Elements Music Festival took place from August 8th to 11th at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania, marking its third year at this renowned venue. Originally a smaller event at a sleepaway camp, the festival has grown impressively each year, now featuring four stages themed around the elements—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. This year’s lineup was stacked with major headliners, creating an electrifying atmosphere that was hard to beat.
As someone who has attended in previous years, I was struck by the noticeable upgrades throughout the festival. Elements is anything but a money grab; you can feel the dedication to quality in every detail. The organizers have a clear perfectionist streak, ensuring that no corners are cut and that every aspect of the event is designed to enhance the experience. The focus on creating a truly immersive and entertaining festival is palpable, making Elements stand out as a top-tier event.
Water Stage
The first major upgrade that caught my eye upon entering the festival was the Water Stage. In previous years, this stage had a more tribal look and was situated in the main area of the festival. However, this year, it transformed into a breathtaking indoor-outdoor experience, tucked away along the treelined and was dominated by a massive octopus structure that completely encapsulated the stage! The octopus’s eyes lit up with vibrant colors, and the entire setup was adorned with intricate, colorful patterns. The stage had a 360-degree layout, making it an exhilarating spot to dance under. To enhance the underwater theme, they even brought out giant octopus tentacles that moved through the crowd during headliner performances, adding an extra layer of immersion that made the stage truly come to life!
Earth Stage
In previous years, the festival’s main area housed three stages in close proximity, but with the Water Stage now relocated to its own dedicated space, the Earth and Fire stages were given more room to shine. This change allowed the organizers to infuse both stages with incredible artwork and creativity. The Earth Stage, in particular, featured stunning projection mapping that brought its design to life, especially at night, with animated faces that perfectly captured the festival’s theme. Hosting major acts like Barclay Crenshaw, Hamdi, and Illenium, the stage truly felt like a centerpiece of the event. The sound quality was also noticeably improved, with no bleed between stages, making the Earth Stage a standout experience in every way.
Air Stage
The Air Stage, nestled among the trees in the main festival area, is one of the event’s most captivating spots. It feels like you’re stepping into a hidden world, with a magical entrance that winds through the trees, adorned with art installations and interactive activities along the way. Once inside, you’re welcomed by a vibrant atmosphere, often accompanied by the pulse of house music. The sound system has seen significant upgrades, with massive speaker stacks on either side of the stage, ensuring top-notch audio quality. For those looking to unwind, hammocks strung between the trees offer the perfect place to relax and soak in the vibes. Despite the heavy rain on Friday, which turned the area into a muddy landscape, festival-goers didn’t let it dampen their spirits. The stage still drew massive crowds, who embraced the mud and kept the energy high, making it one of the standout experiences of the weekend.
Fire Stage
The Fire Stage is one of the festival’s most impressive highlights, though it’s tough to pick a favorite when every stage is so meticulously crafted and detailed. The Fire Stage stands out with its elevated design, featuring built-in platforms where fire spinners and flow artists dazzle the crowd alongside the DJs. This dynamic element enhances the experience, especially with the flames synchronized to the drops in the music. Nearby, there’s also a “fire cave” to explore, with a unique fire display atop the structure, offering a warm and cozy retreat.
The fire theme is carried through every detail of the stage, even down to the fireworks that light up the night. Hosting some of the biggest names in the industry—like Cloonee, Green Velvet, Chris Lake, and Kaskade—this stage truly embodies the festival’s commitment to delivering a top-tier experience. Elements spares no expense when it comes to their lineup, with massive artists performing on every stage, making the Fire Stage an unforgettable part of the event.
Interactive Activities
The festival is brimming with interactive activities that truly enhance the experience. One standout is the yoga sessions, which are infused with a musical element, creating a serene yet energizing atmosphere. If you glance above, you’ll even notice a charming mini stage set up, adding another layer of surprise and delight. The festival’s attention to detail is evident everywhere, reinforcing the theme that no aspect is overlooked.
Freak Show
One of my favorite new additions this year was the Freak Show stage. It’s a quirky, imaginative setup that feels right at home alongside the eclectic vibe of Frick Frack. Designed to host a variety of creative performances, this stage features everything from drag shows and lip-sync battles to twerk contests and more. Perfectly situated near the food area, it offers the ideal spot to grab a bite and enjoy some lively entertainment. The whole area has a playful, lighthearted atmosphere that made it a joy to sit down between sets and catch a fun, silly show. The attention to entertainment at this festival is undeniably top-tier.
Frick Frack
If you’re not familiar with Frick Frack, it’s an intriguing setup where you can play an authentic game of blackjack with a twist—no money involved! Instead, you bet unique and quirky items, and the prizes are just as creative. People show up with the most outlandish things to wager—some even bet their eyebrows! It’s an experience that’s both fun and unpredictable. The games can last a while, so be sure to get there early and stay late. It’s a fantastic, interactive activity that offers a refreshing break from the music, making it a must-try during the festival.
Lumberjack Yard
There’s a fascinating area I’d describe as a “lumberjack yard,” featuring some inventive, mining-inspired activities. This unique space showcases a band that creates music from old scrap metals, delivering a one-of-a-kind performance that feels like a step back in time, reminiscent of old garage bands making magic with whatever they had on hand. The area buzzes with performances throughout the weekend and has a distinctly late-night vibe. Adding to the intrigue, there’s also a fire element that captures the attention of festival-goers. It’s definitely a distinctive experience you won’t find at other festivals.
Vendor Area
This year’s festival boasts a vibrant new addition: an entire food court area, complete with a variety of vendors, turf, and picnic tables surrounded by striking artwork. A highlight of this year’s upgrades is the addition of a Ferris wheel, offering a fantastic vantage point to take in the festival from above. The enhanced food court area provides a more comfortable and social dining experience, with shaded areas to keep you cool while you eat. This lively space not only makes your meals more enjoyable but also adds to the festival’s dynamic atmosphere.
Renegades
My absolute favorite part of the festival this year was the Renegades. These sound camps, which feature mini stages that go all night long, really stole the show. Previously, sound camps were scattered throughout the general area, but this year, they were all concentrated in a dedicated space, making it so much easier to “Renny Hop” from one to another. The setup was a circular path, allowing seamless transitions between camps during your late-night adventures. The Renegades were, without a doubt, the most impressive I’ve ever experienced.
On Friday, when the main events were canceled, all the top headliners came to this sound camp area and played for the festival-goers throughout the night. This thoughtful setup, directly supported by the festival, was the best I’ve ever seen and is a major reason why I’d keep coming back every year!
Conclusion
This year’s festival has truly set a new standard with its impressive array of upgrades and unique features. The Water Stage, with its spectacular octopus centerpiece and vibrant underwater theme, offered an unforgettable experience enhanced by synchronized flames and giant tentacles. The Earth Stage, now more expansive and meticulously detailed, featured top-tier performances and a perfect sound setup that elevated the overall atmosphere. The Air Stage, tucked away among the trees, provided a whimsical retreat with its musical yoga sessions and upgraded sound system, despite the muddy conditions on Friday.
One of the standout additions was the Freak Show stage, which brought a delightful mix of creative performances and a playful vibe, seamlessly integrating with the food area for a fun and interactive break from the music. The lumberjack yard, with its scrap metal music and fire elements, added a unique and nostalgic touch, making it a memorable part of the festival.
The festival also introduced a vibrant food court area with turf, picnic tables, and a Ferris wheel, enhancing the dining experience and social atmosphere. However, the crown jewel of the festival for me was the Renegades—the dedicated sound camps that, with their new layout, made “Renny Hopping” more enjoyable than ever. Their standout performances, especially when the main headliners took over on Friday night, solidified the festival’s commitment to delivering an exceptional and immersive experience.
Overall, the thoughtful additions and improvements this year not only enhanced the festival’s offerings but also created an environment that’s hard to top, ensuring that attendees have a memorable and engaging experience from start to finish.
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