Rave culture began in illegal, underground parties that took place during the late 80’s and early 90’s in abandoned warehouses and fields. These events embodied a rebellious, countercultural spirit, focusing on community, creativity, and pushing the boundaries of music and self-expression. Halloween, with its inherent celebration of the unusual and eerie, became the perfect backdrop to amplify these themes. As raves have evolved, Halloween events continue to incorporate immersive, spooky and thematic elements, transforming the holiday into one of the most anticipated nights in the EDM scene.
Emerging from these underground Halloween events, multiple large festivals have found themselves to be household favorites, including Hulaween, Freaky Deaky and Escape: Psycho Circus. Each of these festivals is rooted in both Halloween and rave culture, encouraging attendees to express themselves through music, art, and costumes.
Since 2013, Hulaween is an annual music and camping festival that takes place over Halloween weekend, this year being October 24-27, at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida. This festival is known for being genre-fluid, with lineups that range from electronic, indie, bluegrass, funk, hip-hop, soul and more. The 2024 lineup showcases the versatility of Hulaween, including headliners Chase and Status, Tipper, Sublime, The Bobby Weir Incident and more. Aside from the headliners, Hulaween 2024 will include an amazing selection of main acts, including AK Renny, Alleycvt, Bou, Manic Focus, Ravenscoon and many others. For those looking to embrace their spooky side, Hulaween is one of the top festivals to celebrate Halloween, offering a unique blend of live music and haunting art installations.
Since 2008, Freaky Deaky has been bringing the spooky vibes to Texas, with Halloween themed games, music, art, costume contests and carnival rides. This years festival will be held on October 26 and 27 at Travis County Exposition Center in Austin, Texas. Saturday’s lineup includes popular acts such as, Chase and Status, Bou, Louis the Child (Playground Set), Dombresky, Lyny, and many more. Sunday has an equally stacked lineup, featuring Apashe, Deathpact, Infekt, Level up, Mersiv, Subtronics, Superave, Vampa, among others.
Escape: Psycho Circus has been a staple Halloween festival since 2011, taking place this year on October 25 and 26 at the National Orange Show Event Center in San Bernardino, California. Friday’s lineup features the talents of Alison Wonderland, Emorfik, Level Up, Wooli, Peekaboo and many more. Saturday will have performances from Adventure Club, Hamdi, Justin Jay, Meduza, Odd Mobb, Seven Lions, Two Friends, among others. Escape will also be hosting multiple B2B’s and special sets, such as Afroki (Afrojack B2B Steve Aoki), Dog Eat Dog (Crankdat B2B Riot Ten), Ghastly presnts Ghenghar, Samuel FU B2B TTR, Ben Klock B2B Marcel Dettmann, Frosttop B2B Remk, Joshwa B2B Riordan, Mary Droppinz (UKG Set) and SJ Slayyyter (DJ Set). For those on the West Coast, this is not one to miss! Secure your festival passes now, as tickets are currently 90% sold out.
Festival fashion has always celebrated inclusivity, embracing everyone’s unique style. Attendees are encouraged to express themselves freely, wearing outfits that make them feel confident and authentic. Halloween festival fashion takes this a step further by adding costumes to the mix, allowing even more room for creativity and self-expression. Some festivals, such as Hulaween, are known for festival-goers putting their best foot forward with show-stopping halloween fits, with some even planning elaborate group costumes. Whether bold, spooky, or fun, Halloween festival fashion turns every attendee into a part of the spectacle, making the event as unforgettable as the music itself.
Halloween isn’t just about festivals and costumes; it’s also a time for spooky music that sets the holiday mood. RL Grime leads the way with his annual Halloween Mixtape, bringing thrilling vibes that fans look forward to each year. Since its debut in 2012, the mixtape has become a Halloween staple, with fans eagerly awaiting its release and artists hoping for the call to be included in the mix. We’ve linked all of the past Halloween tracks below—check back soon for his 2024 version!
