Autumn is a perfect time for music lovers to hit the road and experience festivals that carry summer’s energy into the cooler months. With a packed calendar of events across the U.S., you can dance in the desert, groove by the sea, or lose yourself to bass in the woods. Below, I’ve rounded up the most exciting festivals coming up this season, and trust me, they’re worth checking out.
September
Lost Lands 2024
Dates: September 20-22, 2024
Location: Thornville, OH
Vibe: Bass-heavy, prehistoric beats.
Tickets: Here
Lost Lands is the one you go to when you want to feel the bass in your bones. Curated by Excision, this festival pulls no punches when it comes to heavy drops. Imagine prehistoric vibes, with life-sized dinosaurs dotting the landscape and a sound system that could bring down mountains. It’s a bass lover’s dream, with acts like Zeds Dead and Subtronics making it feel like an earthquake in all the best ways. Oh, and the community? Super welcoming—everyone’s here to headbang and have a blast.
Portola Festival 2024
Dates: September 28-29, 2024
Location: San Francisco, CA
Vibe: Eclectic, waterfront vibes
Tickets: Here
San Francisco’s Pier 80 is the backdrop for Portola, and the location couldn’t be more perfect. Set on the waterfront, you’ll be grooving to everything from Skrillex to more experimental, underground artists. The festival blends electronic, indie, and pop in a way that feels fresh. It’s intimate enough that you can discover new sounds, but big enough to feel the festival buzz. Plus, you’ve got that scenic bay as the perfect festival backdrop. It’s hard to beat.
October
Austin City Limits 2024
Dates: October 4-13, 2024
Location: Austin, TX
Vibe: Genre-blending, laid-back fun.
Tickets: Here
ACL is Austin in a nutshell—good vibes, amazing food, and a lineup that covers every genre you can think of. With Kendrick Lamar headlining one night and Foo Fighters the next, this festival keeps things interesting across two weekends. Zilker Park turns into a musical playground, and you’ll find everything from indie rock to hip-hop to electronic beats. But ACL is more than just music—there’s local food, cool art, and a laid-back crowd that makes you feel like you’re hanging with friends.
III Points 2024
Dates: October 18-19, 2024
Location: Miami, FL
Vibe: Art meets electronic.
Tickets: Here
III Points in Miami is where music meets art. Set in Wynwood, this festival feels like an interactive gallery with incredible beats. Acts like Rosalía and Fred Again.. are just the beginning. The entire venue is transformed with art installations and tech-forward experiences that make it so much more than a typical festival. Miami’s cultural vibe is present in every detail, from the lineup to the visuals, making it a feast for the senses. If you like music and art colliding, III Points is a must.
Escape Halloween 2024
Dates: October 25-26, 2024
Location: San Bernardino, CA
Vibe: Spooky meets festival.
Tickets: Here
Spooky season meets rave at Escape Halloween. NOS Events Center gets a full transformation into a haunted, bass-heavy wonderland. The décor alone is worth the trip—think haunted houses, roaming performers, and eerie art installations that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Halloween dream. And with headliners like Illenium and Afrojack, you’ll be dancing all night with a crowd that knows how to celebrate Halloween right. Costumes are a must, and the vibes are as big as the beats.
November
EDSea
Dates: November 2-6, 2024
Location: Miami, FL (Departure)
Vibe: Tropical cruise meets festival.
Tickets: Here
Imagine a festival on a cruise ship—yeah, that’s EDSea. Leaving from Miami, this four-night adventure takes you through the Caribbean while top-tier DJs throw down on the deck. It’s like all the best parts of a festival but with the added bonus of tropical beaches, pools, and luxury dining. When you’re not dancing to your favourite beats, you can chill on the beaches of Bimini, Bahamas. It’s the perfect blend of festival fun and a bit of relaxation.
EDC Orlando 2024
Dates: November 8-10, 2024
Location: Orlando, FL
Vibe: Non-stop neon and beats.
Tickets: Here
Orlando gets lit when EDC comes to town. If you’ve never experienced the Electric Daisy Carnival vibe, this is the perfect way to start. Neon lights, massive art installations, and carnival rides make it feel like you’ve stepped into another world. Artists like Tiësto, Martin Garrix, and Charlotte de Witte are just the cherry on top. And the energy? Off the charts. You’ll be dancing from sunset to sunrise with people who are there for the same reason as you—to lose themselves in the music.
Seismic Dance Event 7.0
Dates: November 15-17, 2024
Location: Austin, TX
Vibe: Underground house and techno.
Tickets: Here
Austin’s Seismic Dance Event is a boutique festival focused on house and techno. Set at The Concourse Project, it’s small enough to feel intimate but big enough to attract heavyweights like Carl Cox and Eric Prydz. If you’re into deep beats, lasers, and non-stop dancing, this festival delivers. It feels like an underground rave, with a crowd that’s all about the music. Expect top-notch production and a vibe that keeps you grooving well into the night.
Dreamstate SoCal 2024
Dates: November 22-23, 2024
Location: Long Beach, CA
Vibe: Trance heaven.
Tickets: Here
For trance lovers, Dreamstate SoCal is where it’s at. Organised by Insomniac, this two-day event is all about euphoric melodies and uplifting beats. Picture lasers and visuals syncing perfectly with the music, making it feel like you’re floating through space. With acts like Armin van Buuren and Paul van Dyk on the lineup, this is a must for anyone who lives and breathes trance. Add in the beachside location, and it’s two days of pure musical heaven.
Time Warp US
Dates: November 22-23, 2024
Location: New York, NY
Vibe: Pure techno.
Tickets: Here
Techno lovers, this one’s for you. Time Warp has a legendary reputation for delivering nothing but the best in underground techno, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard is the perfect spot for this gritty, no-frills festival. Expect mind-bending sets from names like Sven Väth and Ricardo Villalobos. The industrial setting, combined with Time Warp’s laser-focused attention to sound, makes it a techno lover’s dream. It’s all about the beats, the vibe, and the community.
Whether you’re dancing in the woods at Lost Lands, raving on a ship at EDSea, or soaking up the sun at Portola, this autumn is packed with music festivals that are as diverse as they are exciting. Grab your crew, prep your outfits, and get ready for an unforgettable festival season. Each event offers its own unique vibe, so there’s something here for every kind of festival-goer.
Want more festival inspo for this winter? Check out some of my other festival guides now!
The Ultimate Guide: Unique Winter EDM Festivals [2024/2025 UPDATE]
12 Destination Music Festivals to Escape the Cold this Winter
The Ultimate Guide to New Year’s EDM Festivals
Guide to Europe’s Top Mountain Music Festivals 2024/2025
*Disclaimer: dates and locations for these festivals are subject to change, so make sure you check each festival’s socials or website for the most up-to-date information.
