Written by Tiffany Moya
And just like that, I fell in love with New York City. Labor Day weekend, Electric Zoo threw its 10th annual party. Delivering huge headliners with performances by Virtual Self, Tiesto, Kaskade, Martin Garrix, and many more, the weekend was filled with incredible music, dope vibes, and an energy only one city in the world brings.
Unexpected Turn of Events
My anticipation for Zoo had been building steadily over the summer, thus I was horrified to learn the week of, that the entire weekend was going to be a rainy mess. At Zoo 2017, I experienced one of the coldest and most heavy rain experiences of my festival career, so I grudgingly packed up my poncho, rain boots, and a semi-accepting attitude for the anticipated rainy circumstances. Luckily, the storm blew over and the weekend boasted beautiful sunny weather despite a light drizzle early Friday afternoon.
Knowledge to Pass Along
TAKE THE FERRY
New York traffic is no joke, and while walking the bridge to Randall’s Island Park, the location of the festival, is a nice experience, come day two when your feet hurt and you are tired from grooving on the dance floor all day, an easy and convenient mode of transportation back home is key. Located at Kips Bay Harbor, the ferry is centrally located to most of the downtown area making it an ideal location for out of town visitors and locals alike. The ride last approximately fifteen minutes, is well organized, and offers a great panoramic view of the city. In addition, the ferry has a separate entrance into the festival with significantly shorter security and entry lines!
SUNDAY = ANJUNA DAY
Come Sunday, the iconic Anjunabeats logo was a highly present accessory on apparel, perlers, and hats as the Anjuna family flocked towards the “trance” Riverside stage. Here is where Jason Ross, Andrew Bayer, and Ilan Bluestone laid down one of the best B2B sets I have yet to witness. It was a challenge leaving this stage most of the day, and the energy seemed to live on as many attendees continued their evening of fun at the official Electric Zoo Anjunabeats after party, myself included.
WALK AROUND THE GROUNDS!
Zoo seriously stepped up their game with an additional glitter tent, Photo Booth, and cool lounge drinking areas located in the shade. Although the grounds are relatively small the festival hosted tons of art installations. Two of my favorite art installations included a graffitied subway cart (offering a perfect Instagram spot) and the official Electric Zoo figurine which attendees signed. It’s the little things people, and signing the statue with my friends was one of my favorite moments of the weekend!