Back in 1995, before EDM was breaking records on Billboard or selling out stadiums, Insomniac threw a party in the woods. They called it Nocturnal Wonderland. That night set the blueprint for everything that came after — EDC, Beyond, Escape, Dreamstate, and the global empire Pasquale Rotella eventually built.
Thirty years later, Nocturnal is still running.
Still camping. Still bass-heavy. Still weird.
And still rooted in PLUR when a lot of festivals have turned into branded entertainment events.
It’s the longest-running electronic music festival in the U.S., and it returns September 13–14, 2025 to Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernardino, California.
The Legacy of Insomniac’s Nocturnal Wonderland
Ask any raver that’s been around long enough, and they’ll tell you Nocturnal has a different glow. It’s the original Insomniac rave, and three decades in, it hasn’t lost its identity.
- The Roots: First held in ’95, when rave culture was still underground and word-of-mouth.
- The Growth: Through the 2000s, Nocturnal stayed one of the few Insomniac festivals that leaned heavy into camping, psychedelic art, and bass music instead of just scale.
- The Present: Now, with 30 years of history behind it, it’s still the most community-driven Insomniac experience — part music festival, part weekend-long family reunion.
The Stages at Nocturnal Wonderland
🌲 Wolves’ Den — Main Stage Energy
The Wolves’ Den is where Nocturnal gathers as one. Big builds, massive LED walls, and headliners dropping sets that shake the entire hillside. For this year’s 2025 edition, it’s Zedd, Axwell, Eric Prydz, and Benny Benassi commanding the biggest crowd of the weekend.
This is where you get the full-scale rave spectacle — fireworks, synchronized visuals, thousands of people moving as one.
🎭 Labyrinth — The Bass Pit
The Labyrinth is for the rail-riders and bass lovers. Subs you feel in your ribcage, lasers cutting across the crowd, and a lineup stacked with Liquid Stranger, Jessica Audiffred B2B Riot Ten, Cyclops B2B Calcium, and more. It’s sweaty, aggressive, and unapologetic — the kind of place you post up at all night if bass is your religion.
🌌 Sunken Garden — Drum & Bass Resurgence
Drum & bass has been bubbling back in the U.S., and Nocturnal is one of the few major festivals that still dedicates a stage to it. The Sunken Garden has become a home base for DnB heads, and this year Wilkinson, Metrik B2B Grafix, and Airglo bring the fire.
High BPMs, rolling basslines, and nonstop movement.
If you know, you know.
🦉 Temple Noctem — Left-Field Soundscapes
Temple Noctem is the playground for the weird. Trippy visuals, glitchy beats, underground artists who don’t fit neatly into a single genre.
2025 highlights include AHEE, HOL!, Not Not, KUREI, and YDG.
It’s psychedelic, experimental, and unpredictable — the place you go to hear something different.
🎶 Silent Disco — Campground After Hours
When the festival gates close at midnight, the Silent Disco keeps things alive. Hundreds of ravers in headphones, multiple DJs battling across channels, and parties that run until sunrise. For campers, this is where a lot of the best memories get made.
Nocturnal Wonderland Lineup Highlights
- Main Stage Icons: Eric Prydz, Zedd, Axwell, Benny Benassi.
- Bass Leaders: Liquid Stranger, Jessica Audiffred B2B Riot Ten, Waxtroda, Cyclops B2B Calcium.
- DnB Specialists: Wilkinson, Metrik B2B Grafix, Airglo.
- Up-and-Coming Artists: AHEE, HOL!, KUREI, YDG, Not Not.
It’s the perfect balance — legends that shaped electronic music, bass and DnB leaders driving the underground, and a crop of fresh talent pushing the future.
The Culture
What separates Nocturnal from other Insomniac festivals isn’t just the lineup — it’s the vibe.
- The Setting: Glen Helen Regional Park brings lakes, hills, and trees into the mix. You’re not at a speedway or stadium — you’re in nature.
- The Camping: Tent, car, and RV camping turn this into a full weekend experience. Pre-parties, yoga, food villages, art workshops, and the Silent Disco build a 24/7 culture around the music.
- The People: Ask around and you’ll hear it over and over — the crowd is different. More PLUR, more community-focused, less chaotic than mega-fests like EDC.
Tickets & Logistics
- GA: Festival access, refill stations, food and beverage.
- VIP: Expedited entry, viewing decks, AC bathrooms, private bars.
- Camping: Tent, car, and RV passes available (3 nights, Fri–Sun). Includes showers, pre-parties, Silent Disco, and more.
Shuttles available from Ontario, DTLA, Fullerton, and Riverside (afternoon departures, 12:30 AM return).
What to Pack
- Festival pass + valid ID
- Hydration pack or reusable bottle
- Comfortable shoes
- Layers for hot days / cold nights
- Portable charger
- Tent, sleeping bag, earplugs (if camping)
- Toiletries, wet wipes, sanitizer
Nocturnal Wonderland has been running for 30 years for a reason. It’s not about being the biggest — it’s about delivering a consistent amazing experience.
Bass-heavy lineups, dedicated DnB, left-field stages, camping culture, and a loyal community that keeps coming back. 2025 isn’t just an anniversary on paper — it’s three decades of rave culture alive in one weekend.
Get Nocturnal Wonderland tickets here!
