Showcation’s Evolution Into a Full-Fleged Festival

From its start as a gathering of friends, Showcation has blossomed into one of the most buzzed-about experiences in the Northeast.

If you’re a raver living in the Northeast and active on Instagram, you’ve likely received targeted advertisements for Showcation. After seeing the festival’s lineup pop up while amid my daily doom-scrolling, I was shocked to see such a well-rounded lineup of artists playing a festival I had never heard of before. I immediately went to Google to learn more about what looked like one of spring’s best events.

New to the scene, Showcation is prepping for its second year of welcoming campers to its eccentric summer camp for adults. After debuting at Darlington, MD‘s Camp Ramblewood in 2024, the festival has ramped things up by bringing in top-notch talent to play their new main stage, adding theme camps, and providing camp teams with designated counselors for the ultimate camp experience. But before morphing into one of the year’s most anticipated events, Showcation was simply a retreat for friends.

COVID – The Catalyst of Great Ideas

Festival-goers went stir-crazy without the splendiferous events we frequent each year, and the Showcation team was one and the same. After months of quarantining, it felt like we had all lost the sense of community and deep connection that comes with attending events with like-minded individuals.

In late 2020, the group of friends started putting together week-long getaways, fulfilling the craving for collective effervescence in a COVID-safe environment. As the number of attendees continued to rise with each gathering, they pivoted to one-night extravaganzas, focusing on creating an intimate festival-like experience. Throwing them under the moniker Pretty Good Show, the New York-based event company produced unique events across the world.

After numerous smaller-scale pop-ups, it was clear that if the ambitious group of friends wanted to grow this into something larger, they’d need to garner some experience. Finding opportunities at Burning Man, Lightning in a Bottle, and Love Burn, the crew amassed critical experience, as well as found new and valuable contributors to help bring their idea to life.

Photo Credit: Showcation

Showcation – Summer Camp Reimagined

In February 2024, the Pretty Good Show and Showcation team took to Instagram to announce their inventive festival, which would bring the amusement of summer camp to adults. Showcation’s inaugural year at Camp Ramblewood would welcome adventure-seekers of the East Coast to a getaway packed with live music, camp games, pool parties, and more.

Located near New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and DC, the festival’s location and creative theming lured crowds looking to connect with people and see a diverse lineup of artists. The festival would go on to be a smashing success, with attendees and DJs alike raving about their weekend.

As Showcation prepares to deliver its second year of jam-packed programming, the event has quickly evolved into one of the most talked-about events on the East Coast. With last year’s lineup focusing heavily on local names, this year’s brings large talents, including Feed Me and Justin Martin, to the lakefront main stage.

Photo Credit: Sayzar C

While music is one reason festival-goers are drawn to the event, there’s a large focus on activities that break the mold of a typical festival.

“We wanted to create a multi-day event where music wasn’t the sole focus, but one of many ways to connect and have fun,” said James Corcoran, Camp Director of Showcation. Bringing in a robust lineup of comedians and interactive experiences and facilitating a large-scale camp Olympics, Showcation has curated the ultimate three-day escape from reality.

What began as a bold idea sparked between friends has snowballed into a standout festival on the East Coast. Focusing on nostalgia and community building, in just one year, Showcation has evolved from a creative concept to a beloved tradition for those seeking carefree fun and connection. If its trajectory so far is any indication of the future, Showcation is just getting started.

Showcation 2025 is almost sold out! Grab final tier tickets and secure your spot for the zaniest weekend of the year.