hiatus, Kaskade’s Sun Soaked beach party finally returned to Southern California on September 6 for an epic day-into-night summer soirée. Taking place directly on Huntington State Beach and co-hosted with Insomniac, Kaskade delivered a jam-packed house-infused lineup and vibrant atmosphere set among a backdrop of glistening waves, shimmering sand, and sultry sun rays.
After attending the very first Sun Soaked in 2017 in Long Beach, I was elated to see the event returning in full force. I remembered the sublime vibes of listening to the man himself play a three-hour set, while dancing with my toes in the sand. I also recall the debut being plagued with issues, like lengthy lines to get into the venue and bars running out of drinks. I was curious to see how this revamped edition would play out, so I gathered my friends and made the drive up from San Diego to Huntington Beach.
Getting into the event was a breeze, a noticeable difference from my first Sun Soaked experience in 2017.
Parking was available in nearby lots or garages, but my friends and I opted to leave our car in a neighborhood up the street from Huntington State Beach. A quick ten-minute walk to the venue, entry was seamless, a vast difference from my experience in 2017, when at one point, tickets weren’t even being scanned, and everyone was being let in to alleviate the lines. I appreciated this improvement.
Once inside, my friends and I made the trek to the far side of the venue to the VIP area. Walking in the sand required extra effort with each step, and at times, I found it easier to take off my sandals and move forward barefoot. I would treat Sun Soaked like any other beach hangout, and note that sand will get all over your belongings.
The VIP area was an optimal way to view the stage without dealing with the crowds of GA.
While the area could have had more shade, my group secured a spot under the front corner of the only shade structure. VIP wasn’t too packed when we arrived at 4pm; however, it did become more dense later into the evening. Regardless, our spot offered a better view of the stage compared to being in the back of GA as the crowds filled out. Plus, the sound quality was better; if you were toward the back of GA, it was a bit quiet.
One problem that arose again this year was the bar lines.
In GA or VIP, after 5:30pm, lines to grab drinks were upwards of 30 minutes or more. After waiting this long, one bar was out of the seltzers I wanted, so I opted for a cocktail instead. Many attendees doubled up on drinks as well, securing multiple at a time to avoid waiting again later.
On the optimistic side, bathrooms were kept relatively clean. I visited the GA bathrooms around 6:30pm shortly after Kaskade came on and was surprised at how well-kept they were. Food options were plentiful as well; though I did not partake, I noticed vendors ranging from sandwiches, burgers, and tacos to chicken tenders, lumpia, and more.
The lineup struck a perfect balance between industry mavens and fresh acts, building momentum from afternoon into night as the sun dipped below the Pacific Ocean.
We arrived in time to catch the last half of Walker & Royce’s performance, setting the bar high for house-forward beats. Malaa and MEDUZA guided us toward sunset, with festivalgoers quickly packing the venue to get a taste of their infectious tracks. For a brief moment in Malaa’s set, Kaskade also surprised the crowd, hopping on stage to go back-to-back with the masked artist. Regarding a few artists we didn’t arrive in time to see, I heard Anabel Englund brought a unique set showcasing her own vocals, and MPH turned up the heat with a hefty serving of UK garage.
Kaskade took over the decks minutes after 6pm, playing an almost two-hour set to satisfy fans’ cravings.
Rinsing classics like “Atmosphere,” “Look Into My Eyes,” “Fire In Your New Shoes,” and “On Your Mind,” along with modern favorites like “Birds of Paradise” and “Escape” with deadmau5 as Kx5, the performance was ideal for Kaskade lovers of all ages. Not to mention the closing run of “I Remember” into “On My Mind” into “Something Something Champs” to cap it all off.
A rhythm flowed throughout the sea of beachgoers as the crowd only expanded, with few people leaving during his set. I came away impressed, satisfied to hear a lot of the top-tier songs I danced along to at my first Sun Soaked, mixed with high-energy anthems released over the past several years. After Kaskade hopped off, SIDEPIECE kept the tempo high to close out Sun Soaked 2025, ending our ocean-side extravaganza with a bang.
The return of Sun Soaked to Southern California lived up to the nostalgia of its debut while stepping into a new era for the event.
Aside from the long wait times for drinks, I encountered very few hiccups during this year’s edition. Service was spotty, as expected with an event on the beach, but I was still able to connect with friends and set meeting points beforehand. Once the show concluded, multiple exits around the venue opened up, providing easy access back to the streets or even the ocean if you preferred to take a dip.
Everyone I chatted with was friendly, with some having been to previous editions of Sun Soaked across North America and remarking on the general success of this one. Reminiscing on my first Sun Soaked in 2017, I was stoked to see it return in full force. If this year is any indication, fans won’t have to wait another seven years for the next edition. Perhaps Insomniac and Kaskade will continue to partner on this reignited summer staple, and if so, I would plan on attending once again.
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