Beyond Wonderland at The Gorge 2024 Immerses attendees in a whimsical world like no other

July 1, 2024

With captivating art and theatrics at every corner, Insomniac has impressed once again with the 2024 edition of Beyond Wonderland at the Gorge.

The Gorge Amphitheater played host to another ecstatic group of ravers this past weekend for Beyond Wonderland at the Gorge 2024. The festival’s fourth edition was also its first since the tragedy that canceled the second day of the 2023 event, and everyone involved demonstrated a remarkable determination to bounce back and create yet another beautiful experience together. Fans and staff alike left this year’s festival full-hearted and inspired by this community’s resilience and unyielding love.

Entering the festival grounds, fans were immediately struck by a myriad of art installations and stellar stage designs with the unmatched backdrop of the Columbia River Gorge. Characters roamed the grounds to add to the experience, from the Queen of Hearts and her loyal playing cards to the Mad Hatter and his trusty White Rabbit. Be it a majestic wooden dragon sculpture, an interactive animal matching game, chess piece hedges, huge caterpillar and butterfly props, amusement rides, or a regal throne, there was something at every corner to keep attendees in a state of wonder.

Naturally, the music was still the main course. The Queen’s Valley mainstage, which often included stageside dancers and even an ASL interpreter, saw top-tier performances from throughout the subgenre spectrum – Dillon Francis, Rezz, Sullivan King, ARMNHMR, Kayzo, and the self-proclaimed Queen of Wonderland for the weekend, Alison Wonderland. The two days were closed out at this stage with dramatically different vibes, with Mellodeath throwing down a thrillingly demonic set on day one and Zedd closing out the festival with a reliably exciting and uplifting set on day two.

The Mad Hatter’s Castle stage hosted a tremendous lineup of bass artists – including plenty of drum and bass – not only during the festival but also for the Friday pre-party. SVDDEN DEATH closed out the pre-party to transition into the festival proper, ushering in such show-stopping acts as Dimension, Smoakland b2b Sippy, Delta Heavy, Jessica Audiffred, and Adventure Club. The one and only Diesel was on hand to finish things up for the weekend with a mosh pit-heavy performance that brought down the Castle.

The Caterpillar’s Garden stage, complete with towering flower sculptures, was home to the house heads for the weekend. SIDEPIECE threw a bona fide rager on day one, and Dombresky provided some much-welcome disco vibes on day two, at one point welcoming a crowd of at least twenty up on stage with him. Bass house was represented by Marten Hørger and Nostalgix, who also played a b2b set together at Mad Hatter’s Castle at the pre-party.

As daylight turned to night on each day, fun and safety were top priorities – Insomniac’s Ground Control patrolled the grounds to distribute everything from water and ibuprofen to headbangs and hugs. Medical and End Overdose tents provided information and as-needed medical attention, and a large shaded lounge with comfy couches served as a respite for anyone who needed a moment to decompress.

With a diverse soundtrack of tunes and a meticulously crafted Wonderland, the weekend was a rousing success. As attendees filed out of the festival and packed up camp the next morning, thoughts and discussions had already turned to Beyond Wonderland at the Gorge 2025 to reunite with their friends and favorite music in a magically surreal setting once again. Another trip down the rabbit hole awaits.