Splash House took over Palm Springs this August for two weekends of poolside sets at the Renaissance, Saguaro, and Riviera hotels, with the Air Museum hosting After Hours each night. I’ve been to plenty of festivals where logistics and hype don’t match, but at this pool festival, things felt smooth from start to finish.
Compared to bigger festivals like EDC, Splash House 2025 felt more personal, and I could actually see artists in the crowd or around the hotels. That set the tone for the whole experience.
Both weekends completely sold out, which wasn’t surprising once I saw how well it was put together. Shuttle rides stayed on time, the venues never felt overwhelming, and the atmosphere had just the right mix of party and accessibility.
The demand for hotel packages is real—you have to move early if you wanted a room on-site.
Highlight Performances at Splash House’s Pool Festival
Weekend 1 leaned heavier on house and bass with ACRAZE, Disco Lines, Eli Brown, and TroyBoi, who had the Saguaro pool bouncing. Diplo going back-to-back with BLOND:ISH alongside Waxtroda at the Air Museum stood out as a late-night peak.
For Weekend 2, SOFI TUKKER broke up the DJ-heavy programming with live vocals and instrumentation, which felt refreshing in the middle of so much four-on-the-floor. Boys Noize, Claude VonStroke, and Noizu all did their thing, but Disclosure’s set at the Air Museum is what everybody kept talking about—it was the defining moment of the whole festival.
Surprise Guests
Chris Lake popped up unannounced during Weekend 1, which immediately shifted the energy at the pool.
On Weekend 2, Close Friends Only got added to the After Hours lineup minutes before things started, opening for Discip and Cloonee. Both surprises made the weekends feel like they had their own exclusive stamp.
Crowd and Atmosphere
The pools were packed with floaties by noon every day, but I never felt crammed in. The hallways and balconies at the hotels became their own party spots, which added to the social vibe.
Shuttles were consistent, which kept me from stressing about catching sets.
The Air Museum had a completely different feel—darker, more focused, and built for people who wanted to stay until morning.
Most Talked-About Moments
- Disclosure’s After Hours set under the planes
- TroyBoi’s poolside throwdown at the Saguaro
- SOFI TUKKER’s live vocals
- Floatie battles all over the pools
- Cloonee closing out Weekend 2 at the museum
- The Programming Schedule
Fashion
Mesh, crochet, and neon were everywhere. People leaned into oversized goggles and LED glasses, while guys mostly rocked silk button-downs and patterned swim trunks.
I noticed groups decorating their balconies with lights, flags, and floaties, which turned the hotels into part of the experience rather than just a backdrop.
First-Time Attendees
Friends I met who were there for the first time said they didn’t expect it to be so easy to move around. The intimacy compared to mega-festivals stood out, and everyone mentioned how approachable the artists were—you could literally bump into them walking through the crowd.
Veteran Attendees
People who had been going for years told me 2025 felt like the right balance of energy and intimacy. Shuttles were smoother, but hotel packages were harder to lock in than ever. That was the one major complaint—they sell out fast.
Food and Drink
I kept going back to BeatBox cartons and Bacardi frozen cocktails to handle the heat. Ghost Energy came in handy for the longer days, and Hiyo mocktails stood out as a good option for people pacing themselves or skipping alcohol. Food-wise, tacos, poke bowls, and nachos kept things simple but reliable, especially after the Air Museum sets.
Accessibility
I noticed ADA shuttles running consistently, pools had proper entry points, and staff were ready to help. That’s something that doesn’t always get attention at festivals, but here it felt like real progress.
Looking Ahead
Based on what I saw, Splash House will probably keep mixing live acts like SOFI TUKKER with DJ-heavy lineups. I also expect to see more wellness-focused options like hydration lounges and mocktails, and sustainability pushes with reusable cups and floaties.
Splash House 2025 didn’t feel overblown or manufactured—it felt like an event that knows its lane and stays consistent while still leaving room for surprises.
Weekend 1 set the tone, Weekend 2 elevated it, and both weekends gave attendees plenty of reasons to come back.
For me, Disclosure’s After Hours set under the planes is the one I’ll be talking about until next year.
