Electric Forest is more than just your average music festival. Here are six side quests that will enhance your overall Forest experience.
Each year, music fanatics flock to Rothbury, Michigan to soak in the magic that is Electric Forest. Solidifying itself as a bucket list music festival, Electric Forest transforms the sprawling grounds of Sherwood Forest into a spectacle of world-class music and art. This year’s edition, taking place June 20-23, boasts a stacked lineup of artists spanning multiple genres including Pretty Lights, Ludacris, John Summit, Nelly Furtado, Dom Dolla, Seven Lions, Excision, Charlotte de Witte, and The String Cheese Incident.
Related: Looking for some of our top acts to catch from the undercard? Check out our post!
Although the lineup is a huge draw for new attendees, Electric Forest veterans find themselves returning year after year for the adventures that await within the forest. With so much to explore, the options can feel overwhelming, so we’ve wrapped up a list of six side quests to look forward to during the festival weekend.
Become A Riddle Master By Completing a Forest Scavenger Hunt
Electric Forest is famous for their intricate scavenger hunts throughout the festival grounds. Take a step away from the music and decode the riddles to win a secret prize. To start on your quest, locate the Time Travel Agency for instructions.
Get curious and interact with Forest characters to reach the end and receive your coveted reward. In years past, prizes have been anything from exclusive pins to secret sets.
Dance Until Sunrise at the Afters
Notorious for having insane secret sets, Electric Forest is one festival where you don’t want to skip out on the afters. Once the festival grounds close for the day, head back to camp to get comfy then hop over to one of the numerous renegades in RV camping.
With sets from Tape B, Dirt Monkey, Dr. Fresch, and the birth of Subjohnics (Subtronics and John Summit) last year, you never know who will make an appearance! Be sure to keep an eye on social media throughout the weekend for announcements of where your favorite acts will be popping up.
Enjoy Delectable Grub with Upgraded Food Experiences
Festival food is always a highlight, but Electric Forest has taken it a step further and delivered a handful of immersive food experiences for the Forest foodies. Enjoy a delicious BBQ on Main Street or start your day with a lively drag brunch. Looking for something a little more elevated? Book the Forest Feast for a four-course meal prepared by notable chefs on Thursday evening.
Those with Good Life wristbands can enjoy additional offerings including a wine and cheese tasting and an exclusive Good Life brunch.
To add on an immersive food experience, visit the Electric Forest website.
Learn Something New at The Brainery
For those looking to expand their minds during their festival experience, The Brainery offers an array of programming including panels and workshops led by the Forest community. 2023’s schedule included courses on mental health, intention setting, and neurodiversity.
Early risers could partake in guided meditations and sound baths to calm the mind after a long day of music. For the night owls, The Brainey’s daily programming ended with a black light body paint party and a show-and-tell spectacular.
Explore the Depths of the Dream Emporium
Introduced in 2023 to replace The Hangar, the Dream Emporium is where zany ideas come to life as festival-goers transport themselves to a colorful world of nonsense. The interactive art experience is filled with numerous rooms complete with interactive actors that help bring the dream world to life.
Last year’s debut featured a human carwash, a live wrestling match, and a secret room for those who became a “certified dreamer.”
Get Lost In Sherwood Forest
While the lineup is the main draw for many, the wonders that await in Sherwood Forest will mesmerize all who wander through its magical universe. Search for hidden fairy doors to find trinkets from other festival-goers then try your luck at the infamous Frick Frack Black Jack.
Witness a wedding at the Psychadelic Chapel then get your groove on at the silent disco. From secret lounges to interactive performers and the Ocular Organ, there are so many unique experiences to be had.
