Electronic music fans enjoy Nocturnal Wonderland at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore on Sept. 21, 2013. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)
Before even entering the grounds of San Manuel Amphitheater, Nocturnal Wonderland was a kaleidoscope of color. The tens of thousands of attendees came wearing rainbow tutus and flower crowns, eyes bedazzled with sparkling jewels. They lit up the night with glow sticks and flashing LED accessories, wrists covered in kandi, the name for homemade multicolored beaded bracelets popular with ravers.
Inside the grounds, multicolored laser lights shone from five stages as the masses, costumed and not, danced inside the Devore venue re-imagined into an electronic dance music playground out of “Alice in Wonderland” to artists such as Porter Robinson and Sander Van Doorn.
PHOTO GALLERY: Scenes from Nocturnal Wonderland
Aaron Calderon, of Buena Park, compared the festival to a modern Woodstock, with “good music and a lot of good vibes.”
Nocturnal Wonderland is the longest running festival of mammoth electronic music promoter Insomniac Events, and was often held at the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino. The event was Insomniac’s second on the grounds.
If you’ve ever been to a show at the amphitheater, this is nothing like it. The main amphitheater isn’t even used, sitting dark and blocked off. The five stages are set up on the grounds outside of it.
Up on the venue’s massive lawn, where thousands of Iron Maiden fans banged their heads earlier this month, a giant stage was erected, with Nocturnal’s mascot, Owlie, built in the center of the area known as the Sunken Garden, presiding over the DJs below. Owlie opened his eyes to reveal hypnotic lights while two giant mushroom sculptures changed colors on either side of the stage.
Fedde le Grand performs next to a giant tree on the Labyrinth stage at Nocturnal Wonderland at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore on Sept. 21, 2013. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)
Another large stage, the Labyrinth, was set up opposite a Ferris Wheel and mechanical swings, and featured a tree with eyes in the middle of the stage, with and large teapots flanking it and lanterns above while artists like Fedde le Grand Fedde le Grand spun on the stage below.
The wild visuals are among the festival’s attractions.
“It’s like you’re getting away from reality,” said Janet Rosas, a Loma Linda resident.
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For Jess Guido, who grew up in Riverside and recently returned from teaching English abroad in China, Nocturnal Wonderland represented freedom of expression and music after living in a country where censorship is the norm.
“This is what I missed the most,” she said.
Want more Nocturnal Wonderland coverage? Check out our photo gallery of Scenes from Nocturnal Wonderland and even more photos from Nocturnal Wonderland.