Electric Forest’s community is pushing back hard after word spread about a major ticket-and-add-on price spike for next year. Longtime attendees say the increases — described by fans as “hundreds” more for things like camping, upgrades and VIP options — have many wondering whether the festival is drifting away from the crowd that built it.
Veteran Forest-goers point to a few familiar frustrations: after years of growth (and a brief experiment with two weekends), rising production costs and a pandemic-era reset, some fans feel festival organizers are now leaning into premium pricing at the expense of accessibility. For people who budget months in advance, travel from out of state, or attend with additional needs, even modest surcharges add up — and several community voices called the recent jump more than “keeping up with inflation.”
It’s not all doom and gloom: fans still praise the Sherwood Forest production and the unique experience the festival offers, and many say they’d go again if the lineup and on-site value match the new price tags. But the wider sentiment is clear — when a festival begins to price out long-term supporters, the vibe and crowd makeup inevitably shift. A number of people say they’re looking to smaller, regional fests (Elements, Submersion and similar events were mentioned) that have focused on improving the fan experience without the same headline price hikes.
What’s next depends on the lineup and any further details the organizers release. If Forest wants to keep the core community it cultivated, fans say the math needs to make sense: higher prices should come with clear increases in value, not just premium options. We’ll be watching for official announcements — Extra Chill will keep you posted as ticket tiers, camping costs, and the lineup drop are confirmed.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/ElectricForest/comments/1pbs72e/forest_is_the_midwest_coachella/