A Love Letter to Elements Festival

From fireworks spectacles to endless adventures, Elements Festival has stolen the hearts of many after its stupendous 2025 edition.

Elements Music & Arts Festival has continuously been a hot topic of discussion in the rave community. Whether recounting the outrageous weather events that have placed pressure on the festival or its massive lineups that rival the largest dance music events, the East Coast festival has gained the attention of ravers far and wide.

As the 2025 edition approached, social media was abuzz as weather reports rolled in. What appeared to be in the cards was a stunning weekend filled with mild temperatures and glorious sunshine. Was this going to be the year that Elements Festival finally got the ultimate redemption?

I tried not to get my hopes up. After all, it’s called Elements for a reason. So I packed my rain gear, anticipating that Mother Nature would serve up another storm. Much to my surprise, I was met with the perfect storm—clear skies, a radiant full moon, and a weekend filled with endless joy and connection with the diverse crowd that makes up the Elements community.

Photo Credit: Chris Lavaro

Elements Festival is a place where even your wildest dreams can come true.

Upon entering the grounds at Pocono Raceway on Thursday, I was instantly hit with the feeling of sheer excitement that permeated the air. As a previous attendee for two years, I could tell that something about the festival felt different. While most ravers had yet to arrive, the energy was undeniable, and everything felt possible when fantasizing about what could transpire throughout the weekend.

As many festival attendees did, I dreamed up ways my Elements experience couldn’t be topped. For some, it was meeting their favorite artist, while Nick T from Delaware had the outlandish idea of a Pretty Lights renegade set. In the wee hours of Saturday morning, after wandering the Vibe Villages, he stumbled upon a post from Renegade NYC with a whale symbol aptly displayed on the set times. While the general public wouldn’t necessarily know what the symbol meant, the diehard fan knew he was in for the treat of a lifetime. Running back to his RV to grab his girlfriend, the two danced under the moonlight for a moment that would be one for the ages.

While I didn’t receive the coveted Crankity B set I had clamoured for, the universe provided, delivering a sensational affair that could only happen at Elements. From skydivers at sunset to a gleaming shooting star overhead during Liquid Stranger‘s set, the weekend was packed with pinch-me moments that I’ll carry with me forever.

Photo Credit: Chris Lavado

Elements Festival’s community remains the heartbeat of the festival, breathing life into the weekend’s pulse.

Beyond the high-caliber production and stupendous lineups, Elements has the best festival community I’ve experienced throughout my 10+ years of attending festivals. Each member of the festival’s community serves a purpose and contributes to the overall event atmosphere in their unique way.

For many East Coast festival-goers, Elements has become a much-anticipated haven each summer. Mike D from Delaware has found his new home after losing his local festival, Firefly. Every afternoon, the festival veteran took to his grill to feed dozens, handing out food to those in need of a meal. In the evenings, he served as security for 420 R. Ave, making sure all after-hours attendees could enjoy the festivities in a safe environment.

Driving in from Polk Township, PA, Claudio S and his son set up their camp with the intention of sharing their love of astronomy with the campers. Knowing there would be a full moon, they opened up their campsite for daytime viewings of the sun and a nighttime star party. A continuous stream of guests visited them throughout the weekend, getting a rare opportunity to view the sky through high-quality telescopes.

Strictly Grooves Only and the 0Ft Away community delivered a variety of activities to the Vibe Villages this year. The self-funded, free programming consisted of workout and mobility classes, wellness shots, a Kandi station, and a silent disco for roughly 200 attendees, which hosted Reaper and Crumb Pit in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Photo Credit: Anna Downs

The weekend was a testament that PLURR is alive and well.

Among the EDM community, there has been an immense amount of discourse lately surrounding whether PLURR is still alive. Even headliner Sara Landry has joined in on the conversation. After this weekend, I can confidently say that the Elements family embodies the raver code of conduct.

Elements Festival attendees sought peace together as they gathered each morning to meditate beneath the vibrant tentacles of the Water Stage. Love radiated from festival families and newfound friends as they embraced one another during Illenium‘s electrifying performance. We united as one in the crowd for Chase & Status as we screamed the lyrics to “BACKBONE” and in the mosh pits for DJ Diesel‘s fiery set.

Respect came in the form of hugs between strangers, pep talks for those in need, and saying excuse me when walking through the crowd. Helping those in need, whether by identifying someone who needed medical attention or by offering water, showed that ravers took their responsibility of protecting their fellow festival-goers seriously.

There was love and profound happiness in each bass drop and smile that occurred. Through thoughtful trinkets and handmade kandi, the community created new bonds and strengthened existing ones.

Photo Credit: Julian Bajsel

While there’s so much to be said about the community, it’s impossible to overlook the work the Elements Festival team has poured into the festival.

After each festival, there’s always a stream of positive comments, along with criticisms and suggestions for future years. Following last year’s edition, Elements received hundreds of perspectives on how to improve the festival. Throughout the year, the festival’s organizers communicated with its fans about its plans to implement dozens of changes. The result was a smoother festival experience than ever before.

It was clear from the moment I arrived at the box office that the Elements team took the critiques to heart. The box office pickup was a lot less painful, and entry to the campgrounds was seamless this year. Once inside the campgrounds, it was evident they featured more lighting and signage than in years prior, making it easier and safer for campers to find their way throughout the footprint.

One of the most prominent changes was the new location for the Water Stage, which alleviated all bottlenecks and overcrowding from the previous year. Upgrades were made throughout the festival with expanded art and experiences within the forest, and VIP was leveled up with more space, massages, and additional amenities.

It’s safe to say Elements is listening to the feedback they receive. Not only were they transparent about their shortcomings, but they also communicated with their patrons and took action to bring forth a refined event for 2025.

Photo Credit: Chris Lavado

Elements Festival is just as much about the music and stages as it is about the people who fill its grounds.

It seemed like magic was in the air at Elements this year. Whether it was the powerful energy of the full moon or the joy of the festival goers that made it feel so special, it was a sight to behold. Throughout the weekend, people raved about the synchronicities that took place. It felt like everything aligned and brought us together for a reason.

In a time where everything feels so heavy, the release that came from letting loose in a crowd of thousands of unmet friends felt so freeing. For many of us, Elements Festival is the escape from reality we desperately needed. It was a time to shut out the noise of society and surround ourselves with friendly faces, doing the one thing we love most—dancing.

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