Awesome People We Met on Day 2 of EDC

Roaming around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway during EDC 2014 is awesome for many reasons. Take these Headliners for example.

Name: Adam Steinman, 33
First EDC: 2011
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ

We found this gentleman—in Las Vegas for his second EDC prowling the grounds on Saturday evening in his bitchin’ homemade jellyfish costume, which he assembled from dozens of feet of ocean blue EL wire and a plastic hoop. His plan for the evening was to simply wander through the festival’s grassy areas and open spaces, where he’d have enough room to twirl around in his sizeable costume. Seeing Kaskade was also a high priority. “After the first EDC,” he said, “I was in a good mood for six months afterwards. I’m hoping to get that again this weekend.”

Name: Dan and Martha Laguna (Ookay’s Mom & Dad!)
Number of EDCs: First one!
From:San Diego, CA
Twitter:@Ookayx

We saw Ookay cuddling up to this couple backstage at the bassPOD. Turns out they’re his parents! First time EDC Vegas goers, Dan—a former professional musician himself—and his wife Martha shared an intimate moment with their son Ookay as he prepared for his biggest show ever. “Love them, support them and believe in their dreams,” suggests Martha to all EDM parents of future superstar DJs. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Name: Eddie Robles
First EDC: 2011
Hometown: Ontario, CA
Instagram: @edddiebo0

Eddie was heads above the crowd by the virtue of his dazzling, homemade feathered headpiece, which he spent roughly 13 hours assembling. We spotted him dancing to Green Velvet at the neonGARDEN stage, and he was all smiles as he gushed about EDC’s nonjudgmental environment. “I know it sounds cliche when this is called an experience,” he said, “but basically EDC is a total package. Getting to Vegas, getting here. We took a party bus to the Speedway with 30 people. Plus getting ready for the trip, making the outfits, all of it.” He hugged us as we walked away, then kept right on dancing.

Name: Alyssa Santos, 23
First EDC: 2013
Hometown: Gardnerville, NV

Alyssa Santos was unmissable as she made her way down the grandstands with her crutch. (She slipped and sprained her ankle Friday when she got a little too excited entering the festival.) Being a local resident came in handy as she was able to ask her grandmother for a crutch last-minute and make it out to day two. Clearly, she wasn’t about to miss the party. “EDC is phenomenal, I come every year for the people [and] the atmosphere,” she explained. “It’s the most loving environment I’ve ever been to in my entire life.”

Name: Mark Stricker, 53
First EDC: 2013
Hometown: Tri-Cities, WA

Mark made the pilgrimage to EDC to see the likes of Krewella, Knife Party and Avicii. This was his second time at the festival, and he brought along his friend Linda Couzens, 53, from Umatilla, OR, who was having a fine time at her first EDC. The two were one of the first people to head towards the kineticFIELD Saturday as Headliners poured into the Speedway. Why does he like EDC? “This is a Woodstock that’s run right,” he explained. We’ll take your word for it, Mark.

Name: Xavier Escobar, 18
First EDC: 2013
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Instagram: @ringmydingaling

This 18-year old Las Vegas native volunteered to work the water refill stations at the festival after attending his first EDC last year, and filled what he estimated to be thousands of water bottles during his shifts throughout the weekend. In return, Headliners gifted him with kandi and mad gratitude. Escobar also had a prime position near the circuitGROUNDS stage, so he was able to enjoy plenty of music while helping to keep EDC hydrated. “I was on the other side of it last year and saw how much the water benefitted me and everyone around me, so this is cool,” Escobar said. “It’s just good vibes all around.”

Name: Mark Strickland
Location: Torrance, CA
Number of EDCs Attended: 2008
Instagram: @Btw1590

The best way one can leave his or her mark at EDC is by selflessly spreading love and compassion to other Headliners. We ran into Mark while he was enjoying his festival experience as a volunteer for the Insomniac Consciousness Group. “Any sober attendees are welcome to join us under the tent. We get into a circle and share our experiences, our strengths, our hopes, our feelings, and where our mind is at during this festival,” says Mark. Kudos to you Mark and thank you for your contribution to our community.

<Name: Grace & Michael
Number of EDCs: First one!
From: London, England
Twitter: @Lockboss

Grace and Michael traveled over 5,000 miles to join their fellow Headliners Under the Electric Sky. Grace, a recent performing arts college grad, is a classically trained singer, who one day hopes to be on Broadway. She thinks the opera and EDM worlds can get along and would create an interesting sound. The two Brits went to EDC London last year and are making their EDC Vegas debut this weekend. Welcome to America, friends!

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