By: Alexandria Wojcik

Memorial Day weekend provides a bevy of festival choices. But Mysteryland stands out to us for a billion reasons.

Too many?

Fine. We've narrowed it down to five.

5. The Location

Where else on Earth would you rather be this Memorial Day weekend other than dancing at the world’s longest-running electronic dance music festival on the hallowed grounds of the original 1969 Woodstock in Bethel Woods, NY?

4. The Vibes

If the preview video doesn’t give you all the feels, ID&T’s commitment to Mysteryland’s ethos should inspire some PLURry thoughts. Mysteryland’s “Festival Footprint” philosophy transcends the typical festival greenwashing that takes “sustainability” only as far as the recycling bin; instead, Mysteryland embraces true sustainability (and therefore likely reduces its carbon footprint) by showing serious love for the local community. The “think local, act global” mantra permeates the festival from the arts, culture, and music curators to the deliciously local-based food line-up. The 21-and-up crowd is actively encouraged to look out for nature, and for one another. Mysteryland’s motto pretty much sums up the festival’s world-renowned good vibes: ”Yesterday is history. Today is a gift. Tomorrow is a mystery.”

3. The Experience

Mysteryland is the embodiment of EDM culture--it’s about so much more than the music. While frolicing between the various stages and dance tents, attendees can check out the visual art installations curated by Brooklyn-based Kevin Baltick which include The Life Size Game of Mousetrap, get inspired by the speaker series hosted by NPR’s Anya Kamenetz, chill out in the Healing Garden, wake up to some deep house yoga, or borrow a book from the Bazaar Library. Even the food, which includes a return of the Smorgasburg Food Fest, aptly dubbed the “Woodstock of Eating by the New York Times, as well as the debut of Eats ‘N Beats which will feature a variety of food vendors’ mouthwatering options (including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free fare….and yes, coffee!) 24 hours in the Holy Ground camping area, is an integral part of the Mysteryland experience.

2. The Music Curators

Mysteryland USA’s lineup is so next-level due to the magic of collaborative curations. In true Mysteryland style, the festival pays homage to New York’s music scene with distinct areas hosted by some of NYC’s most forward-thinking clubs, party series, and labels, including Webster Hall and Verboten: declared by Prince “the best stage in NYC,” Webster Hall has been a cultural focal point for over 128 years and has been home to the city’s longest-running weekly electronic dance party, Girls & Boys, for the past seven years; Brooklyn-based nightclub Verboten is not only bringing its underground scene know-how to its own curated area, but is also bringing its weekly Zeitgeist series showcasing indie dance and nu-disco music. Other music curators include Adam Beyer’s Swedish techno label Drumcode, and a return of Q-Dance’s hardstyle tent. The effect of various curated stages, tents, and dancefloors is a celebration of diverse nuances within EDM. It’s worth noting that Mysteryland boasts one of the most stacked lineups of female-bodied DJs and producers ever, including Mija, Anna Lunoe, and Nora en Pure on the Webster Hall stage, and Ida Engberg and Nicole Moudaber on the Drumcode stage.

1. The Lineup

The number one reason we’re hype about Mysteryland USA is exactly what brought us all to this list in the first place: the music. Kygo, Space Jesus, The M Machine, Claptone, Savoy, Skream, Madeon, and a host of other A-list DJs will grace the eight different stages and curated dance spaces. A-Trak will help campers get the weekend-long party started in the Holy Grounds; the Silent disco will rage until dawn breaks over the Catskill mountains. With a lineup as magical as this, it is no mystery why thousands of ravers from around the world will descend upon the birthplace of peace, love, and music for Mysteryland USA’s return next weekend.