Inside the 2025 Electric Forest Festival, a Surreal Celebration of Fantasy and Found Family

by Michael Ryan · Published June 26, 2025

Each June, the quiet town of Rothbury, Michigan transforms into the psychedelic wonderland of Electric Forest, where electronic music, surrealist art and human connection collide. And in 2025, the event once again reminded its 50,000-strong "Forest Fam" why it remains one of North America’s most unique and beloved festivals.

Nestled in the lush, towering trees of Sherwood Forest, this year’s edition delivered on the festival's promise of sensory overload, jaw-dropping performances and serendipitous discovery. While headliners like Justice, Sara Landry, Tiesto, Zeds Dead and Of The Trees drew massive crowds, the soul of Electric Forest has always lived beyond the big stages.

This year was no different. Though the lineup spanned nearly every corner of the EDM spectrum—dubstep, techno, house, drum & bass and more—it was the spaces between the stages that continue to define the Forest experience.

The Dream Emporium made a triumphant return, featuring a surrealist blend of carnival chaos and artistic immersion. Attendees wandered through labyrinthine rooms where a mock pro wrestling match and a live roller derby set the scene for an unannounced Boogie T performance, one of many spontaneous surprises that kept even veteran Forest-goers on their toes.

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Elsewhere, climbable art towers gave fans a literal new perspective while a fully functioning library offered a quiet sanctuary amid the madness. The forest was alive at every turn, pulsing with possibilities, whether you were exploring a hidden pathway or catching a renegade set on Main Street.

Electric Forest’s long-standing tradition of surprise sets reached a peak on Saturday night. When the official schedule dropped, fans were stunned to see an unannounced Levity b2b ??? b2b ??? set tucked into the lineup. Speculation ran wild, and the payoff was electric: Crankdat and Tape B joined Levity for one of the most thrilling and unexpected sets of the weekend.

The moment was particularly poignant for longtime fans who are aware that Levity, the EDM.com Class of 2024 trio, first rose to prominence after a surprise performance at Electric Forest's Honeycomb stage two years ago. This year's b2b felt like a full-circle moment.

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Ranch Arena, Tripolee, Sherwood Court, Honeycomb and The Observatory continued to deliver breathtaking sets and production. But part of the magic of Electric Forest lies in its commitment to decentralizing the experience.

Smaller stages like the Grand Artique and the Chapel hosted some of the weekend’s most intimate and offbeat performances. And in true Forest fashion, music could be found virtually anywhere, including DJ sets at pop-up vendors and food stalls.

Following last year’s weather-related disruptions—and the complete cancellation of Bonnaroo 2025 just days before—there was a quiet anxiety hanging in the air as fans rolled into Rothbury. But aside from a lightning storm that cut Friday night slightly short, the weather was a non-factor, allowing the full magic of the weekend to unfold.

*Electric Forest 2025.*
Alive Coverage/Electric Forest

More than just a music festival, Electric Forest is a living, breathing manifestation of community. The guiding principles of Peace, Love, Unity and Respect aren’t just slogans here, but invisible forces holding it all together.

You feel it in the way strangers become family. In the spontaneous high-fives and shouts of "CARL!" on forest paths. In the art installations built not just to be viewed, but to be experienced together. It’s an energy that can’t be faked or replicated.

In a festival landscape saturated with cookie-cutter lineups and high-end production, Electric Forest continues to set itself apart because of how it makes you feel. If you're looking to marry a love for electronic music with a deeper sense of community, the forest is calling. And once you answer, it never quite lets go.