Nocturnal Wonderland returned to Glen Helen Regional Park for its 30-year celebration, offering plenty of amazing sets and a vibrant community.
There have been few constants in the festival scene over the past few decades, but Nocturnal Wonderland is one of them. First hosted in 1995, this Insomniac experience was the first brainchild of Pasquale Rotella, and one he clearly holds dear to his heart three decades later. The festival’s long-standing legacy is a testament to the impact that Insomniac has made on the scene in Southern California while also helping represent its ever-changing nature.
During its impressive 30-year run, Nocturnal Wonderland has undergone multiple transformations, ranging from its venue and overall size to its shift away from Alice in Wonderland-themed elements and more. Yet at its core is a community that continues to return time after time.
That community was hit hard last year when Nocturnal Wonderland was postponed due to wildfires that ravaged much of the Inland Empire. This year, it would rise once again like a phoenix from the ashes, prompting me to make my first trip back to the festival since I last attended in 2018.
Nocturnal Wonderland, not to mention the scene as a whole, was in a different place when I last set foot on the grounds at Glen Helen Regional Park. That year was a transitional period for the festival as it was finding its footing thematically. Seven years later, it’s safe to say that it’s been completely dialed in, offering a fully immersive experience with a touch of intimacy for those who crave it.
Nocturnal Wonderland is unlike the other flagships that Insomniac offers.
Sure, there is camping at EDC Las Vegas and Beyond Wonderland at The Gorge, but neither really offers that “one with nature” feeling. The closest would be Electric Forest, but that festival is on a larger scale. Others, like Escape or Dreamstate SoCal, are far more urban, utilizing warehouses or backed by cityscapes. Nocturnal Wonderland bucks those trends, offering a quick trip away from reality and a breath of fresh air for those seeking something unique.
Those who camped at this year’s edition were treated to a Friday night pre-party, access to the on-site waterpark, and other amenities. Yet the biggest bonus was the ability to walk right into the festival, avoiding the lengthy journey from the adjacent parking lots that was grueling during the heat of the day. I chose the comfort of a hotel this time around, and while I don’t regret it, my legs certainly did.
Once inside the grounds, you could tell that care was put into the layout and production to deliver the immersive nature that Insomniac has championed over the years. The glitz and glamor of other experiences wasn’t there; instead, there were perfectly placed accents, gorgeous views, and surprises tucked away for you to find.
Food, bars, and vendors were all easily accessible, and movement between the stages never felt problematic. Of course, you did have a trek up that hill if you wanted to catch sets at Dawn Mountain, but a little workout at the rave never hurt, right?
One of the bigger changes this year was with the stages, which featured a new addition that I came to love.
Insomniac expanded ever so slightly by adding a fourth proper stage, and fifth overall, while renaming them all to better fit the vibe of the festival. The main stage, Mystic Wild, boomed with beats all day and night, with crowds that swelled. Dawn Mountain would become the home for anyone looking for some bass delivered straight to their face courtesy of Bassrush, while Aurora Plains was a destination for all shufflers, with its house and techno-fueled lineup.
TheBeatBox Boombox Art Car featured legendary artists and those representing the future, making for a proper fifth stage, although possibly a tad too close to the heavy bass at Dawn Mountain. Finally, the newest stage, Rave Cave, was the one tucked away, offering a taste of the underground while boasting its own solid list of artists performing there. I found myself circling back to that stage often, as the sound was dialed in perfectly for the drum and bass sets I caught there, and the crowd’s vibes were fantastic.
Sonically, Nocturnal Wonderland was the perfect place for me as a house and drum and bass lover.
Those two genres were at the core of the festival’s early years in the ‘90s, so to see them both have strong representation was great. That doesn’t mean that there weren’t other sounds, as you could catch dubstep artists throw down heavy sets or get a dose of more experimental beats.
The first day was filled with some incredible sets. Metrik and Grafix’s back-to-back kicked off my experience, and honestly, I only wish it had been later on that evening. Ky William, Archie Hamilton, and LF System also threw down some wicked tunes, getting the crowd moving right along with them.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting a taste of Dr. Apollo’s wicked drum and bass set before heading to Axwell and Eric Prydz to close out my night. Those two brought a different level of flair to the festival, with Axwell delivering his signature euphoric tunes while Eric Prydz, propped up on a stool due to a leg injury, dominated with his progressive house style.
The second day proved to bring just as much of a punch along with it. Standout sets included those from [IVY], DJ Susan b2b Kaleena Zanders, Wilkinson, Level Up, Skanka, AIRGLO, Seven Lions, and Zedd, who capped off the weekend in style with his iconic tunes.
I was also glad to be at the Mystic Wild stage prior to the headlining set each night to catch the surprise from Insomniac.
Insomniac curated a fantastic intermezzo which told Nocturnal’s story, complete with footage from past years and a soundtrack that brought the past and present together. It was a proper celebration for the 30th anniversary of the festival that stirred up nostalgia and reinforced its culture-driven nature through its messaging.
Speaking of the culture-driven nature of Nocturnal, let’s take a closer look at the crowd and overall vibe.
Although there were certainly younger ravers who were attending one of their first festivals at Nocturnal this year, the demographic felt older overall. At one point, I even questioned if it was an 18+ festival, needing to double-check to make sure I hadn’t missed that it was 21+. Why? Because I was blown away by how welcoming and chill most everyone seemed to be.
It was a stark difference compared to other experiences I’ve had in the scene over the past few years at Insomniac’s festivals. Of course, there were people who were there to party, and some perhaps snippy during the heat of the day, but there was an overwhelming sense of community at the festival that I embraced with open arms.
Pasquale Rotella also made it clear that he was part of that community. While there were times he’d be checking out sets while on stage, I often saw him milling about the venue in GA or VIP areas, taking pictures with attendees and chatting with them. His camp was also open for the public to check out, giving those who found it a place to dance the night away once the dust settled from the main festival grounds.
The legacy of Nocturnal Wonderland runs in tandem with Insomniac’s, and hopefully, that will continue for decades to come.
Experiences like Nocturnal Wonderland are important for the scene. This festival is a perfect place for newer ravers to start their journey and one where older heads can reconnect with each other. It’s also a place where creativity can flourish and artists can showcase sounds that will keep you grounded well after their sets have ended.
A three-decade run is an impressive feat, considering the ever-changing tides of the festival scene. While I might not be back every year to catch all the action, I can rest assured knowing that even more memories will be made in the future by myself and others at Nocturnal Wonderland.
