If you'd like more festival posts, see index at the end of this page, and if you'd like more EDM (mostly trance) show posts (over 200 as of 2023), see: My EDM/Trance/Clubbing Posts
After having good fun at beyond wonderland socal last year, I went back this year and it was definitely fun again. This time, we stayed in Ontario since it was a lot cheaper and taking the shuttle wasn't so bad (even if friday LA traffic sucks). All in all, staying in Ontario was not a bad choice given the limited ok hotels in San Bernardino.
shuttles were well organized overall
Show starts early-ish at 17:00, due to 02:00 curfew, lots of sun :)
Festival Grounds
Beyond wonderland is known for its beautiful decors. This year did not disappoint either:
Great to see sunset:
and of course, looks great at night, and fun to play with the decors:
People
One thing Insomniac really does well is the amount of costumed perfomers. Fun to take pictures with them:
And other fun things :)
People still did a great job bringing their own costumes:
it was cold, not sure how people came wearing almost nothing :)
some tried harder than others :)
Fun pictures with friends:
Day #1
Day 1 was random "not trance" day, so went to see random DJs at random stages ;)
Actually we did have Audien on the first day, nice set with tight mixes:
Also Tiesto happened, it was actually an ok set.
Then left a few minutes early to make it to the shuttle line back before it got too long:
Video of Day #1:
Day #2
Day #2 was the trance day at Cheshire Woods:
Checking out mainstage before the crowds got there:
And on Dreamstate Day, we of course had a Trancefamily Meetup:
Waiting for the night, as always :)
kids, don't forget :)
Great to get a few more pictures with favorite DJs :)
even Ulrich :)
And just like that, it was 02:00 again, and time to go home (or back to the shuttle):
Thanks to insomniac for organizing all of this and all the people who participated with costumes and good vibes.
Video of Day #2:
Should you go? Would I go Back?
If you can, yes. For me? yes, probably (except for the conflict with Miami Music Festival)
Decors are just fantastic, along with the many theme appropriate performers. That's the best part about Beyond Wonderland
Like other insomniac festivals, like EDC and Dreamstate, all the staff truly cares and goes all out. MAny small details that get sometimes missed elsewhere, are usually flawless
Security is more than reasonable as usual, thank you
San Bernardino is not the best city ever, but there are only so many places such festivals can be held, especially with a 02:00 curfew. It works for me, and having shuttles to other cities, was a good idea.
17:00 to 02:00 is 2x 9H with as much nighttime as sound restrictions will allow. Plus, if you really wanted, there was an afterparty.
6 stages is more than I would normally want, but totally different music, so conflicts were not really an issue
Trance was a bit on the light side this year, actually for me the lineup was weaker than last year's but givne all the above, still had a fantastic time.
Is it worth flying across the world for? I would go to EDC first, and then Dreamstate for the music (despite lesser decors and costumes compared to BW), but if you are able to fly there, it's definitely a fun festival to attend.
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