From killer stage designs to zombies running rampant, the third edition of Apocalypse Zombieland was one of the best ones yet.
After gorging on holiday delights and spending time with loved ones, ravers couldn’t be more excited to let loose and battle zombies at Apocalypse Zombieland this year. Dubbed the community’s unofficial “bass-giving,” this festival has quickly become a fan favorite among Southern California bass connoisseurs. Returning to the Queen Mary Waterfront on November 28-29, Insomniac pulled out all the stops for this final November edition, with the event returning next June for Summer of the Living Dead.
It’s been a treat to see this festival grow year after year as production increases and more ravers catch on to the hype. Whether you’re a die-hard dubstep devotee, riddim enthusiast, experimental bass lover, or drum and bass beast, there are sounds for ravers from all spectrums of the scene to converge upon. If you’re new to the community as well, you’ll surely be welcomed with open arms and kandi trades.
With countless things to admire about the festival this year, we’re highlighting some of our favorites below. Keep on reading for five things we loved about Apocalypse Zombieland 2025.
Five Things We Loved About Apocalypse Zombieland 2025
The Production
Insomniac really outdid themselves with production at Apocalypse this year, giving bassheads some of the best stages they’ve seen throughout its three editions. The main stage, Apocalypse Arena, was the most noticeable upgrade this year. Featuring a massive zombie head with its mouth wide open and eyes that constantly scanned the crowd, ravers’ consensus was that this was the best main stage yet. From a slew of lasers at Necropolis District to high-octane bass at Zombieland Citadel or Quarantine Zone, no detail was missed when crafting this year’s edition of the festival.
The Music
2025 saw one of the best lineups for Apocalypse Zombieland. Main stage closers ILLENIUM and Excision were the talk of the weekend, each bringing in their own iconic visuals, massive drops, and new releases for attendees to bask in. I loved the duality of seeing everyone hugging and holding each other close during ILLENIUM’s melodic songs one night and then witnessing utter chaos and headbanging circles the following night during EXCISION.
Other standout acts included Getter, Zomboy, Wooli, and Ganja White Night at Apocalypse Arena, with Wooli treating the crowd to a plethora of bass-fueled remixes, ranging from Hardwell’s “Spaceman” to Calvin Harris’ remix of Florence + The Machine’s “Spectrum (Say My Name)”. I also enjoyed swinging by Zombieland Citadel to catch Ravenscoon for the first time, an unexpected favorite full of gritty wubs.
The Zombies
It wouldn’t be Apocalypse Zombieland without the zombies, and this year, they were out in full force. From the festival entrance to the middle of VIP and even on stage, the horde was always on the move. Ravers absolutely loved headbanging with the zombies, offering them brains, taking selfies with them, and attempting to converse. I got a kick out of watching their mannerisms and seeing all the different groups of zombies, from construction workers to doctors, a biker gang, and others. The zombies really are the core of this festival, and I was elated to see more of them this year, finally.
The VIP Areas
If you take one thing away from this article, know that VIP is worth the elevated experience at Apocalypse Zombieland. Whenever I was in VIP at any stage, I would glance over to GA and see how packed it was, especially during peak sets. In VIP, there was always so much more room to dance and headbang, and the ravers here were just as cordial and sweet as the general crowd. I was easily able to get to the front of VIP and remain there for the top sets of each night.
At the main stage, you’ll also find offerings such as the VIP Concierge with many freebies, a hair and makeup booth, air-conditioned restrooms, photo ops, a coffee cart, phone charging stations, a viewing deck, and exclusive food vendors. The VIP area at Zombieland Citadel also offered a kandi-making station and an area to take a breather from the rest of the festival.
Giving Back to Others During the Insomniac Toy Drive
Returning this year was the Insomniac Toy Drive, a place where ravers could drop off toys worth $20 or more in exchange for one drink ticket each day. I had been looking for ways to give back this holiday season and thought this was a prime opportunity to embody PLUR. Pasquale Rotella shared that thousands of toys were donated, making a massive difference to those in need. I had no idea how this initiative would turn out, but it warmed my heart to see our bass-loving community showing up in this way.
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