As Electric Forest Comes to a Close, Here are Some of Our Favorite Moments From the Festival That You May Have Missed
Electric Forest 2025 delivered on what it does best: bringing people together in a space where music, art, and spontaneity take the lead. From last-minute headliners to unforgettable surprise sets, the weekend gave us plenty to talk about. Here’s a look at the performances, moments, and changes that stood out the most.
Crankity B Shuts Down The Ranch
One of the most talked-about moments of the weekend was Crankity B (Crankdat, Levity, & Tape B) stepping in as a surprise headliner at The Ranch Arena. The announcement came just hours before the set and brought out one of the biggest crowds EF has seen in years all at one stage. True to form, the energy was loud, wild, and relentless. It was the kind of set that had people climbing trees (literally), camping the rail all day, and re-uniting with their festival squad for. The set was everything fans could have expected and more as the three viral stage names connected and warmed up the crowd for Zeds Dead (literally, there were so many people that the crowd was unbelievably hot).
Secret Sets That Stole the Show, As They So Often Do
If you were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, you caught some of the best sets of the weekend without even realizing what you were walking into:
-
Of The Trees played a surprise set at the Grand Artique, turning the usually mellow space into a packed venue. The crowd was quiet at first, unsure what was happening — but once people realized who was on the decks, the energy shifted fast. He played a “for me” type of set mixing in chill house and Tulum style beats. As a member of the crowd, it was beautiful to watch such a heavy hitting headliner slow it down and play music that was true to him. Riverbeats TV was also there to livestream his headline set that closed out the festival on Sunday. Stay tuned to watch it all over again!
-
Smoakland delivered a “6 in the Forest” surprise set at the Carousel Club, a special gift for attendees who have spent 6+ years at electric forest. These sets have been played by some massive names in EDM in the past, and Smoakland carried on the tradition. These sets are a special tradition to ensure the exclusive perks of festival goers who are vets of this fest. Everyone 6ITF and up receive special pins upon entry, and they had to use their pins to gain access into this set.
-
Tucked deep in the forest, Liquid Stranger and Smoakland teamed up for a B2B (Liquid Smoke) set at the Gingerbread House stage, one of the most unexpected and packed moments of the weekend. It felt raw, spontaneous, and completely out of the blue. It was a real gift for the few hundred lucky fans who squeezed in. Keep in mind, this was played at a stage that hardly anyone knew existed in the forest. I myself did not even know this stage was there until the day after I left the festival. How magical.
String Cheese Incident & Boogie T: The Collab We Never Knew We Needed
Every year, String Cheese brings something different to their headlining sets. This time, they invited Boogie T to join them on stage, and the vibe completely shifted. The collab hit somewhere between funky and filthy, and fans from both sides seemed to love it. It wasn’t overproduced or forced; just a fun crossover that worked. Only problem is how it was so good, that we may need to see it again soon.
Wreckno’s On-Stage Proposal at Tripolee
One of the most personal moments of the weekend happened at Tripolee, where Wreckno proposed to their partner live on stage during their set. The crowd lit up instantly, and even if you weren’t close to the rail, you could feel the emotion. A reminder that Electric Forest isn’t just about music, it’s about real-life moments, too. From that moment forward, love was in the air. Wreckno is a staple to EF having grown up just miles outside of the town, and is a highlight every single year. The festival even started hosting an annual event called “Wreckno’s Big Gay Soirée” and we stand this event every single year.
Late Night Hours: A Mixed Bag
This year, Electric Forest extended the schedule, keeping the festival open until 4 AM and pushing headliner slots much later. The change sparked a lot of conversation:
-
For night owls, this was a win. The forest stayed alive well into the early hours, and those who had the energy got to enjoy music under the stars with fewer crowds and cooler weather.
-
Others weren’t thrilled. Some fans — especially those who’ve been coming for years — mentioned that they missed several headliner sets because they just couldn’t stay up that late anymore.
-
One unexpected effect? The late-night RV parties disappeared. With the main venue still active deep into the night, GA camps were noticeably quieter. For the first time in a while, people could actually sleep without being blasted by someone else’s Bluetooth speaker at 5 AM. We can confirm, falling asleep at EF was a breeze this year.
This change definitely split opinions, and we’ll see if the Forest keeps this new schedule next year. This new era of festival edits has been buzz worthy to say the least. What did you think?
Upgrades That Made a Difference
The festival layout felt smoother this year, and one of the biggest improvements was the Dream Emporium. It was easier to move through, more open, and gave people a real place to unwind or get lost in some weird art in peace.
The art across the venue was on point. From light tunnels and interactive pieces to stage design and hidden installations. But more than that, the layout itself made it easier to explore. Less crowding, more breathing room, and no areas that felt overlooked. This design was a massive win for the Insomniac team as guests feared they had oversold the venue, it was a breeze to walk around and get lost without thousands of people around you. This is one of the most special parts of the forest, and we hope that Insomniac realizes this and continues on their upward trend of improving the festival in this way.
Final Thoughts
Electric Forest 2025 gave us everything: surprise sets, deep bass, house takeovers, emotional moments, late-night debates, and a whole lot of walking. Whether you stayed up until sunrise every night or tapped out after sunset, there was something for everyone. And that is what makes Electric Forest so special.
From Wreckno’s proposal to Crankity B’s chaos, and quiet campsites to packed secret stages, this year had more than just music. It had memory-making moments in every corner.
We’ll be thinking about it until next summer…..
Follow Electric Forest on socials to stay up to date with 2026 announcements!
Instagram: @Electric_Forest
Twitter: @Electric_Forest
Facebook: @ElectricForest
TikTok: @ElectricForest
YouTube: @ElectricForest
As Electric Forest Comes to a Close, Here are Some of Our Favorite Moments From the Festival That You May Have Missed
Electric Forest 2025 delivered on what it does best: bringing people together in a space where music, art, and spontaneity take the lead. From last-minute headliners to unforgettable surprise sets, the weekend gave us plenty to talk about. Here’s a look at the performances, moments, and changes that stood out the most.
Crankity B Shuts Down The Ranch
One of the most talked-about moments of the weekend was Crankity B (Crankdat, Levity, & Tape B) stepping in as a surprise headliner at The Ranch Arena. The announcement came just hours before the set and brought out one of the biggest crowds EF has seen in years all at one stage. True to form, the energy was loud, wild, and relentless. It was the kind of set that had people climbing trees (literally), camping the rail all day, and re-uniting with their festival squad for. The set was everything fans could have expected and more as the three viral stage names connected and warmed up the crowd for Zeds Dead (literally, there were so many people that the crowd was unbelievably hot).
Secret Sets That Stole the Show, As They So Often Do
If you were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, you caught some of the best sets of the weekend without even realizing what you were walking into:
Of The Trees played a surprise set at the Grand Artique, turning the usually mellow space into a packed venue. The crowd was quiet at first, unsure what was happening — but once people realized who was on the decks, the energy shifted fast. He played a “for me” type of set mixing in chill house and Tulum style beats. As a member of the crowd, it was beautiful to watch such a heavy hitting headliner slow it down and play music that was true to him. Riverbeats TV was also there to livestream his headline set that closed out the festival on Sunday. Stay tuned to watch it all over again!
Smoakland delivered a “6 in the Forest” surprise set at the Carousel Club, a special gift for attendees who have spent 6+ years at electric forest. These sets have been played by some massive names in EDM in the past, and Smoakland carried on the tradition. These sets are a special tradition to ensure the exclusive perks of festival goers who are vets of this fest. Everyone 6ITF and up receive special pins upon entry, and they had to use their pins to gain access into this set.
Tucked deep in the forest, Liquid Stranger and Smoakland teamed up for a B2B (Liquid Smoke) set at the Gingerbread House stage, one of the most unexpected and packed moments of the weekend. It felt raw, spontaneous, and completely out of the blue. It was a real gift for the few hundred lucky fans who squeezed in. Keep in mind, this was played at a stage that hardly anyone knew existed in the forest. I myself did not even know this stage was there until the day after I left the festival. How magical.
String Cheese Incident & Boogie T: The Collab We Never Knew We Needed
Every year, String Cheese brings something different to their headlining sets. This time, they invited Boogie T to join them on stage, and the vibe completely shifted. The collab hit somewhere between funky and filthy, and fans from both sides seemed to love it. It wasn’t overproduced or forced; just a fun crossover that worked. Only problem is how it was so good, that we may need to see it again soon.
Wreckno’s On-Stage Proposal at Tripolee
One of the most personal moments of the weekend happened at Tripolee, where Wreckno proposed to their partner live on stage during their set. The crowd lit up instantly, and even if you weren’t close to the rail, you could feel the emotion. A reminder that Electric Forest isn’t just about music, it’s about real-life moments, too. From that moment forward, love was in the air. Wreckno is a staple to EF having grown up just miles outside of the town, and is a highlight every single year. The festival even started hosting an annual event called “Wreckno’s Big Gay Soirée” and we stand this event every single year.
Late Night Hours: A Mixed Bag
This year, Electric Forest extended the schedule, keeping the festival open until 4 AM and pushing headliner slots much later. The change sparked a lot of conversation:
For night owls, this was a win. The forest stayed alive well into the early hours, and those who had the energy got to enjoy music under the stars with fewer crowds and cooler weather.
Others weren’t thrilled. Some fans — especially those who’ve been coming for years — mentioned that they missed several headliner sets because they just couldn’t stay up that late anymore.
One unexpected effect? The late-night RV parties disappeared. With the main venue still active deep into the night, GA camps were noticeably quieter. For the first time in a while, people could actually sleep without being blasted by someone else’s Bluetooth speaker at 5 AM. We can confirm, falling asleep at EF was a breeze this year.
This change definitely split opinions, and we’ll see if the Forest keeps this new schedule next year. This new era of festival edits has been buzz worthy to say the least. What did you think?
Upgrades That Made a Difference
The festival layout felt smoother this year, and one of the biggest improvements was the Dream Emporium. It was easier to move through, more open, and gave people a real place to unwind or get lost in some weird art in peace.
The art across the venue was on point. From light tunnels and interactive pieces to stage design and hidden installations. But more than that, the layout itself made it easier to explore. Less crowding, more breathing room, and no areas that felt overlooked. This design was a massive win for the Insomniac team as guests feared they had oversold the venue, it was a breeze to walk around and get lost without thousands of people around you. This is one of the most special parts of the forest, and we hope that Insomniac realizes this and continues on their upward trend of improving the festival in this way.
Final Thoughts
Electric Forest 2025 gave us everything: surprise sets, deep bass, house takeovers, emotional moments, late-night debates, and a whole lot of walking. Whether you stayed up until sunrise every night or tapped out after sunset, there was something for everyone. And that is what makes Electric Forest so special.
From Wreckno’s proposal to Crankity B’s chaos, and quiet campsites to packed secret stages, this year had more than just music. It had memory-making moments in every corner.
We’ll be thinking about it until next summer…..
Follow Electric Forest on socials to stay up to date with 2026 announcements!
Instagram: @Electric_Forest
Twitter: @Electric_Forest
Facebook: @ElectricForest
TikTok: @ElectricForest
YouTube: @ElectricForest
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