Beyond Wonderland Chicago succeeded again in its return to the Windy City. Insomniac got the whole city dancing with a variety of talented artists playing across four stages. The Caterpillar’s Garden and Cheshire Woods stages were set up in large tents this year. Each tent featured a spacious dance floor along with a VIP viewing section. This was a great way to escape the windy weather and see some great performances.
D.O.D had the crowd dancing on day one at the Caterpillar’s Garden when he played a fan-favorite song, “Still Sleepless.” Caterpillar’s Garden was hosted by Insomniac Records on Day 1 and Day Trip on Day 2. It featured a mix of house and techno artists throughout the festival. While Cheshire Woods also utilized a large tent, it had more of a melodic bass lineup with artists such as ARMNHMR and Netsky that made the audience feel like they were entering another dimension.
The Queen’s Domain was located by the entrance and hosted headliners such as Illenium and Marshmello. It featured a large general admission section with VIP viewing sections on both sides. There was a 3-story VIP tent on the right side of the stage with couches, a private bar, and complimentary treats and trinkets. The different stories gave guests a beautiful view of the stage and the stunning Chicago skyline in the back.
Slander performed an amazing set there on Day 1 which had the whole audience screaming the lyrics to their songs. Marshmello followed by headlining Queen’s Domain with a high-energy set where he remixed his hit songs “Come and Go” and “Alone.” This was also the stage where Illenium headlined on Day 2 and poured his heart into a very emotional performance. He ended the set with a remix of his hit “Good Things Fall Apart,” which had the crowd singing their hearts out.
Mad Hatter’s Castle brought so much energy to the festival, showcasing dubstep and trap. Crankdat, Wooli, and Ganja White Night played here on Day 1 when it was hosted by Bassrush. On Day 2, AC Slater and Chris Lorenzo also performed an insane B2B set called Fly With Us. There was a very spacious general admission area with amazing views of the lasers. This stage also featured a special VIP section on the side that included bean bags as well as lockers and charging stations exclusively for VIP ticket holders.
In addition to these four amazing stages, there were a variety of vendors and booths. BeatBox was giving out complimentary fans, towels, and scrunchies. Electrolit gave out free samples to keep everyone hydrated. There was even a tent called Oasis, which was the perfect place to calm down and relax during the festival. Full of bean bags and calming activities like coloring, this was the perfect place to take a break and recharge. Ground Control staff monitored the area and kept it a safe space for everyone.
On top of all of the stages and booths, there were carnival rides in the center of the festival. Both the Ferris Wheel and the swing carousel had beautiful views of both the festival and the Chicago skyline from the very top.
There were some unfortunate circumstances regarding the weather on Day 2 due to lightning in the area, but Insomniac handled everything effectively, keeping its guests safe while also doing everything they could to keep the festival going. The festival had to shut down for about an hour due to safety guidelines revolving around the lighting while guests sheltered around the venue. However, as soon as it was safe to reopen the gates, the festival resumed quickly, and the energy returned in full force.
Overall, Beyond Wonderland Chicago was a huge success. From the creativity involved in the stage production and the amazing artist performances, to the staff working tirelessly to make sure each guest was having fun and staying safe from the weather. Not even a storm could rain on our wonderland!
