Hulaween 2025 Proves Why It Is One of the Most Creative Festivals In The World
There is nothing quite like Hulaween. Every year, it feels less like a music festival and more like a living, breathing work of art, one where music, creativity, and human connection collide in the most beautiful way. This year’s edition reminded me exactly why Hula holds such a special place in my heart.
The Music
Hulaween 2025 kicked off with pure magic on Thursday night. Festival icons The String Cheese Incident opened with a marathon three-hour set at The Meadow that instantly set the tone for the weekend.
As their final notes faded, crowds flocked to The Hallows for WonkyWilla’s bass-heavy showcase, where he mixed in gritty hip-hop edits from his ‘West Coast Wonk’ flip series.
Thursday’s lineup delivered heat across every corner: Nikita, the Wicked at DEF’s Off Limits stage, Tape B, Mersiv, and their unforgettable B2B were all standouts, while Disco Lines brought his infectious energy to The Amphitheatre before closing the night with a surprise Disco Tape B2B that instantly became legend.
Friday kept the energy high with jam-filled sets from Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and back-to-back String Cheese Incident performances. At Off Limits, Odd Mob unleashed one of the weekend’s most electrifying sets, dropping heavy tech house heaters while the crowd lost their minds, and yes, we even got to dance on stage. Other highlights included Tinlicker, Sultan + Shepard, sunsquabi, borne, and YDG.
Saturday opened on a mindful note with yoga and meditation for LSDREAM’s Lightcode Project before diving into an avalanche of music. Zeds Dead, Dr. Fresch, and Sippy shook The Amphitheatre, while Arc De Soleil and Franc Moody brought alternative, funk, soul, disco, and godly instrumental talent to The Hallows.
Over at Spirit Lake, Gorgon City and Linska delivered sleek house sets, while Conducta and BLOND:ISH dominated Off Limits. BLOND:ISH closed with an ID so good that I’m still hunting for it. The night escalated with Mary Droppinz’s surprise set, chaos in the best way, packed with OG dubstep, brostep, and riddim bangers like “CHOPPER DUB” that had the rail shaking.
Sunday brought one last wave of energy before the long drive home. Sets from Distinct Motive, Sammy Virji, and Maz gave the perfect send-off, radiating deep dubstep, two-step, UK garage, and Afro house grooves that carried us into the sunset.
Spirit Lake
Spirit Lake remains the heartbeat of Hulaween, an immersive dreamscape where art, sound, and imagination collide. We were lucky enough to get a private tour from Creative Director Justin Bolognino, starting at Narrative Nook by RÜTS, a massive woven burrow that felt like stepping inside a creature’s nest.
We passed the fiery domes of Incendia Stage, a glowing, social hub designed by Cory Glenn, and stopped by the whimsical LumaVoid (light and nothingness) Theater, a shadow-play installation inspired by a children’s storybook.
Every turn revealed something new — Steven Teller’s Painters Pyramids, the Mural Maze, and the life-size TeeterMAZE, a collaborative rocking pinball challenge that turned strangers into teammates.
The Wandering Lion Tea Sanctuary offered a tranquil escape, serving Gong Fu Cha tea in quiet ceremony, while SYNTHesthesia Crystals combined light and sound in a dazzling audio-reactive display. The Birdhouse Village by Duende Builds, complete with a mirrored sphere nest centerpiece, led into the House of Lost, a gothic spire-filled cathedral.
And, of course, there was The Spider by Thomas Dambo, a breathtaking Spirit Lake staple guarding her woven nest and dozens of glowing eggs. Between all of these, plus fire dancers, acrobats, and projection mapping, Spirit Lake reminded us once again why it is the soul of Suwannee.
Camping, Arrival & Departure
Arrival this year was… an adventure. It took roughly two hours to get our RV parked in The Fish Bowl camping area, slowed by a mix of unclear directions and nighttime confusion. Several staff members seemed misinformed, pointing people in different directions, which only made navigating the dark roads trickier. My biggest tip: arrive during daylight. Despite the chaos of check-in, Hulaween’s signage was plentiful, and departure couldn’t have been smoother.
Once settled, camping was a dream. The weather was flawless; sunny days, cool nights, and zero rain. With a few layers after sunset, it was complete comfort. The campground buzzed with laughter, music, and impromptu jam sessions, making every walk back to camp an experience of its own.
Costumes
If Hulaween had a theme this year, it was creativity unleashed. Every person felt like walking art. From Harry Potter wizards (myself included) to couples dressed as Shaggy and Velma, to inflatable mushrooms bouncing across the field, the festival crowd embodied joy and imagination.
Onesies made a comeback for warmth, but standout pieces stole the show, especially one pair of pants covered in a vibrant collage of pop-culture icons and movie characters that everyone stopped to admire. The crowd’s spirit was unmatched: warm, welcoming, and wildly expressive.
One of the biggest highlights was discovering Noralina Freedom Designs, a traveling festival vendor whose mission is to empower women to embody the goddess within. Their pieces are ethically made using upcycled and surplus materials, giving every outfit a story of its own. My girlfriend picked up two incredible looks that will easily become centerpieces in her rave wardrobe for years, one of which was last worn at a wedding in India. It was such a special reminder of how fashion at festivals can carry meaning, creativity, and sustainability all at once.
Food & Beverage
Food at Hulaween is its own festival. The culinary MVP this year was Pancake at the Disco. Their mini pancakes — Little Wookie (Oreos) and Campfire Creature (marshmallows and graham crackers) — were little bites of heaven. It felt like a DEF: Off Limits set for your taste buds.
We devoured Cajun plates near The Hallows, jambalaya, bourbon chicken, and red beans with rice, all bursting with flavor. This was followed by a delicious cup of Kava in Spirit Lake. And while the final-day chicken tenders were standard festival fare, they hit the spot after a long weekend of dancing.
Final Thoughts
Hulaween continues to be one of the most creative and heart-filled festivals in the country. From The String Cheese Incident’s epic jams to Odd Mob’s tech house takeover, the lineup transcended genre. Small discoveries, like finding Noralina Freedom Designs and their sustainable, goddess-inspired fashion, captured the festival’s deeper essence of conscious collaboration. As predicted, Spirit Lake was as enchanting as ever, a living, breathing canvas of imagination.
Each year, Hulaween reminds me what it means to feel alive, connected, and inspired. It is more than a festival. It is a family, a work of art, and a world I never want to leave. 11/10 would recommend.
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Cover Photo Courtesy of Aaron Bradly
