Story by Ross Field, Contributing Writer
ROTHBURY — The long lines of traffic on US 31, Winston Road, and Stony Lake Road beginning Tuesday night, June 23, mean only one thing to Oceana County residents: the 2026 Electric Forest has arrived in Rothbury.
By Thursday night the vast grounds of the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury will be wholly transformed into the fantastical world of lights, art, and music that is the Electric Forest, and the population of Oceana County will almost have tripled.
Now in its 14th year, the Electric Forest, which runs through the early morning hours of Monday, June 29, has emerged as the largest music festival in Michigan and one of the most famous Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festivals in the world.
As always, what makes the Electric Forest different from other music festivals around the world is the Double JJ Ranch itself, and the transformation that it undergoes in the weeks before the festival. Costumed theme-players will traipse through the grounds, art installations will dot the woods, and when the sun sets, and darkness takes over, the Sherwood Forest will become a show in itself with lights and lasers and illuminated art works that transfix passersby.
Headlining the festival as usual are some of the biggest names in EDM: Ganja White Night, Passion Pit, Shpongle, Kaskade, LSDream, and Excision, along with many up-and-coming EDM acts and other styles of music. Sadly for many fans, the String Cheese Incident — a festival mainstay since its inception — will only appear Saturday night.
Not only do fans come from around the Midwest, they come from all over the United States and from around the world. Some folks will be crossing oceans and many time zones in order to arrive at Electric Forest by Thursday. Bermuda, Sweden, Japan, Australia, Columbia, and many other countries will be represented in the largest and most diverse “city” in Oceana County.
Traveling all the way from Christchurch, New Zealand, Skye Daniels will be visiting the United States and attending Electric Forest for the first time.
“I’ve always loved EDM,” said Daniels, “but in New Zealand we don’t have many festivals and the ones we do have are certainly not on the scale of what’s available overseas in terms of production, artists, and the overall experience. My partner is American and this will actually be his fourth Electric Forest, so he’s been giving me a bit of an idea of what to expect.”
“I’m looking forward to so many things,” Daniels continued. “One of the biggest is finally blending in. At festivals back home I’m usually the one dressed up the most and dancing like 
nobody’s watching. I can’t wait to be surrounded by thousands of like-minded people doing exactly the same thing. I’m excited to experience the magic everyone talks about in the forest, meet new people from all over the world, make some unforgettable memories, and dance my heart out.”
Seeking that same kind of magic is Brooke Bruursema who is driving across the country from Seattle, Washington, with her fiancé.
“This is my first Electric Forest,” said Bruursema. “The location looked magical and the lineup looked great this year. We also have family in the area to visit, so it was convenient. I’m looking 
forward to GRiZ, Sullivan King, Ganja White Night, DJ Diesel, T-Pain, and Excision. Then we’re going to enjoy west Michigan with family, and maybe stop at Wall Drug on our way back to Seattle.”
The south coast of the United States is also represented. Driving up from St. Augustine for her first Electric Forest is Nancy Sikes-Kline.
“Just in the last year my husband and I have been listening to EDM together, so this is all new to us but it has changed our lives,” said Sikes-Kline. “My son Luke has attended for five years and he has always described the Electric Forest as a beautiful, magical experience with kind people everywhere.
“I am traveling with a crew of about 10, some are flying, some are driving,” said Sikes-Kline. “We really want to be around kind and loving young people, so we decided it was our time to go and we are crazily excited about it. I want to see and experience Nikita the Wicked, Oppidan, and EFFIN. I have never been to Michigan and have always heard about how the lakeshore is so nice in the summer so we plan to visit Lake Michigan, too, while we are there.”
By Monday afternoon all that will be left are traffic jams headed south on US 31 and the usual detritus left by campers in the huge pastures of the Double JJ Ranch. But that evidence will be 
gone by the end of the week, and like the classic musical, Brigadoon, the Electric Forest will be lost in time, only to reappear sometime in the future.
If you’re planning on attending the Electric Forest, please remember these helpful hints.
- You will be walking — a lot — on uneven ground, so wear good supportive shoes.
- And, because you are getting exercise, stay hydrated. Bring a water bottle but remember it must be empty to enter the festival. There are numerous water stations throughout the grounds.
- A good sunscreen can also ward off any damage done by a few hours in the sun.
- And, most importantly, the Electric Forest is a “cashless” event. Once you are on the grounds, you will need a credit or debit card to purchase any goods.
Tickets for the event are sold out.
2025 Electric Forest Festival photos courtesy of www.electricforest.com
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