As March is coming swiftly upon us, we all know what that means, IT’S ALMOST FESTIVAL SEASON! And with that, that means the beginning of the crazy world that is every raver trying to decide what festivals they’re going to be attending for the year! It’s the hardest decision any of us can make, and with lineup’s not even dropped for some of them, it’s a hard choice! But the Rave Hackers are here to show you all the excitement of the major festivals coming up to help make ease some of those festival season woes!

So with that being said, I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about one of the most sought-after, and the personal fave, of many ravers far and wide… I’ve heard about a magical land where anyone can go to escape the real world and submerge themselves into a new world of fun and adventure! So follow me as we enter the magical world of…

That’s right, let’s journey (back) into the wonderful and wild world of the Insomniac’s psychedelic adventures with Alice in Wonderland. This year, the Insomniacs are hosting their So Cal Beyond Wonderland event at the NOS Event Center out in San Bernadino, March 16th & 17th. Is this your first Beyond Wonderland? Not sure what to expect? Go check out the Headliners Guide for some good intro tips!

Stages

In 2017, the Insomniac’s deviated from the traditional Alice in Wonderland and turned Beyond Wonderland into “The Endless Sea”. In true fashion this year they have brought back their original Alice in Wonderland experience for the 75,000 headliners (guests) that attend (on an annual basis), complete with all new upgrades and tweaks for their stages! This year, they’re bringing four stages into the mix at the NOS Event Center, Queens Domain, Mad Hatter’s Castle, Caterpillar’s Garden and Cheshire Woods. Each of them bringing to life a whole new world down the rabbit hole.

In true Insomniac fashion, there are also going to be roving stages throughout the venue, one of them featuring an oasis to break away from the mayhem and enjoy music and art all in one at the Beyond Wench. Make sure you don’t miss Wide Awake another roving stage that will be featuring new up and coming artists, one of them being Bijou who has been on the rise and unstoppable with his trance based beats that take his audience on a journey down the rabbit hole through a progression of slow, smooth beats to fast, pulsating trance tunes that pulls the crowd deeper into his hypnotic tones.

The Experience

The Insomniac crew has created an immersive experience for their headliners, including all new stage productions, art installations, and other-worldly character and aerial costumes. Last year they created a magical underwater world, including twinkling sea lanterns, vibrant coral reefs, and mermaids; For this year they have something out of a storybook. I can’t wait to see the Insomniac interpretation of Alice and her merry band of misfits!

The Venue

If you’re not familiar with the NOS Event center then make sure you’re preparing properly! AKA: Make sure you know where you’re going to park/ how you’re going to get there. A pro tip from the gorgeous @allyalv_ is to make sure you’re parking in Insomniac parking lots! Insomniac lots are monitored during the whole event, whereas others aren’t necessarily as tightly run and you run the risk of getting your car broken into. We always want everyone to have a great time, and even though the majority of us spread PLUR, there are unfortunately those who aren’t always spreading those same vibes. But don’t let it be a party pooper, because instead of it happening to you just be prepared! Keep your valuables close, in pockets or in hard to reach places in your bag and be mindful of your surroundings! Another pro tip, don’t forget to get a picture at the iconic NOS pond!

Bringing to the NOS Event Center a slew of amazing artists, ranging from sounds of house, trance dubstep, drum & bass and so much more, Beyond Wonderland is bringing a whole new meaning to ‘What’s in your head?’. Outside of the gorgeous, psychedelic experience that you’ll have within the events stages and lasers, the Insomniac crew has also included enough food, water, and entertainment inside the event center to last everyone all day long!

Pro Tip: Make sure that you bring enough money! Luckily, you’ll be able to use a whole slew of different payment options including cash, credit, debit, Apply Pay AND Android Pay.  Now if that’ s not impressive I don’ t know what is. Also, make sure that once you go in you’re okay to stay because there is a strict no re-entrance policy. 

 What else can you expect to find inside Beyond Wonderland? Check it out:

|     Food Vendors (vegan and vegetarian options)     |     Bars     |     Free Water Refill Stations     |     Charging Stations & Lockers     |     ATM     |      General Store      |      Medical Saftey & Health Tents     |

Outfits

Beyond Wonderland is the perfect place to try out your new psychedelic looks! Getting to see all the different variations of people rocking different Alice in Wonderland outfits is something I love! I’m a personal fan fave of the twins outfits, I think they’re just so cute! BUT as you all already know, I’m a huge advocate for ‘wear what you’re comfortable in’. If you’re still not sure what you might want to wear, run over here to check out some of my personal favorite sites to snag outfits from, OR go check out the Rave Hacker’s ‘Beyond Wonderland‘ board on Pinterest for some great outfit & makeup ideas, kandi designs and everything in between!

Is there still something you can’t find? Have you lost your friends and can’t get service? Or anything in between? Go looking for “Ground Control”, these are the designated Insomniac volunteers! They’ll be rocking their signature purple shirts and they are all there to make sure that you and all your friends have the best. time. possible! 

If you’re horrible at keeping track of extra paper, and you’re directionally challenged (like me), make sure you don’t miss out on the Insomniacs Beyond Wonderland app that gives you an interactive line up for the weekend as well as a digital map to help you navigate through the rabbit hole!

So tell us, what are YOU most excited to experience inside the wild and wonderfully psychedelic world of Alice in Wonderland? Share with us your favorite experiences, biggest pro tips, or even something that everyone needs to make sure they experience at least once inside of Beyond Wonderland!

Would you guys be interested in seeing more Beyond Wonderland pieces? What would you all think about a break-down of the different music sets and up and coming artists that are going to be playing? TELL US IN THE COMMENTS  BELOW!