There has always been a sense of family at many music festivals. However, one festival has taken the family atmosphere to a whole other level.

Held in Rothbury, MI for the last five years, Electric Forest has grown exponentially by fostering a one-of-a-kind “Forest Family.” Those who have attended, or plan to attend Electric Forest often refer to each other as “Forest Family.” The feeling of kinship is quite strong within the Family.

Jeremy Stein, Founder and Producer of Electric Forest, and the President of Madison House Presents, gave insight on how this term began.

“The term ‘Forest Family’ came about in a very organic fashion. Those attending Electric Forest began referring to each other as family members of the forest.  This is actually a very natural evolution between people who experience life together within a particular setting. The experience of relaxing, letting down the walls of daily society and immersing oneself in the opportunity to simply smile at others, allows for a relationship greater than friendship. ‘Family’ is a good word to describe that feeling.”

He continued, saying, “During the first year or two of the festival, “Forest Family” was a reference to the group of people who worked every day, year round, on the creation and evolution of Electric Forest. As people began returning to Electric Forest year after year, the term took on an expanded meaning.  Suddenly, those working on EF and those who attended the festival had something very real in common: a shared experience, and the inspiration to contribute to it.  We are all “Forest Family” and anyone who wants to can be a part of it.”

The festival is scheduled for June 23-26, and this year, the Forest Family were involved like never before. The group was asked to help reveal this year’s initial lineup, as 150 lucky Family members received a Snapchat message, sent from the Electric Forest account, on February 1st.

The Snapchat was an image, with the caption “#EF2016Reveal.”

On the morning of Feb. 2nd, 150 members of the family received envelopes from FedEx, which included names of an artist or band who would be performing this year. Throughout the day, artists and bands were being revealed by family by Instagram posts and YouTube videos. By the end, Electric Forest, along with the help of the Forest Family had revealed the initial lineup for the 2016 festival.

Alison Gayda, or as her followers know her on Instagram, @aligayda, received one of the envelopes. “I was super surprised and excited to see that I got an envelope!  Out of so many thousands of people to be one of 150 is crazy,” Gayda said. She received an envelope containing Delhi 2 Dublin (DJ set), Cubicolor, Evanoff, Gryffin and Kamasi Washington.

She said that she looks forward to coming back the minute she leaves each year. “I always consider the Forest a home away from home,” Gayda said, explaining how people helped her when she was had a sunburn during her first Forest. “Everyone is always willing to go out of their way to help their Forest family, it is amazing, I wish the real world outside of Forest could be like that,” she said.

Electric Forest provides various prospects for the Forest Family to become involved with the festival by visiting the Participate section of the official website. On the page, there are multiple opportunities, like Plug In Programs, Electricology, Work Exchange Team, and the Food Drive.

In 2015, Plug In Programs, along with the help of the Forest Family, attempted to break the “World’s Largest Group Hug” record. Although the record was not broken, the attempt was one example of how Electric Forest creates a family atmosphere. 

Even the Forest HQ considers themselves part of the family. As Stein explains, “HQ is one part of the Forest Family. It is not a tagline or label. It is not about marketing, or a program that needs direction. At the core of EF HQ’s ethos is an open invitation to be part of something bigger than any one thing, and so the Forest Family continues to grow rapidly on its own. The sense of family will only widen and deepen over time and ongoing shared experience. Preserving integrity of this idea is up to all of us.”

When the Forest is not in season, Forest Family members stay connected throughout the year on various social media channels. @goneintheforest, a fan-based Twitter account started in 2014, helps to connect family members. “I started it because it is cool to find all the people you meet at concerts, shows and festivals.  This way, there is a better chance to meet back up with those people”, @goneintheforest said. The Forest Family is also quite active on Facebook, where several groups exist.

The Forest Family is one reason why many attendees return year after year.

“As Electric Forest enters year 6, there are many people who feel it is an annual reunion of sorts. It is a holiday where you can visit friends, meet new people, disconnect from the trappings of daily life and be open to new experiences. The Forest Family is not a club, there is not a hierarchy. It is a feeling, and that feeling is attractive to all humans,” Stein said.

Regardless of whether this is your first Electric Forest, or sixth, the Forest Family will be there to welcome you home.