By Jim Carchidi
Theme parks won’t be the only local draw this fall as EDC Orlando, November 7-9, and Vans Warped Tour, November 15-16, come to town with five combined days of music and events. The shows are expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans along with a big economic impact.
The festivals will take place within the same week on the Camping World Stadium campus at Tinker Field. The back-to-back scheduling will have construction crews on site for several days at a time as both events are comprised of multiple custom-built environments. An Orlando Venues representative told The Orlando Real that Vans Warped Tour sets will be going up as the EDC stages are broken down.
As different as their respective music styles are, both events celebrate the community and diversity of each genre with plenty of experiences beyond the stage.
Electric Daisy Carnival
Multiple characters and environments with daytime and nighttime elements make up the EDC Orlando experience. Photos courtesy of EDC Orlando/Insomniac
The electronic dance music festival has called Orlando home since 2011 but event producer, Insomniac, also stages the event in Las Vegas with additional shows in Mexico and Thailand. This year’s three-day schedule, November 7-9, will feature 109 acts ranging from the renowned to the up-and-comers.
Setting the stage
EDC is comprised of multiple DJ performances but it’s not just sounds that attract the crowds. The music is framed by massive techno playgrounds and work begins more than a week out with contractors filling Tinker Field each year with intricate environments.
Massive stage designs light up the night at EDC Orlando. Photo courtesy of EDC Orlando/Insomniac
Kinetic Field, Circuit Grounds, Neon Garden, and Stereo Bloom each offer their own music and experiences. A sponsored area, Casa Bacardi, serves up specialty cocktails, exclusive DJ sets, and photo moments. And each area is inhabited by a cast of roaming, costumed personalities that includes stilt walkers, dancers, aerialists and circus performers. Midway rides and three dimensional art pieces with glow-in-the-dark and LED components complete the marriage of fantasy and technology.
Bottom line
An estimated 300,000 fans attended EDC 2024 with about 100,000 guests attending each day. The event contributed a total economic impact of about $130 million in hotel, food, and transportation spending. Prior to publication, event passes were still available on the EDC Orlando ticket page.
For event schedules, information, and tickets, go to electricdaisycarnival.com
Vans Warped Tour
Like EDC Orlando, Vans Warped Tour encompasses several stages and environments that reflect its musical community. Photo courtesy of Vans Warped Tour
The alternative rock production staged its last national tour in 2018 with a smaller, three-show celebration honoring its 25th Anniversary in Cleveland, Atlantic City, and Mountain View, California in 2019. This year’s ultra-limited outing will celebrate the tour’s 30th birthday with dates in Washington, D.C., Long Beach, California, and Orlando.
Setting the stage
Music and extreme sports have drawn millions of fans to the Vans Warped Tour experience since the events began in 1995. Photos by Jim Carchidi
The Vans Warped Tour schedule is shorter than EDC but the set list is as big as ever with 132 bands performing over its two days. Multiple stages will be complimented by the following list of on-site experiences:
- Artist Alley: Bands will sell merch out of their own booths, offering fans meet and greet opportunities.
- Sponsor Village: Fashion brands and much more will be available along with special acoustic sets.
- Extreme Sports: Vans wouldn’t be Vans without the skating demos and BMX tracks that made the tour a spectacle.
- Record Label Row: Companies will be featured in an extreme music shop setting with artist signings and special performances.
- Charity Circle: Learn more about the organizations that support the community.
- Warped Tour Museum: Photos, videos, and art pieces celebrate three decades of memories and style.
- Culture Curators: A celebration of collaborations with the bands, brands, and style influencers that shaped generations of Vans culture.
Bottom line
Orlando’s last Vans Warped Tour was a one-day show in 2018, hosted at Central Florida Fairgrounds. Approximately 11,500 guests attended and economic impact data is not available. However, occupying the same space as EDC means both events could accommodate the same number of guests. Prior to publication, event passes were still available on the Vans Warped Tour 2025 ticket page.
For event schedules, information, and tickets, go to vanswarpedtourorlando.com.
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