After a fantastic four days in the Poconos, it is clear that Elements Music and Arts Festival is still the premier camping festival in the Northeast United States. The event organizers put time and effort into crafting thoughtful details throughout the festival grounds to create experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.
First and foremost, the event site was decorated well and logically organized. Bright neon colors were everpresent at all five stages inside the festival grounds. Upon entering the festival, the sounds of the Water Stage greeted the crowd, and festivalgoers could easily access concessions and one of the many hydration stations. The Fire Stage was shaped like a triangle and adorned with on-theme pyrotechnics. The Earth Stage had light projections overlaying the perimeter of the stage, making the surrounding art look more trippy at night. Finally, the Air Stage and the Wub Hub were both set back in the woods, giving them an enchanting forest feel.
The musical artists booked for Elements were deep and diverse, offering a variety of EDM genres for people to enjoy. To me, the standout sets from the weekend included Tinlicker at the Air Stage, LP Giobbi at the Water Stage, Skrillex at the Fire Stage, and Level Up at the Earth Stage. Another highlight of the weekend was LSDREAM’s much anticipated Lightcode set Sunday morning, incorporating meditation and breathwork into the calming musical backdrop. Check out MoonLvnding’s Instagram to see daily recap posts with videos from assorted artists.
In addition to the music, there were many other performers that heightened the experiences at each stage. Sticking to the theme of the elements, both the Fire and Air Stages featured fire spinners moving to the music. During the midday heat, the Water Stage had dancers spraying cooling water into the crowds. Over at the Earth Stage, DAM Circus brought a slew of talented aerialists to perform acrobatics near the back of the stage, and on Saturday there were even skydivers raining from the clouds at dusk during Daily Bread’s set. After dark, there were illuminated art installations along the trail through the woods, adding to the ambiance of Elements.
Complementing the fabulous music was an action-packed schedule of seminars and sessions aimed at helping festivalgoers better themselves and learn new skills. To name just a few, there were presentations on breathwork, self-massage, tantric meditation, jewelry making, and plant medicines. There was a plethora of physical activities available too, including yin, acro, and partner yoga, shuffle class, and hip-hop twerk fitness. If only there was more time to be able to attend all the awesome presenters!
One area where Elements truly excelled from other camping fests was the after-party options. By working directly with group camping through its unique Vibe Village setup, the team at Elements allowed groups to set up after-party stages throughout the group camping area. These group-run stages were great for enjoying the afters more intimately with other festivalgoers and hearing music from both underground artists like DiCEMaN and headliners like John Summit.
For those interested in the VIP experience, it was well worth it! Both the Fire and Earth Stages had designated VIP areas off on the sides with a good view of the stage. Even more impressive were the freebies and premium services available in the Vinyl Wellness tented area at Earth Stage. In addition to complimentary coffee, tea, snacks, and a nightly meal served around 7 p.m., there were also wellness offerings including vitamin shots, IV therapy, massages, light therapy, compression therapy, and an oxygen bar.
The fact that this festival is powered by green energy from the adjacent solar power station and gets fresh organic produce from one of the Northeast’s largest organic farms means that the team at Elements puts a high priority on sustainability efforts to protect the environment. It is a very manageable drive from the major airports in New York City and Philadelphia, and the logistics around the event site at the Poconos Raceway in Long Pond, PA were top quality.
Good news for those looking to attend Elements in 2024, presale passes are now available for Elements Music and Arts Festival 2024 at their lowest possible prices. Everything is up for purchase from festival passes, Vibe Village group camping, and premium camping options to Elements hotels, RV passes, and early arrival add-ons. Next year’s festival will take place August 9 – August 12, 2024, at the same wonderful location in the Poconos at Long Pond, PA.
Moon Lvnding had an incredible experience at its first Elements Music and Arts Festival, and we would enthusiastically recommend this fest to anyone looking to try something new during the Summer festival season. If you need any more convincing, just check out this newly released aftermovie from Elements 2023!
