Nocturnal Wonderland: a time to dance all of your sorrows away (and just in time for finals, too). My friends and I decided to take part in the annual electronic dance music festival in Rockdale, Texas and instantly understood why so many people that were there had been going back for years. Many see it as a giant, two-night rave where young people convene to rage for hours on end. On its most basic level, that’s what it is; but there’s another level to Nocturnal Wonderland that you don’t see until you’re there.
Taking place outside of Austin at Apache Pass, you drive past cornfields and farms until you arrive at the hideaway. Then you see dozens of colored paper lanterns hanging from trees and lit up stages, much different from the bustling city of Austin. People show up in flashy costumes ranging from lacy lingerie and face masks to light-up body suits and neon décor, and no one will think twice about it. The crowd is mostly college kids and those in their 20s, all there to listen to rockin’ DJs, have a good time, and make a few new friends along the way. There aren’t many places you can go to escape everyday reality, dance for hours on end, and be in the good company of friends and strangers alike.
The festival, which was held only in California until recently, has been growing steadily with big name acts in the electronic music world. A few included Steve Aoki, Tiesto, Calvin Harris, Nero Live, and R3hab. Tiesto headlined Friday night, displaying fireworks during his set, and on Saturday, Steve Aoki entertained the audience by crowd-surfing on a blow-up raft. The DJ is notorious for interacting with concert-goers, spraying champagne on people and even throwing a large birthday cake in an eager fan’s face.