My Favorite Wonderland: Beyond Wonderland

While EDC Los Angeles 2010 has the honor of being my first Insomniac event, Beyond Wonderland was my first Wonderland. It’s consistently been my favorite—from the first time I attended, in 2011, to my most recent, Beyond Wonderland Bay Area 2014.

I know, I know. Most people will argue that other events are their favorite. EDC is the biggest event of the year, spanning multiple countries and cities. Nocturnal has the title of longest-running dance music festival in North America (20 years this year!). White Wonderland is on New Year’s Eve, next door to the Happiest Place on Earth. But Beyond? Beyond Wonderland has always been special to me. Here’s why.

THE MADNESS

BEYOND Wonderland 2011: I may not have had bunny ears, but I was definitely channeling the White Rabbit with my white puffy vest. Fun fact: I’ve gotten more use out of this vest at this age than I did when I bought it at Aeropostale when I was 15.

I’ve always been intrigued by Alice in Wonderland. As a kid, watching the Disney movie confused me like nothing else. Between unbirthdays and butterflies made out of bread, the world was nonsense! The characters were strange and peculiar—one might even call them mad. The idea that this particular event celebrates the madness, and takes it a step further––to imagine what lies BEYOND Wonderland––feels like it so perfectly encapsulates Insomniac’s mission of welcoming all: All Sizes, All Cultures, All Beliefs, All Types, All Colors, All Sexes, All Religions. All People. Especially the mad ones.

Plus, who doesn’t love toying with outfit ideas? Between Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, and Tweedledee & Tweedledum, there are so many options. Many of my friends love getting the whole crew to dress up as different characters.

THE SEASON

We all know how beautiful SoCal weather is almost all year round, but spring in SoCal is my absolute favorite time of the year (outside of the allergies—damn you, Santa Ana winds!). Because Beyond takes place at the end of March, spring has officially sprung! It hasn’t gotten too hot yet, and there’s usually a perfect breeze. With such beautiful weather, Beyond Wonderland is the true start to festival season (sorry, Coachella!), especially in SoCal.

BEYOND Wonderland 2012: My white vest makes another appearance.

There was, of course, the exception of Beyond 2012, when the mere presence of Armin van Buuren and the ASOT stage caused abnormally low temperatures and rain. Lots of rain. Despite that, the trance god himself used the weather to his advantage and started his set with “Rain.” How perfect.

BEYOND 2012: Shout-out to my friends and all the other girls who still managed to wear as little clothing as possible during one of the coldest nights of 2012. You the real MVPs.

THE PEOPLE

I wholeheartedly believe that the events we consider the “best” are because of the people you go with. Beyond Wonderland 2011 was the first and last time my college best friends and I were able to attend an event together––one was moving back home to Chicago after college, and another to Singapore. This was our last hurrah before graduation, and like the broke college students we were, we had saved up for weeks to attend. We were psyched to see Dirty South, Calvin Harris, and of course, Kaskade (my musical choices were so 2011—#memories). I couldn’t even describe the feels when Kaskade dropped his remix of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” especially because the original was my ringtone, and I annoyed all of my friends by singing it incessantly for months.

BEYOND Wonderland 2011: My first Beyond, with my best friends from USC.

Most recently, another best friend from college came to Beyond Wonderland Bay Area for her very first Insomniac event. I was happy to show her the ropes with one of my post-college best friends. Dancing as Moon Boots spun beneath us at the Boombox stage remains one of my top 25 moments of 2014.

BEYOND BAY 2014: Moon Boots was literally right below us, throwing down some choice tunes.

That same year, I had the privilege of bringing my parents to their first music festival EVER. Their reaction to everything—the art, the main stage and, most prominently, the people—was absolutely priceless. “I finally understand why your generation does this,” said my dad. “If I were your age, I would definitely be here.”

Beyond Wonderland always holds a special place in my heart, and I’m so excited for its return to SoCal this weekend. To infinity and Beyond Wonderland!

Janet Anne Panen works on Insomniac’s social media team. You can catch her random musings on Twitter. To join her at Beyond Wonderland SoCal, get your tickets now.

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