By Savannah Padgett & Rob Burnet
After unveiling Hulaween’s 2024 “Weir’d Science” theme, it was clear this year’s festival would be out of this world. With performances from electronic music favorites like Bou, Chase and Status, Zingara, Of The Trees, AK Renny, and Phyphr, alongside classic Hulaween acts like Sublime, The String Cheese Incident, and The Bobby Weir Incident, this year’s festival was truly one for the books. Aside from the electrifying music performances, Hulaween is filled with mesmerizing art installations, enlightening workshops, and countless opportunities for attendees to embark on the ultimate side quest.
Spirit Lake Wonders and Workshops
Walking into Spirit Lake on the first day is a magical experience, with the entire area brimming with art, music, and nature. It’s one of the best—and most shaded—spots at the festival, perfect for enjoying the incredible workshops and art installations scattered throughout or simply relaxing by the lake. For those seeking a fulfilling morning before going into full wook mode, The Oasis and The Deliberate Creation Station offered vibrant workshops throughout the festival.
Friday Workshops
Friday morning kicked off with Liquid Space Disco Yoga at the Oasis, led by Alic Higgins and Damen Sarceno, where attendees could start their day with a relaxing yoga session to stretch and prepare for the weekend, followed by funky beats to dance to. Next up was Art for Your Heart, an emotional painting workshop led by Calypso at The Deliberate Creation Station. This session began with guided meditation to help attendees enter a safe space and reflect inward. Participants were then provided with painting supplies and encouraged to express what they felt in their hearts on a piece of wood, creating a hanging ornament to take home.
The day continued at The Deliberate Creation Station with Crystal Jewelry Wrapping for Beginners, led by Sara Carreau of Soul Sunshine Goods. A talented artist and holistic healer, Sara creates her own crystal-wrapped jewelry and other forms of art. She provided each participant with a crystal and demonstrated how to effectively wrap it into a beautiful piece of jewelry. Following this creative session, Slinky Josh led an exciting Slinky Manipulation 101 workshop at the Oasis, where participants each received a slinky and learned crowd-pleasing tricks. To close out the day before the evening’s music, Sara and Skye guided attendees through an enlightening Chakra Yoga and Reiki Circle, helping set positive intentions for the weekend.
Saturday Workshops
Saturday morning began with a peaceful Psychedelic Sound Bath led by Mady Jane, offering a soothing start to ease the chaos from the night before. This was followed by a Good Morning Stretch into Nidra Nirvana with Barbara Alfonzo, both experiences designed to clear out any lingering negativity and foster a sense of belonging and relaxation among festival-goers. To spark creativity, The Deliberate Creation Station hosted a black-and-white forest painting class led by Ania Amador. Set in the heart of Spirit Lake, the natural landscape provided the perfect inspiration and backdrop for the workshop.
To round out the day, attendees joined the Women in Production Panel with Art in Session, where industry professionals shared insights and tips on navigating creative careers. These inspiring women discussed their journeys, sharing both the challenges and triumphs of pursuing their passions, and offered advice on finding success and fulfillment in creative work.
Sunday Workshops
The final day of Hulaween was as thrilling as the first. The day began with an opening Cacao Circle and Higher Self Activation led by Ursa Collective. This activation included a guided meditation to help participants achieve clarity, followed by a cacao ceremony honoring the environment and the world around us. Participants savored their cacao while setting intentions for the final festival day ahead.
This was followed by Yoga: Everything All at Once with Kendall Barker, an energizing yoga session that stretched every part of the body—much needed after a long weekend of walking and dancing. Participants left feeling rejuvenated and ready for the day. Immediately afterward, Spirit Lake’s creative director Justin Bolognino led a session at The Deliberate Creation Station, sharing insights into the planning and implementation of Spirit Lake’s elaborate art installations. He discussed what he looks for in artists, the creative vision, and the late-night projection shows that have become Spirit Lake’s signature.
Later, Sara Carreau returned with Soul Painting DIY, a workshop that guided participants through a meditation connecting them to their inner selves. Using colors and words, they painted pieces that represented who they are and who they aspire to be. To conclude the weekend’s festivities, Art in Session hosted a closing Cacao Ceremony at The Deliberate Creation Station. This reflective session allowed participants to look back on their experiences and the connections they made throughout the festival. With a final cup of cacao, attendees left Spirit Lake feeling fulfilled and proud of their time spent at Hulaween.
Artistic Wonder
Aside from the incredible workshops and activations, Spirit Lake offered even more to explore. One of the most captivating attractions was a live painting mural maze, located in the heart of Spirit Lake between the Oasis and the Deliberate Creation Station. Throughout the weekend, various artists painted murals in real-time, allowing attendees to witness the creative process up close. Many of these artists also showcased other creative pieces for sale in an artist collective near the Oasis stage, displaying a wide range of unique artwork.
This area of the venue also featured three main stages: House of Lost, OFF LIMITS, and Spirit Lake. While all were visually stunning, those who caught a set at the House of Lost experienced not only incredible music but also a meticulously designed art installation that left attendees in awe. The stage area included cozy church-style seating and breathtaking stage design, with both indoor and outdoor areas furnished with couches and tables—perfect for relaxing or capturing the ultimate festival photo. Toward the back of the seating area stood a small wooden shack where attendees could overlook the stage. At its entrance, Poet Juan Lli offered emotional, heartfelt poems on any topic or for any person attendees wished, adding a unique touch to the experience.
Check out some of the amazing artists and creators who contributed to this year’s workshops below!
A Revamped Playground for Musical Magic
The Hulaween team outdid themselves in 2024, conjuring a layout that perfectly married the familiar with the fantastically new. Outside of Spirit Lake, the festival’s larger stages—including the Meadows, Hallows, and Amphitheatre—were laid out in their usual prime locations. These all brought incredible sound and performances but Spirit Lake stole the show, revamped with an imaginative reconfiguration of over 40 mesmerizing art installations and interactive spaces. There, the eerie yet entrancing House of Lost transformed into a soulful live performance venue at dusk, while the Oasis doubled as a comfy late-night house music lounge. The Incendia stage was not its former self as it was downsized to a performance stage for fire dancing. This is because Incendia teamed up with Atlanta’s women-led collective DEF (Define Everything Future) to introduce OFF LIMITS—a 360-degree stage experience powered by extensive pyrotechnics, making a fiery impact that took the place of the previous Campground Stage. This electrifying addition was a central highlight, merging sound and spectacle in a truly unforgettable way.
Meadows & Hallows Stages
The Meadow and Hallows stages anchored the weekend’s jam-band and rock lineup, featuring legendary acts like Sublime, The Bobby Weir Incident, and The String Cheese Incident. Unfortunately, Tash Sultana, one of the most anticipated performers, had to cancel due to health issues but recently posted an update on Instagram, “I’ve been a bit quiet on here lately intentionally. I’ve been navigating a little bit of health stuff and realigning my priorities as a human being and as an artist. I’m getting fit, I dyed my hair, I’ve spent time with my favorite people and I just am not allowing the time to feel like shit.” Fans of bass were well rewarded on the Hallows stage the first two days, with exhilarating sets from Levity, Of The Trees, CloZee, and Tipper, who delivered one of his final festival performances—a bittersweet but powerful send-off for fans of his transcendent soundscapes.
Amphitheatre Stage
Set cozily among the trees, the Amphitheatre stage provided an intimate yet expansive space that bridged Spirit Lake’s mystical energy with the larger open-air zones. With its bowl shape, this stage offered fantastic views from almost every angle—though this year, the slight left turn of the setup meant a side view for much of the right section of the crowd. Any minor inconvenience was quickly forgotten, thanks to stunning sets by the highly anticipated Chase & Status, who unleashed relentless energy, Liquid Stranger’s sonic odyssey, and Maddy O’Neal’s funky bass grooves. Phyphr brought his blend of electro-soul and live guitar, while The Sponges soaked the early birds in their signature disco-infused beats, turning the Amphitheatre into an all-out dance party.
Spirit Lake Stage
At the heart of Spirit Lake, the projection-mapped Spirit Lake stage delivered an eclectic mix of genres and visual artistry. Performances by LP Giobbi, Walker & Royce, and Kyle Walker pumped energy into the crowd with groovy, house-driven beats, while Township Rebellion, &Friends, and Cassian explored deeper, melodic soundscapes. Kyle Walker’s driving tech house basslines and G Jones’ trappy experimental sunset were major highlights, pulling crowds into a kaleidoscopic experience that was both visual and auditory bliss.
OFF LIMITS Stage
Finally, the DEF OFF LIMITS stage stood as the weekend’s crowning jewel, bringing the most cutting-edge sound and high-energy vibes to Hulaween. Designed as an immersive 360-degree experience with Funktion One sound and Incendia pyro, OFF LIMITS featured some of the weekend’s top moments. Across this stage, house, techno, UKG, and bass came alive, with Azzecca’s dark yet lively house and techno enchanting a massive audience to dance their tails off, and Will Clarke’s gritty, industrial techno driving the crowd into an absolute frenzy. Riordan brought that UK underground energy with his fast-paced basslines, while Taiki Nulight’s trademark blend of bass house and UKG grooves kept the beats pumping relentlessly. Bou hit hard with his heavy drum and bass, while Ayybo infused the stage with funky, bouncy tech-house beats that had the crowd swinging. Know Good’s high-energy bass drops added to the stage’s pulse. Also a hub for the secret sensations, OFF LIMITS hosted surprise performances including Chris Lake, who switched the vibe after his Amphitheatre set and ignited the dance floor with his darker tech house mastery, and a thrilling Levity B2B Eater set that turned up the excitement on night one. With appearances from Ravenscoon and a rare Of The Trees B2B Eazybaked set, OFF LIMITS became an unmissable celebration of genre-crossing talent and high-octane performances.
Hulaween 2024 was a masterclass in festival magic, combining world-class music with a truly immersive environment. From the reimagined Spirit Lake art installations to the interactive workshops and multi-purpose spaces like the House of Lost and Oasis, every corner offered something to captivate the senses. The DEF OFF LIMITS stage delivered an unforgettable fusion of high-energy beats, while the projection-mapped Spirit Lake stage and the tree-lined Amphitheatre showcased stellar performances that kept the vibe spooky all weekend. With a crowd that was as vibrant and enthusiastic as the music itself, Hulaween proved once again that it’s more than just a festival—it’s a full-blown, one-of-a-kind experience where art, sound, and community come together in perfect harmony.
Keep up with all things mystical at Hulaween using the links below:
