As we approached the entrance of the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park, there was really no saying what was to come. But going in with no expectations and an open mind seemed to be the best way to do our first Suwannee Hulaween. As Floridians, this festival has come up quite a bit in conversation, and after experiencing the full weekend, it is crystal clear why.
A mystical fog and light chill laid like a sheet over the whole festival grounds. While first we were under the impression that it was just regular pesky fog, we soon learned that this was indeed the Spirit of Suwannee, something truly magical and almost indescribable.
Jam bands and electronic music filled the stages, bringing two very separate generations together in complete unity. Young wooks were grooving to String Cheese Incident alongside those old enough to be their parents, while those same older folks were also found raving away to underground DJs they’ve most definitely never heard of. But generation, age, gender, background… none of that mattered once you entered the Suwannee Hulaween portal.
Photo by Aaron Bradley
The Suwannee Hulaween Experience
Usually, festival-goers decide which events to attend based off of the lineup, but with Suwannee Hulaween, the regular attendees know that the bill is just the cherry on top of a deluxe ice cream sundae. Once you experience the magic of Suwannee for the first time, it’s nearly impossible to not want to go back every year after, regardless of who is taking stage. That said, the Hula team never does disappoint when it comes to the selection of musical acts.
Hulaween is much more than a festival, it’s a community. A community where strangers of all walks of life come together and forget about all the worries of the world, love on each other unconditionally, and dance their hearts away. The level of generosity, respect, and pure love being spread around was truly inspiring and left us forever touched.
Attendee swinging from Jelly Fish installation 
Meditation at The Oasis 
EVAN GIIA giving a high energy performance Betting at Frick Frack String Cheese at the Meadow Stage 
Skrillex getting the audience hype Sand sculpture guarding the Spirit Lake entrance 
Spirits high at the Meadow Stage Chris Lake, Bonobo, and Skrillex performing together 
EARTHGANG performing “1993” Cordae defying gravity
Beyond the music, Suwannee Hulaween also offered a whole universe of otherworldly experiences and visuals. If you first enter near the main stage, you won’t immediately be met with most of these surprises. However, as you go beyond the Meadows and Hallows stages, it’s as if you wandered straight through a portal into another planet.
Spirit Lake
As you enter Spirit Lake you’ll find tons of art installations, decorations, activities, and, of course, the infamous lake, which hosts colorful animated projections each night. From a mural maze, vibrantly decorated seating areas, live paintings, and various sculptures, to a whole church open for elopement, human-sized bird houses, a casino/trading post, and so much more- the opportunities and directions were simply endless at Hulaween.
Despite the brilliant pre-planned decorations, the attendees themselves were just as much a part of the beauty of the festival too. From wildly creative totem poles to crazy costumes, there was always a sight to see no matter what direction you turned.
Photo by Aaron Bradley
Music at Hulaween
The energy was electric within the crowds as fans cheered on their favorite musicians, rappers, and DJs every single day. Even the people sitting down were moving their heads like drunken globes, thanking the DJ for pleasing their minds. All across the Suwannee Music Park were thousands of people dancing freely in an environment that fully encourages and accepts one another – something truly special.
Watching Skrillex perform proved to be one of the most nostalgic moments for the younger generation, but String Cheese Incident and a few other bands also deserve credit for their throwback tunes. In addition to the electronic music mogul, EDM legends Bonobo, Chris Lake, Zeds Dead, and Claude VonStroke also performed. In fact, there was a surprise b2b2b set after-hours at the Incendia Stage with Skrillex, Bonobo, and Chris Lake. Unfortunately, the RMR team was already too wiped from all three of their individual sets prior, so we very sadly missed this iconic moment.
Aside from the legendary DJs, Hulaween had some of the best rising artists and underground acts. From iconic Denver bass artists like MZG, NotLö, and Mersiv, to genre-bending acts like Daily Bread and Khruangbin, Hulaween is the place to be for music discovery.
Though the lineup undoubtedly had a focus on electronic music and jam bands, there was also a splash of other genres, such as hip-hop and pop. On Saturday night, EARTHGANG brought a high energy performance to The Amphitheater stage. Shortly after, Cordae took the lead, equally charming and hyping up the crowd.
Camping and Tips
Whether you’re a seasoned camper or haven’t stepped foot in a tent once in your life, camping at Hulaween is an absolute must. Festival veterans will tell you roughing it with the rest of the concert folk is an experience in of itself. From tables of goodies and essential items to the nice neighbors offering you a place around their fire, it’s truly hard to feel unwelcome.
Tables lined the roads back to camp, urging people to take the items offered. One had a sign that read, “Take one,” and later “Take one. Take all, I don’t care.” Some days you forgot your lighter, and maybe others you were more responsible, but you could always count on someone around you to lend a hand either way.
Although we arrived a little unprepared, our tent neighbors lended us a helping hand and shared all the advice they gathered from years prior. We learned that some essential items to bring include a dehumidifier pack (for that Spirit of Suwannee fog), extra blankets (because who knew you could get frostbite in Florida), wet wipes (for the unmentionables), and camp snacks (so you don’t blow your whole paycheck on vendor food).
The RMR team trusted the process a little more than others, but crazily enough, came out with a weekend that we dubbed our best festival experience of all time.
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Contributing writers: Hannah Gershowitz & Madi Forbes
