It’s been seven years since BOO! last made an appearance in Arizona, but Insomniac made sure its return was worth the wait. Taking over WestWorld of Scottsdale on October 30 and 31, BOO! Arizona brought together a packed lineup, impressive stage production, and thousands of ravers dressed for the occasion.
With Halloween falling on Saturday, the festival couldn’t have asked for a better weekend to make its comeback. And judging by the effort people put into their costumes, Arizona was more than ready to welcome it back.
Inside BOO! Arizona
Walking into WestWorld, it was clear Insomniac hadn’t cut corners on production. The stages were massive, with towering LED screens, lasers, and lighting rigs that made the entire room feel like part of the show.
The festival featured two stages, Moonlight Manor and The Library, giving attendees a chance to bounce between different sounds throughout the night. Both had their own personality, but the production was easily one of the biggest takeaways from the weekend.
The visuals were sharp, the sound packed a punch, and there was plenty happening onstage to keep your attention even when you weren’t familiar with the artist playing. It’s one thing to book a great lineup, but having the production to match makes a huge difference.
And while the stages were impressive, the crowd might have been just as entertaining.
Halloween brings out a different side of festivalgoers, and BOO! was no exception. Everywhere you looked, someone had put serious effort into their outfit. There were coordinated group costumes, recognizable characters, ridiculous inflatable suits, and plenty of looks that probably took weeks to put together.
People were stopping for photos, laughing at each other’s costumes, and getting into the holiday spirit. Half the fun was just walking around and seeing what everyone came up with.
It’s one of the things that makes a Halloween rave different from any other festival weekend. The crowd isn’t just there to watch the show. They’re part of it.
The Weather Had Other Plans
One thing that worked out surprisingly well was the venue itself.
With rain rolling through the Valley over Halloween weekend, having BOO! indoors turned out to be a blessing. While the weather outside wasn’t exactly ideal for a festival, everything inside WestWorld carried on without having to worry about soaked crowds or muddy grounds.
The indoor setting also worked well for the production. With the room dark throughout the night, the lasers, lighting, and LED visuals were able to do their thing from the first set to the last.
Sometimes things just work out, and this was definitely one of those times.
Two Nights of Music
Of course, BOO! had plenty going on musically, too.
Zedd, The Chainsmokers, Seven Lions, Deorro, James Hype, Dombresky, Virtual Riot, and PEEKABOO were just some of the names spread across the weekend.
The lineup covered a lot of ground, from house and techno to dubstep and melodic bass. That variety kept things interesting, especially with two stages to choose from.
Rather than spending the entire night in one spot, attendees could move between stages depending on what they were in the mood for. You could catch some house music, head over for a heavier bass set, and end up somewhere completely different an hour later.
And with the level of production behind each stage, even catching an artist you hadn’t planned on seeing could turn into one of the better moments of the night.
A Welcome Return to the Valley
Arizona’s electronic music scene looks a lot different than it did when BOO! last came through in 2019. The festival calendar has grown, more artists are making stops in the Valley, and there’s no shortage of events happening throughout the year.
Still, having BOO! back felt like a welcome addition.
Halloween is already one of the best weekends of the year for dance music, and having a dedicated two-day festival right here in Scottsdale gave Arizona ravers another way to celebrate without traveling out of state.
Insomniac delivered on the things that matter most for an event like this. The stages looked great, the production was on point, and the crowd showed up ready to have a good time.
There wasn’t any need to reinvent the Halloween festival. Good music, great production, and a room full of people dressed in ridiculous costumes turned out to be a pretty solid combination.
After seven years away, BOO! Arizona made a strong case for becoming a regular Halloween tradition in the Valley.
