With each year more magical than the last, Suwannee Hulaween 2025 exceeded all expectations with a whimsical weekend marked by top-tier music, interactive art installments, one-of-a-kind vendors, and of course, […]
With each year more magical than the last, Suwannee Hulaween 2025 exceeded all expectations with a whimsical weekend marked by top-tier music, interactive art installments, one-of-a-kind vendors, and of course, the ever-returning HulaFam that act as the glue to this consecrated annual event. This Hulaween, festival goers were met with a gamut of genres throughout the weekend, from the hypnotic vibrations of Glass Beams to the filthy bass flips from Mary Droppinz. Feel-good groove from The Disco Biscuits paired with the jubilant jams from Joe Russo’s Almost Dead hit the sweet spot, creating a sonically saturated weekend for all. Come with Heard It Here First as we recap and relive the highlights of Suwannee Hulaween 2025!
One of the most highly-anticipated acts of the weekend, Glass Beams brought their A-game to The Hallows stage on Saturday night, delivering a spectacle of a performance like none other. From start to finish, fans were enthralled by their mesmerizing instrumentation, slowly inching closer to the stage as the set progressed, like a moth to a flame. Standout tracks like “Snake Oil” and“Orb” from their recent project, Mahal, transported HulaFam into a desert fantasy that we feel privileged to have experienced. As mesmerizing as their bejeweled veils and trance-inducing melodies, Glass Beams cast a spell over the Hulaween crowd, leaving everyone craving more. Make no mistake—this was no mirage; Glass Beams are the real deal.
Mary Droppinz made her Hulaween debut one for the books, delivering a triple-stage takeover that proved she’s as versatile as she is refined with her DJing skills, unloading an arsenal of bouncy, bass-heavy bangers that kept the crowd on fueled with heaters all night.
Kicking things off at The Amphitheatre on Saturday evening, she set the tone with Mary Droppinz originals like “Drop In” and “Yummy Gummy” before flipping the vibe with unleashed remixes that hit with trap-heavy builds and gut-shaking drops. By the time her late night surprise set at the DEF Off Limits 360 stage came around she was fully locked in, throwing down experimental bass, dubstep, and even 140 flavors that rattled the ground. Droppinz’ remix work blurred the line between underground bass and festival anthem energy, all wrapped in precise tension rises and re-drops that kept the masses bouncing in sync.
Just when fans thought she was finished, then came the late-night Wooksville renegade set deep in the Renaissance campground area – pure controlled chaos. Beneath the forest canopy, she rounded out her three-set marathon with wonky bass and fiery IDs that had the Wooksville late-nighters losing their minds into the early hours of the morning.
Jade Cicada wasted no time setting the tone for Hulaween 2025, kicking off Thursday night at The Hallows stage with a mind-bending blend of glitchy trip-hop and experimental bass wizardry. Jade Cicada opened his set with deep, downtempo grooves, before he quickly escalated into halftime heaters layered with those signature granular glitches that his fans crave. The visuals pulsed in sync, creating a full-sensory takeover that felt equal parts psychedelic journey and bass therapy session.
Pulling heavily from his January 2025 Lunar Fade EP, Jade flexed his latest evolution in sound, marked by lush, melodic scapes that melted into fractured low-end chaos. His squelchy sub-bass and stuttered synth lines had the crowd locked in, further providing that his stylings were an undeniable fit for Suwannee. By the end of his set, it was clear that Jade Cicada set a high bar for the weekend with a performance that was equal parts technical mastery and sonic sorcery.
When Disco Lines and Tape B stepped up for their surprise b2b on the returning DEF “Off Limits” stage at Hulaween 2025, the forest canopy of the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park seemed to hush in anticipation. By the end of their set, the crowd was vibrating with a mix of euphoria and wonder, fueled by the epic performance they just witnessed.
Disco Lines kicked things off with a crisp, high-energy opening: shimmering house rhythms met chopped vocals and euphoric builds that felt like stepping into daylight after a long forest walk. He kept things melodic but insistent, ramping from warm grooves into bigger drops, inviting the crowd into his world quietly before pulling them into a full-on dance hypnosis. Mid-set, Tape B took over with his signature bass-laced sub-frequencies and tightly wound transitions that upended expectations, shaking the woodland stage feel like an underground bunker of sound. Together, their synergy was remarkable — Disco Lines’ expansive build-ups met Tape B’s tighter, punchy swings in a melding that felt both seamless and dynamic. For many of us, the b2b was the highlight performance of Hulaween: a moment of connection, surprise, and total surrender to the beat.
Dr. Fresch took over the decks under the moss-draped oaks at Suwannee Hulaween and the energy exploded into something playful, raw, and relentless. He launched in with crisp tech-house grooves layered over funky bass, teasing the crowd with tight percussion and chopped vocals that felt like a wink and a nod to underground dancefloor culture. As the set developed, he leaned hard into his signature “gutter-house” style: dirty sub-frequencies, surprise drops, upbeat vocal samples, and a relentless momentum that pulled the meadow into a unified stomp. At one point, he peeled back to a stripped groove just thumping kick, minimal hi-hat, and a suspenseful build before unleashing a thunderous drop that made the trees around us seem alive with vibration. His set didn’t just keep the crowd moving; it held them rapt, as the natural world and the rave world collided in one seamless wave of sound. By the closing songs, Dr. Fresch had delivered a performance that felt like he’d rewired the festival altogether.
YDG went off on the Off Limits stage during the dark-forested hours of Hulaween.The vibe shifted into something wild and liberating. He opened with relentless rhythmic drive, weaving punchy tech-house grooves with sly vocal chops and creeping tension that pulled the crowd in like a current. Mid-set, he peeled back the beat into a space of heavy bass stabs and glitchy, half-spoken interludes, giving the dancefloor a chance to sway in that delicious moment between motion and entrance. About halfway through, YDG surprised the crowd by dropping his unreleased “Mount Everest” collab with Kade Findley, a deep, cinematic cut that wrapped the forest in swirling synths and heavy, textured bass — instantly becoming one of the night’s standout moments. As the set built toward the finale, YDG exploded into full force: big drops, sharp transitions, and a celebratory groove that had us all collectively exhaling into the night. By the end, the forest canopy echoed with stomps and cheers. YDG’s performance felt like a portal to something deeper and more connected.
This year’s Suwannee Hulaween was a full immersion into a world where music, art, and nature converged in perfect harmony. From wandering beneath moss-draped oaks to discovering hidden stages tucked into the forest, every corner of the festival offered a new moment of wonder. The air was alive with shared energy — strangers dancing as one, laughter echoing through the trees, and the kind of spontaneous magic that only Hulaween seems to conjure.
Lights, visuals, and installations transformed the woods into a living, breathing canvas, while the music carried the collective heartbeat of the crowd from sunrise into the late-night hours. Beyond the performances, it was the sense of community, the freedom to explore, and the unspoken connection between every attendee that defined the weekend. Hulaween 2025 wasn’t just a festival; it was a pilgrimage into the heart of creativity, joy, and pure, unfiltered experience.
We hope to see you at Hula ’26 next year!
Photo Credit: Yvonne Gouglet, Tara Gracer, Brittany Teuber
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