PREPARE FOR FOREST

Outside of your Festival Wristband and valid ID, you will need a place to sleep, some food and drink, clothes for each day, and your best energy.

Veteran Forest Family recommends a few more items to ensure you have a good time! Things like a hydration pack or other bag, earplugs, a flashlight (NOT your phone flashlight), hand sanitizer, battery packs, and phone chargers. Check out the in-depth guides and community discussions online for complete essentials lists!

It’s recommended that camping supplies are set up and tested before you head to Forest, to make sure everything is in working order. Getting an idea of your camp setup will also help make your on-site experience as smooth as possible.

At minimum, your campsite should have shelter that protects from rain and sun (ex: a pop-up canopy) and stakes for if it gets windy. Having additional space for hanging out during the day is also something to prioritize, as many choose to wait until later in the afternoon to enter the venue. Most tents will get hot by mid-morning regardless of the amount of protection used, so having a space outside of your tent to hang out is highly recommended.

Creating a hangout area at camp gives you the space to wind down and recharge. Folding chairs, a table or two, and some lights are a good baseline for making sure you’re comfortable. Many people get creative with their hangout spaces to provide ultimate comfort.

The Electric Forest Subreddit has multiple resources for inspiration for your camp. Remember - everything you set up must come down!

Keeping yourself and your crew fueled throughout the weekend is extremely important to having a good time at Electric Forest. It’s a vacation, so be sure to indulge in some treats, but keep in mind that you’ll be raving, dancing, frolicking, and moving for hours each day – your body needs the right balance of energy to do that. Make sure to nourish your body, plan your meals, and drink plenty of water as this can heavily impact your overall experience.

Camp meals can be creative, tasty, easy, and give you the energy you need. Examples of large batch and easy meals that fuel the body are pasta salad, walking tacos, and protein shakes. Remember to have the supplies needed for meals such as camp stoves, environmentally friendly dish soap, and utensils.

While there are many vendor food options inside the venue and out in the campgrounds, being prepared for all situations is also key. Keep your camp ready with some shelf-stable options like freeze dried meals, energy-heavy snacks like trail mix, and whole fresh fruit as weather can be unpredictable, causing vendors to temporarily shut down. Having snacks at camp in case of those types of scenarios will help keep your body fueled.

A note on alcoholic beverages:

Just like everywhere else in Michigan, you must be 21 to consume alcohol. Bring a valid ID for your 21+ wristband to purchase alcohol on site. Each attendee 21 years or older is able to bring 1 case of beer/seltzer/similar OR 1 case of boxed wine. If alcohol isn’t cased in those ways, it should be considered a similar and “reasonable” amount. Remember, absolutely no glass, or it will be taken. Similarly, alcohol in the venue is priced like regular venue pricing. If you’re balling on a budget, prepare in advance!

Sherwood Forest is a place of magic and fun, but sometimes Mother Gaia reminds us that we are here at Her pleasure. Be prepared for a wide range of temperatures - from mid-50s at night to 90+ full sun days. Precipitation is expected at least once every year so having something to keep you dry like a rain jacket or poncho will always be useful. It’s encouraged to pack extra clothing items to change into for when clothes get wet in order to stay warm, like wool socks.

Many veteran Forest Family tend to plan for two outfits a day. Something light for the morning and day, then a costume change around sundown for the more extravagant evenings. Lean into your creative side, and bring the fun ‘fits you haven’t made work anywhere else. Daytime is for necessity, nighttime is for fashion!

The energy inside Sherwood Forest comes directly from the hearts of its attendees. Whether you’re into whimsical costumes or juggling the impossible, expressing yourself is the most important way to be a part of Electric Forest. Bring your flow toys, costumes, and anything you think might delight you and your fellow Forest Family!

Many crews also bring totems as a way to navigate the large crowds and find one another from afar. A totem is your chance to really show off something fun about your squad! Groups will bring all manner of lights, sculptures, and artwork to carry around 6 feet in the air. If bringing a totem, be mindful of the people around you and how it may be impacting the stage view!

The venue is large and the terrain is varied; your feet will thank you for increasing your physical activity in the weeks leading up to the event. Prepare to get your steps in, and for things to get dusty! Bring some type of face covering and saline nasal rinses to protect your lungs from dust on common walking paths. Electric Forest does dust prevention, but it can only go so far as temperatures rise throughout the day. Make sure to come prepared!

If you need reasonable accommodations on site, reach out to the ADA team before the festival by email at access@electricforestfestival.com and visit the Accessibility page for more information.

Any dietary restriction information will be listed on vendor food and drink signs. Additionally, Forest Family that require specific foods for dietary restrictions are permitted to bring them into the venue with a doctor’s note and approval through Electric Forest’s ADA program. Contact access@electricforestfestival.com for more information.

How you prepare for Electric Forest can very much impact your experience. Below are some things to consider prior to arriving to make sure you have the smoothest, most enjoyable time you can!

Make sure to tell a friend or family member where you are heading and when you will be back as phone service can be sparse. The closest mid-size city is an hour away, so ensuring someone is aware of your plan is important so they can make sure you’re safe.

Know where you are staying and pack accordingly.

While packing, make sure everything fits in your vehicle with the windows unobstructed. Luggage bags and trailer hitches are allowed if you need more space (Note: an RV pass is required for vehicles 16ft+, including vehicles with trailer hitches)

Make sure all routine maintenance is completed on your vehicle, including checking tire conditions and oil levels. This should be done weeks in advance to ensure any necessary work is able to be completed prior to departure. You never know what might pop up! There are towing services available on site at a cost. Please note: all towing and emergency vehicle needs must go through the towing company contracted through Electric Forest.

Be prepared to adjust to Michigan traffic laws.

Laws vary from state to state, so it’s important to know what’s expected before leaving.

Use safe driving practices.

This includes maintaining a safe speed, staying hands-free and off your phone, passing in the left lane, and keeping a safe following distance. To prevent any other potential road blocks on your trip, avoid decorating your vehicles until nearing the festival, including group markings for entering the campgrounds.

Open your vehicle doors all the way and introduce yourself to your neighbors! They will be your closest eyes and ears for your vibes and belongings. You never know, you might also expand your Forest Family and make new lifelong friends!

It’s recommended to set up camp as soon as you arrive, as the fun and excitement of being at Electric Forest can take you away from building camp. Prioritize setting up sleeping spaces over hangout spaces to guarantee a spot to lay your head.

The terrain can vary, so have some patience with how your campsite turns out, as you may have to adjust your layout. Remember, you can only control so much. Take note of campsite opportunities to help evolve your camp to make your Electric Forest experience even better year over year!

Put on your wristband right before you arrive and follow the signage and directions given by the festival, not the GPS. The Know Before You Go information that HQ sends has the most accurate and up-to-date information on arrival times, directions, and procedures. Be sure to keep this handy, download the official Electric Forest App, and turn on notifications from HQ to stay in the know.

If you’re lost, ask for help! There are staff throughout your journey into the campgrounds who will help direct you if needed.

If you are picking up your wristbands at the box office (Will Call), pull off to the side before security and bring your ID and order information.

If you are in a group to camp together, tell security and the parking attendants, put a unique identifier on your vehicle (ex., ribbon, balloon, animal), and stay together in line. After security, you will be directed to your camping spot and parked accordingly. Remember - vehicles are parked at random in the campgrounds, regardless of arrival time.

Group Camping passes are the only way for large groups of 20 or more to camp together.

At the beginning of the weekend, it’s recommended to familiarize yourself with the venue during the daytime to help navigate it at night. Use landmarks as directional guides as Sherwood Forest transforms after sunset.

It can be challenging to navigate if you’re unfamiliar, but doing these things and asking for help will get you where you want to go. A few important landmarks to familiarize yourself within the venue are water refill stations, medical tents, and exits.

Make sure you have the official app downloaded, with notifications enabled, so you can get timely updates from HQ about weather conditions, set times, and more.

Don’t forget to double-check the prohibited items list and only take what you can carry.

In-venue lockers will be available for purchase to store any items you can’t carry and can be purchased as single-day rentals or weekend rentals.

Determine when you’re looking to depart in advance to create a game plan for packing, cleaning your campsite, and getting on the road.

The time of departure can impact how long it takes to leave the campgrounds, making it important to plan ahead. It’s recommended to plan to leave earlier than your desired departure time, as there can be bottlenecks leaving the campground.

Remember - all campsites are also packing up and going home, and that can heavily impact departure plans. Looking at the departure map in the Electric Forest App is recommended to help leave with ease.

To make departure even smoother, pack up as much as you can before heading into the venue for your last adventure, with necessities for the next day in mind.

Any damaged equipment and garbage should be placed in the dumpsters, and gently used, unwanted camping gear should be donated to the Camp Gear Donation Program at the designated donation location at your Neighborhood Pod.

The Electricology team distributes bags throughout the campgrounds to help keep your campsite clean – take advantage and do your part.

Take care of the campgrounds and Leave No Trace!

Treat this experience as preparing for a marathon, not a sprint.

Each day is going to bring high stimulation and activity. Ensure you can sustain yourself with essential body needs, including food, water, and staying cool. Make your campsite your own little “oasis” and take breaks when you need to, both physically and mentally. Accept that you cannot see everything in a weekend and take some time to rest. You know yourself more than anyone, and if needed, prepare your mental toolkit as well as a physical first aid kit.

Speak with a health professional beforehand if you don’t know where to start.

Electric Forest the event, and Sherwood Forest the place, are built on a communal set of values, rooted in mutual trust and shared experiences. To support that, it is imperative that all attendees display respect for one another, their environment, and themselves while attending the event.

Being a good Forest Family member is not about the quantity you party, but about the quality of the time you experience while at Electric Forest. Being a respectful attendee is about understanding boundaries and limits, where the fantasy ends and reality begins, and navigating a natural environment that needs careful nurturing to continue providing positive memories for many years to come. Treat everything you see around you, including and especially yourself, with respect and it will be returned tenfold.

Don’t forget PLURR - Peace, Love, Unity, Respect, and Responsibility.

The Forest community welcomes diversity and inclusion and intentionally celebrates minority voices. For all of us to have a good time, safety has to come first, and it starts by respecting consent and caring for others.

Consent is clear, ongoing communication, and mutual respect for one another. This is expected of everyone—from attendees, staff, performers, volunteers, and vendors, and can be applied in multiple types of scenarios. Determining your needs and communicating them will help create the environment you’re seeking.

Regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, origin, age, or ability, intolerance or bigotry has no place here. If you see someone looking uncomfortable or a situation that can cause trouble, report it to security or staff first.

This includes unwanted physical contact, verbal comments, hate speech, stalking, intimidation, catcalling, and unwanted sexual attention. Being an active bystander is necessary for everyone's safety and maintaining a positive vibe and culture. For example, say “excuse me” while moving in a crowd, do not take a person's photo without asking, and ask before dancing with someone.

If it’s called to evacuate the venue, make sure to utilize the emergency exits through appropriate signage, quickly and safely. Keep all fire lanes accessible and know where the closest information booth is.

Follow guidance from Electric Forest HQ and watch for updates in the app as the most reliable information will come from them. If you’re unsure of where to go, ask for help. Your safety is a priority!

Any safety concerns, whether it impacts you or others, can be escalated to staff and security for resolution.

Any concerns regarding the handling of safety concerns can be escalated to HQ info@electricforestfestival.com

Electric Forest provides a number of resources for Forest Family in need of assistance while at the event. From Ground Control to Michigan State Police, there are several groups of people looking out for your well-being during the event.

Any urgent medical situations should be directed towards the nearest staff member or to the Medical Tent, located in Neighborhood Campground Pods as well as numerous locations inside the venue and indicated on the map.

For some situations, all that’s needed is a quick helping hand to get someone back into a better place. Ground Control, a volunteer group supported by Insomniac, travels the campgrounds assisting where they can. Reached quickest via texting FOREST to 69050, Ground Control can stop by and be a shoulder to lean on in a time of need, regardless of the situation.

Further issues can be raised with any Security team member or other staff in the public areas of the grounds. Their teams will get you in touch with anyone else within HQ as required.