Tens of thousands of campers pack into Rothbury as Electric Forest festival grounds open for 2024

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ROTHBURY, MI - Tens of thousands of festivalgoers moved into their makeshift campsites on the grounds of Double JJ Resort by Thursday morning. “Happy Forest!” echoed throughout the campgrounds as the “Forest Family” returned to Rothbury for the 12th annual Electric Forest music festival.

Festivalgoers have arrived from across the United States and beyond to the small rural community of Rothbury in Oceana County for the four-day event. The visually and musically extravagant festival kicked off Thursday, June 20 and runs through Sunday, June 23.

As the crowd streamed in, there were Forest veterans and first-timers. An estimated 45,000 to 50,000 people attend the festival in this rural stretch of West Michigan, north of Muskegon.

The main entrance opened shortly before 2 p.m., on a mostly cloudy and muggy afternoon. People danced their way through the security line before frolicking through the grassy field at Tripolee, beginning a new chapter in the forest.

People spread out across the festival grounds to find new additions and updates, get their favorite hammock/shady spot or to place items at the “Giving Tree.” The massive willow tree where people leave items and find new ones is always a must-stop for the Forest Family over the weekend.

Maesonic kicked off the music at the Tripolee stage and Brandi Cyrus, sister of Miley Cyrus, dropped tracks at Ranch Arena. Meanwhile in Sherwood Forest, Michigan native Dixon’s Violin officially opened the Observatory stage as the sun from the summer solstice was at its peak in the sky.

Others headed to check out what the Dream Emporium had to offer. The emporium replaced The Hangar, which was an airplane hanger that transported you back to 1940s. The Hangar had multiple rooms filled with entertainment.

The Dream Emporium has a central room with other uniquely themed rooms in every direction. Entertainers put on shows, tarot card readings and glow rooms. Others lined up at the Travel Agency to begin their scavenger hunt quests. When complete, festivalgoers unlock a special area that can only be accessed by those who can answer the riddles and find the hidden clues around the festival grounds.

2000s pop icon Nelly Furtado followed by Everything Always, a collaboration between Dom Dolla and John Summit, are slated take over Ranch Arena Thursday evening.

Jam band, The Disco Biscuits are scheduled for Sherwood Court stage before breakout edm artist Knock2 closes the stage Thursday evening. Over at the Tripolee stage, Ben Bohmer is scheduled to play a midnight to 1:30 a.m. set.

As night falls on Sherwood Forest, The Observatory will play host to the Odyzey Takeover event. The curated back-to-back sets from Redrum, Zen Selekta, Super Future, Tripp St., Zingara and Marsh filled Sherwood Forest with music for the opening night.

Prior to entering the festival grounds, each vehicle was searched for contraband, which includes fireworks, drones, weapons, laser pointers, illegal substances, tiki torches, hammers, golf clubs and more. Festivalgoers are also searched each time they enter the festival grounds from the camping areas.

Electric Forest is produced by Madison House Presents and Insomniac Events.

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