The Children of Electric Forest

One of the many things differentiating Electric Forest from other festivals is its (mostly) family friendly atmosphere and the population of children and young people roaming the woods. From infants to teens, all age ranges were represented throughout the weekend, exploring the sites, sounds, and smells of the event. Truly like something from a children’s fairytale, but with more dreadlocks and guitar noodling.

We spoke with some of these kids to get their thoughts (and their parents’ thoughts) on the event.

Names: Sage, Lavender and Baby Gabriel
Age: Five months
From: Erie, PA
First festival: Electric Forest 2014

We met this young family while roaming the woods on Saturday afternoon. It was Gabriel’s first music festival, and her mom Lavender said she loved being in the forest and meeting all of the magical creatures—fairies, wood nymphs, women dressed as cosmic stewardesses—inhabiting the site. Gabriel was also a big fan of swinging in the many hammocks and chilling out at the campsite after sundown. Baby’s first String Cheese Incident show happened the evening prior, and both parents reported that she absolutely adored it.

Name: Natalie
Age: 11
From: Kalamazoo, MI
First festival: Electric Forest 2014

Natalie came to Electric Forest with her mom Christina and said her first festival was exceeding her expectations, despite the fact that it was super hot during the day at their campsite. A big fan of electronic music, Natalie especially loved sets by bass-heavy acts Bro Safari and The Glitch Mob. (She wore an awesome animal mask to both shows.) Natalie also enjoyed all of the art and interactive installations they discovered in the forest. “As a parent, I was concerned that we’d feel a little unsafe,” Christina said, “but we have really good neighbors and everyone is awesome. We could fall asleep right here on the grass and be fine.”

Name: Seth
Age: “I’m actually 22, but right now I’m probably three or four”
From: Hastings, MI
First festival: Electric Forest 2014

We ran into Seth in the Sonic Forest, an interactive play zone where attendees could orchestrate a symphony of tones and animal noises by tapping on the art installations. Calling Electric Forest a “big kid’s playground,” Seth was capitalizing on the opportunity to channel his inner child. “It’s like being at recess or a YMCA camp, but without any rules,” he noted. Seth especially appreciated the freedom the festival allowed attendees. “What’s awesome about this place is that everyone gets to do exactly what they want, as long as they’re not hurting anyone. Everything here is like a fantasy world, but then you wonder if you can take at least part of this back out into the real world.” We’d like to think so, although we don’t recommend he wear that bib to work.

Name: Jaycee
Age: 15
From: Rothbury, MI
First Festival: Electric Forest 2013

Rothbury native Jacyee lives down the road from the festival site and volunteered to help set up the event before it began. In return for raking in the woods and helping assemble some lights, Jaycee got free tickets. “This place is crazy,” she said. “I love it. Going into the forest and night is amazing, and the concerts are great too. Zedd’s Dead was awesome, and so was Bro Safari and Luminox.” She reported that living close enough to go home and take a shower every day was a big perk, nothing that “I’ll totally come back next year.”

Name: Lily
Age: 9
From: Rothbury, MI
First Festival: Electric Forest 2012

Another Rothbury local, this was Lily’s second Electric Forest. She had just purchased her first pair of prism glasses from the merch stand and said she was very much enjoying wandering around the woods and exploring. “It’s just so cool. They work so hard to put up all of this awesome stuff. I just enjoy it so much. I like all the art stuff and the clothes, because they’re all really cool.” Would Lily consider coming back next year? “Definitely,” she said. “But only if it’s okay with my parents.”

Name: Alex
Age: 16
From: Rothbury, MI
First Festival: Electric Forest 2012

Alex attended is first Electric Forest at the tender age of 13 and says it’s only gotten better since then. Most of all, he loved meeting new people, and said he found the crowd extremely interesting. Sets by Zedd’s Dead and The Glitch Mob, were his favorites, and his plan for the rest of the weekend was to simply stay out of the sun and go see some more great shows with his friends, a statement that totally made us want to be 16 again.

Names: Jeffree and Ruby Lerner
Age: 5
From: Big Rapids, MI

We spotted Ruby weaving through the crowd on her dad’s shoulders near the Sherwood Stage on Saturday evening before a set by the Emancipator Ensemble. We thought that she looked like a festival professional in her tie-dyed outfit, and our suspicions were confirmed when we asked her dad how many festivals she had attended. “I play in Sound Tribe Sector Nine,” he informed us, “so she’s been coming to events like this her entire life.”

Name: Laharya
Age: 17 months
From: “I’m not sure where she’s from, actually.”
First Festival: Electric Forest 2014

We caught Laharya hanging out with a rabbit-eared friend of her mother’s before The String Cheese Incident show on Saturday night. (Her mom, a stilt walker, was out performing in the forest.) Laharya was particularly dazzled by the bubbles in the air. When the music started, she began dancing by putting one hand up in the air and smiling, revealing approximately seven teeth. We later saw her running across the grass with a glow stick. It all kind of made us want to have children.

Name: JJ
Age: 2
From: Pontiac, MI
First festival: Arts, Beats and Eats 2013

Little JJ, his dad Joshua, and a group of friends were hanging out at dusk waiting to see Flying Lotus, because JJ is clearly a very hip little fellow. Joshua even said that his son (who is turning three this fall) “enjoys house music more than anything.” (His older sister, however, “is more into jam bands.”) JJ was passing the time before the show by tossing a hacky sack back and forth with a friend of his father’s. We can’t make this stuff up.

Names: Adrian and Sunshine
Age: 7
From: Charleston, SC

We met this mother-daughter duo on Sunday afternoon, en route to their merchandise stand—Loose Lucy’s—inside the festival. The South Carolina-based family sells hippie clothing at events during the summers, hitting the road after the kids get out of school. So far this season, they’ve been to three festivals. Sunshine has been doing these events her entire life and says she likes many things about Electric Forest. Her favorite? “I saw an owl in the forest, and its eyes turned different colors, and it was really cool.”

Name: Brandon
Age: 16
From: Rothbury, MI
First Festival: Electric Forest 2013

Brandon was in the woods with his buddies for his second Electric Forest, and said his favorite aspect of the festival was the quality of the crowd. “People are really friendly here, and easy to get along with. Plus, it’s great for people watching.” Although he couldn’t pin down which show he liked best, he said that every set he had caught after dark had blown him away. “It’s hard to choose just one thing. It’s just all a really good time.”