Elements Festival 2024: A seamless synergy of dance music and nature’s splendor

For its third year in its new (and seemingly permanent) home at the Pocono Raceway, Elements Festival has drawn attendees from across the East Coast and beyond with stellar production, sought-after names in EDM, enchanting art installations, and most importantly, a convergence of some of the kindest and most loving souls in the dance music community.

In the months, weeks, and days leading up to the event, Elements has been top of mind for attendees for many reasons. First of all, it’s one of the only major EDM festivals in the Northeast. While local fans can get their live music fix in major surrounding cities like NYC and Philly, it’s not every day they can retreat to the woods and get lost in the music beneath the canopy of majestic oak trees. Elements fulfills that innate craving we all have to dance our hearts out to our favorite artists while savoring the sights and sounds of nature.

Each year, Elements Festival expands its offerings—both literally, as the grounds grow, and figuratively, as the artist lineup continues to impress—further cementing its commitment to becoming the East Coast’s premier EDM festival experience.

Top DJ sets at Elements 2024

We felt extra special to witness some phenomenal performances that deserve mention in this article.

Justin Martin at the Air Stage

The vibes were just right on Saturday night when Justin Martin hit the Air Stage. For those unfamiliar, this stage is nestled in the woods, with various treehouse-like platforms for fans to dance on. Justin Martin brought an amazing energy that flowed effortlessly through the crowd and between the trees, making it nearly impossible to stand still as he dropped banger after banger.

DCAL at the Fire Stage

Florida-based DJ DCAL has become a regular at Elements and is certainly a crowd favorite. His Saturday afternoon performance was a massive party that set the tone for a great official first day of the festival.

LSDREAM at the Earth Stage

An LSDREAM set is always a treat, but this one felt extra special. The projection mapping at the Earth Stage elevated the trippy, psychedelic vibe that the artist is known for. A standout moment was when LSDREAM brought friend and collaborator CloZee onstage for an unforgettable performance.

Dimension at the Water Stage

For those in need of a drum and bass fix, Dimension delivered absolute bangers on Sunday evening at the Water Stage. The 360-degree design of the stage provided ideal viewing for all guests, no matter where they found themselves.

It’s Murph at the Air Stage

It’s Murph’s funky bass house set was the ultimate vibe at the Air Stage. The treehouses were literally bouncing. It was the perfect set to transition from day to night on Sunday.

Chris Lake b2b Cloonee at the Fire Stage

There’s truly nothing like a good b2b performance, especially when it brings together two house music legends like Chris Lake and Cloonee. The music was ethereal, energetic, and brought some of the most fun-loving people at the festival together.

Sound Quality and Production

The production at Elements Festival improves every year. Despite being tucked away in the woods outside of a racetrack, each set delivered the ultimate festival experience. Fans enjoyed clear, crisp, and loud sound while being faced with some of the most uniquely designed and beautiful stages. The festival organizers even utilized 3D visual projection mapping to whisk fans away as they got lost in the visual elements of the production.

Weather Challenges and Recovery

Unfortunately, severe weather impacted Friday, the first official day of the festival following Thursday’s pre-party. However, the weather thankfully cleared up for the remainder of the weekend, making room for sunny skies and good vibes.

The festival was able to bounce back quickly thanks to the impeccable infrastructure of the Pocono Raceway. The grounds, which regularly host large-scale events, provided ample resources that enabled the festival to continue without further interruption once the weather cleared up. While no one can control the weather, the response to such conditions is crucial to the overall success of the event.

Crowd Energy

Anyone who has been to a few festivals knows that the crowd can make or break the experience. Elements is one of those festivals that consistently draws a respectful, loving, and music-enthusiast-filled crowd.

Guests were trading kandi and giving out trinkets, mindful of others when moving through crowds, and genuinely a pleasure to be around. It goes a long way when the people around you are there for the same reasons: to escape the hustle and bustle of life and listen to good music with good people.

Sustainability Efforts

When operating a large-scale event like Elements, it’s crucial to consider the environmental impact of such a mass gathering, especially given the festival’s sacred location in the heart of the Poconos.

Elements Festival prides itself on being the most sustainable electronic music festival in the Northeast. There were several water refill stations throughout the grounds to encourage the use of reusable water bottles, and the promotion of a “leave no trace” policy demonstrated the organizers’ commitment to preserving the beautiful land.

Additionally, Elements introduced a recycling program that invited guests to collect recyclable materials from around the festival grounds for a chance to win VIP tickets to the event the following year.

Final consensus (Spoiler alert- we Loved it)

Elements Festival 2024 was a celebration of music, community, and nature, all wrapped in an experience that continues to evolve and improve each year. From the stellar performances and world-class production to the energetic crowd and the festival’s dedication to sustainability, Elements solidifies its place as the premier EDM festival on the East Coast. 

Despite the challenges posed by the weather, the festival’s quick recovery and the positive energy of the attendees ensured a weekend filled with unforgettable moments. Stay tuned for Elements 2025 announcements. 

About The Author

Ashley

I’ve been a part of the dance music scene for nearly a decade and with Exron for more than half of that time. My first event was Diplo’s Mad Decent but these days you’ll find me at Club Space or the Brooklyn Mirage. Some of my top artists are G Jones, Tipper, Of The Trees, and CharlestheFirst. My favorite genres are techno, experimental bass, and ambient but I’ll get down to anything with a beat!

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