13 Halloween Music Festivals Better Than Trick-or-Treating

Article by: Casey Berg

Fri October 13, 2017 | 07:52 AM


Oh, Halloween. It's a time where people dress up as their wildest fantasies or spookiest nightmares. A time for sweet treats and scary stories. A time for carving pumpkins on the patio and cobwebs on everything. And most importantly, a time for blaring music and eccentric festivals.

Spanning from coast to coast, check out these festivals all happening on that spooky weekend before Halloween, which unfortunately falls on a Tuesday this year.

Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, New Orleans, Louisiana

With graveyards galore and loads of spooky history, New Orleans provides the perfect setting to host Voodoo Music + Arts Experience. This festival gives a nod to Halloween by encouraging attendees to dress in their wildest costumes and indulge in Cajun culture. To get the true Voodoo Experience, we recommend camping, but you can get the all-around New Orleans experience by lodging in the famous French Quarter. With a monstrous 2017 lineup consisting of Kendrick Lamar, Galantis, and The Killers (to name a few), this festival provides a wide array of daunting beats to keep you moving all night long.

Suwannee Hulaween, Live Oak, Florida

Suwannee Hulaween is the brainchild of the String Cheese Incident, and offers up frights and delights with a lineup that goes from EDM, to jamtronica, to reggae, to funk. And the attendees aren’t the only ones getting in the spirit of Halloween – the artists will also be dressed up in crazy costumes. With the vibe curated by the art director of Electric Forest, Hulaween decks out their spooky mossy trees all over the festival grounds with lights and out-of-this-world installations. This Hallow’s Eve weekend, you can catch Bassnectar, RL Grime, Portugal. The Man, and as always, three nights of The String Cheese Incident.

Escape Psycho Circus, San Bernardino, California

If you seek a fully immersive Halloween experience, look no further. With a theme like Psycho Circus, you can expect a festival where the vibe is decidedly American Horror Story-meets-Electric Daisy Carnival. And what is Halloween without a haunted house? If you dare, there are haunted mazes set up around the festival grounds to give you everyone in your squad the heebie-jeebies. Afrojack, Tiesto, Zedd, and other EDM all-stars will spin haunting beats all weekend.

Wynwood Fear Factory, Miami, Florida

Wynwood Fear Factory is a relative new contender in the ring, but it's coming in hot with a heavy right hook for its second year. With a lineup boasting the likes of Porter Robinson, DJ Snake, and Wiz Khalifa, you will be dancing with the ghouls and goblins 'til the sun rises. And they wouldn’t name it Wynwood Fear Factory without providing the screams. This festival is equipped with scares around every corner, like haunted attractions and sanctioned scare zones throughout the grounds.

BOO! SF, San Francisco, California

Boo 2017 Halloween Festival Lineup

Photo by: Insomniac

BOO! is making its way back to the Bay Area this year for more ghoulish activities to get your body moving. Over the course of two days, electronic DJs like Dillon Francis and Zeds Dead will spin that heart-pounding bass on one massive stage. BOO! SF is just one of the many BOO! Events hosted by EDM giant, Insomniac.

FreakNight Festival, Seattle, Washington

When did clowns go from a symbol of joy to an image from everyone's worst nightmares? Discover this sinister circus equipped with ghostly carnival rides and games, bizarre sideshows, twisted surprises, and monstrous music. Your heart won’t stop racing, partially because of the creepy carnies running amok – but mostly because the startling bass will rattle your insides with every beat. EDM legends Justice and Kaskade headline the show, along with many other turntable talents closely following during one night only!

Something Wicked, Houston, Texas

Check yourself into the Asylum at this year’s Something Wicked. With over 45 incredible turntable talents, unleash your inner dancing demon across three stages, multiple genres, and insane beats. Something Wicked is no stranger to hair-raising production, so we recommend finding time to explore the many scares hiding around every corner. Just make sure your costume is as freaky as the music.

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Get Freaky, Salt Lake City, Utah

We don’t know why Halloween and EDM go hand in hand, but we aren’t complaining. Catch Jauz, Excision, and many others as they get you in the Halloween spirit with their spine-chilling music at the Great Saltair, which is a monstrous venue with only one stage and extremely powerful production. Time to rise from the dead and get freaky!

Freaky Deaky, Multi-City

Looking for somewhere to let your freak flag fly? Look no further than Freaky Deaky, which takes place in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Michigan. Each city holds a different lineup, but expect to find the likes of Griz, Bassnectar, and Oliver Heldens conjuring up spooky sounds. Get as freaky as possible and dress up in your most provocative, scariest, silliest costumery.

Mala Luna Music Festival, San Antonio, Texas

If EDM is not your scene, Mala Luna Music Festival may pique your interest. With headliners consisting of Future, Migos, Wiz Khalifa, and Lil Wayne, this hip-hop festival is an amazing alternative for those looking to celebrate the spooky season. Mala Luna Music Festival takes place an hour away from Austin, Texas, in the culturally rich San Antonio. Let’s show this newcomer what we do best: celebrate!

Hangtown Music Festival, Placerville, California

Imagine your classic bluegrass/jam/funk festival with the decor of a harvest festival, and you have Hangtown Music Festival. Unlike others on this list, Hangtown Music Festival is the perfect place for the whole family to get in the Halloween spirit. If you really want to get in on the fun, each night has a dedicated costume theme to follow. From yoga to pumpkin carving, there is much more to do on in addition to all the incredible music.

Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, Los Angeles, California

Although Camp Flog Gnaw isn’t as daunting as the other festivals with its pastel graphics and all-ages access, it still takes place during Halloween weekend, boasts an incredibly eclectic lineup, and has tons of carnival rides! For instance, Kid Cudi establishes his comeback, with A$AP Rocky, Solange, and Lana Del Rey closely following the leaderboard. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes. Let’s play.

Nightmare Festival, Darlington, Maryland

Nightmare Festival takes place in the notoriously haunted Camp Ramblewood. Face your biggest fears, all while raging to insane music. Get in full Halloween mode by dressing up and building a fire pit to gather around for scary stories. Note: No outside wood is permitted so you have to purchase firewood at the festival. Throughout the festival grounds, you will find loads of creepy art, a chill lounge, and the Gateway to Hell. Enter if you dare..

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Haunted Fest, Multi-City

Haunted Fest is a one-day event that takes place in Columbus, Pittsburgh, Kalamazoo, and Indianapolis. Each city boasts a different lineup filled with EDM superstars like Hardwell, Above & Beyond, and Yellow Claw. There's one main stage at each so you never miss a beat, and a silent disco for when your crew wants to chill out.

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