Escape Halloween Returned for a Monstrous Good Time

Escape Halloween brewed wicked haunts and ghoulish frights for attendees at Southern California’s NOS Event Center.

Every October, Southern Californian festivalgoers look forward to dancing their hearts out at Escape Halloween. This year was no different, as Insomniac pulled out all the stops for another spine-chilling edition on October 25-26 at the NOS Event Center. Between the immaculate production, eerie characters, and top-tier acts, the festival offered the perfect escape into an immersive Halloween atmosphere.

After seeing a few of my favorite artists on the lineup and hearing positive remarks from friends who’ve recently attended, I decided to return to Escape Halloween 2024 after a three-year hiatus. Entering the festival each day was a breeze, and there were plenty of sights and sounds to absorb. Whichever dance music genre or spooky side quest you wanted to explore, Escape Halloween offered a plethora of activities for ravers and non-ravers alike to enjoy.

After arriving a bit late to San Bernardino on Friday evening, my friend and I parked in the Purple Lot and headed over to the complimentary shuttles to the festival entrance.

We did have to wait 30 minutes in line for these shuttles, as expected; however, the walk to the venue from this lot would have taken roughly the same amount of time. My advice for future festival-goers would be to arrive as early as possible to avoid lengthy lines and area traffic, as well as securing the best free parking lot from Insomniac.

After quickly entering the festival gates, my friend and I immediately headed to the VIP area at The Grimm to catch deadmau5. Arriving just in time for my all-time favorite track, “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff,” we made our way to the dance floor and met up with other EDM Identity fam. Right off the bat, I noticed how packed VIP was, more so than at other events. My friends and I had to stand near the the back of the VIP viewing area to have plenty of room to dance.

Photo Credit: Jamal Eid for Insomniac Events

VIP was the optimal way to experience Escape Halloween, although it was generally very crowded at The Grimm.

VIP did offer much to take in. From luxurious dedicated bathrooms and food trucks to exclusive commemorative items and complimentary Wi-Fi, attendees got to bask in an immersive, next-level experience. Some of my favorite activities included the Trinket Trade and Kandi Making stations at The Grimm VIP, along with unique photo opportunities. If you were in the mood to get your hair or makeup done, Volta Beauty and barber shops were also on site.

While I did enjoy the many VIP perks, my only complaint is The Grimm VIP being a bit overcrowded. I rarely have to stand in the very back of a VIP section at Insomniac events just to have room to stand comfortably. The vibe was generally overcrowded here; however, I didn’t come across this at the other stages at Escape Halloween. I would advise future attendees to be wary of the crowd at The Grimm VIP. If you do decide to move out of the crowd, though, there are plenty of places to sit and relax.

Photo Credit: Jamal Eid for Insomniac Events

Artists gave it their all for performances at Escape Halloween 2024, with some spooky surprises, too.

Afroki, comprised of Afrojack and Steve Aoki, was a real treat. The duo dropped beloved favorites, like Afrojack’s “Take Over Control,” along with new releases, such as Afroki’s “Everything You Do” with Aviella. I couldn’t stop my feet from dancing as this rapidly became one of my favorite sets of the night. The only thing that would have been the cherry on top is Steve Aoki’s infamous cake-throwing.

Capping off our night with ILLENIUM, I was thrilled to finally catch him again after last seeing him at Electric Forest 2023. As usual, he played a sublime mix of heavy-hitting tracks and dirty drops, along with his signature melodic sound. Many artists got into the Halloween spirit by dressing up in costume. I caught OMNOM as a hotdog and Two Friends as chefs, among other spirited looks.

On day two, my squad and I opted to explore the venue more and take in the entirety of Escape Halloween’s footprint.

Arriving much earlier on Saturday and parking in the Blue Lot, we ventured on a short walk to the venue and entered with ease. Mary Droppinz’ UKG set at Feeding Grounds blew me away, standing out as my favorite performance I’ve seen from her. She played all the right tunes during this special set to keep the party going, and fans quickly filled the space.

Chippy Nonstop and Clara Cuvé at Wicked Woods guided us perfectly into the evening with entrancing techno beats. With my favorite genre ringing in my head, I then opted to explore Escape Halloween’s activations, making a trek through HI-CHEW’s The Chew Chamber, pop-ups by End Overdose, Casa Bacardí, Ghost, and more for exclusive freebies and event experiences.

Photo Credit: Keiki-Lani Knudsen for Insomniac Events

The Danse Macabre stage was a new addition this year, hosted by Veop Group and Aftertraxx.

I enjoyed exploring the blacklit atmosphere of the Danse Macabre area, along with making my way through Crazy Town and the Psycho Circus. From seeing a magic show or fire-bending performance to running into frightful characters along the way, there was a surprise around every corner at Escape Halloween.

After witnessing a high-intensity set from Maddix, my friends and I ended our night with notes of bass with Adventure Club at Sewer District and progressive-fueled tracks by Meduza at Feeding Grounds. Martin Garrix brought us home at The Grimm, and I was over the moon when he played my favorite releases, “Virus (How About Now)” with MOTi and “Lions in the Wild” with Third Party.

Overall, despite large crowds, Escape Halloween delivered on otherworldly production, ghastly haunts, and enough invigorating beats to keep any dance music-enthusiast entertained.

I’m glad I decided to make my return to Escape Halloween this year. Witnessing how it’s evolved over the years, from the Psycho Circus during my first year in 2017 to now, I can see why the event is such a massive draw for Southern Californians. It’s a Halloween lover’s playground, plus some of the best acts in dance music consistently take the stage.

Escape Halloween only looks to continue to grow in popularity. In turn, Insomniac will continue to adapt and make adjustments for stage and crowd flow. Even through the massive number of people, I did experience PLUR vibes throughout both evenings. I had a fun time galavanting around Escape Halloween during my grand return, and surely, I’ll be back in the future.

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