BAKERSFIELD, CA – Lightning in a Bottle reconvened at Buena Vista Lake for its 20th-anniversary celebration, attracting a crowd of 18,000 people for a weekend filled with music, art, education, and lakeside festivities.

Every year, the festival showcases top-notch immersive art, unique interactive environments, and whimsical performers. The festival truly shines by bringing together a diverse group of creators and blending their work into a psychedelic mosaic of open-source interactivity, somewhat reminiscent of Burning Man.

This year was no exception; for example, there were more live painters at LiB than at any other festival we’ve attended. While at times we wished there was more breathing space between art installations or environments, the various art and experiences provided a non-stop loop of inspiration and fascination.

Although some stage setups appeared to be scaled-down compared to previous years (such as the Thunder Stage and the Beacon), the sound and lighting effects remained as epic as ever. The Thunder Stage rumbled impressively, and the other stages remained colorful and creative.

It would have been great to see more variety in the electronic dance music acts at the Woogie Stage, Thunder Stage, Junkyard and The Stacks as there was an overwhelming majority of bass, techno, and house music. Even some of the roaming art cars seemed to be spewing non-stop house and techno the entire gathering. Nonetheless, each stage featured plenty of exciting acts to explore, and the artists actively engaged with the audience.

We especially enjoyed the diverse range of genres presented by the Lightning Stage headliners, such as the smooth pop vocals of DRAMA, the folky synths of Moontricks, and the lively inter-genre collaboration between Cut Chemist, Chali 2NA, and Ozomatli. There were also several interactive areas that offered unique musical and comical experiences, like the Fungineers ice cream truck, the Grand Artique disco clown shows, or the Martian Circus, which featured a spacey neon-adorned 80s band.

LIB offers a vast selection of deeply impactful educational offerings from world-renowned teachers, experts, and activists. Hundreds of workshops, including yoga classes, cooking workshops, and talks on various topics like indigeneity, trauma, and mindfulness, kept attendees’ minds inspired and bodies rejuvenated. There were eight separate workshop areas, each focusing on its own respective themes and topics. I was particularly moved by Phillip Scott’s talk on Peace & Reconciliation, which took place on Sunday.

While their educational programs embraced alternative lifestyles and nonconformity, they seemed at odds with the consumer and influencer cultures prevalent at mega events like Coachella and Burning Man. Similar to Coachella, there were hordes of people on their phones, posing for selfies, even on the dance floor. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with people sharing their enjoyable moments on social media, it does create a distinct atmosphere that differs from the more authentic and intimate feel of smaller gatherings.

The venue itself felt slightly small for the scale of the festival; however, having a lake on-site was a life-saver on hotter days. It would be great to see the festival return to its roots in a more secluded location, farther away from industrial oil fields and toxic agriculture, closer to nature, and without sweltering heat.

I believe that many attendees would also appreciate having more shaded and cushioned spaces for lounging and relaxation. On multiple occasions, I desired to rest my fatigued body and escape the heat at their wellness zone next to the medical tent. Often, the tent was packed, prioritizing people having difficult psychedelic experiences.

Despite my complaints about the venue, Do LaB has done an incredible job with the space they’ve been given, and having a smaller, flatter space means less strain when moving between each stage and environment.

The Do LaB team has truly excelled at putting together a festival that offers a little bit of everything. This year’s gathering has marked an excellent addition to their 20 years of dancing, learning, and coming together in a celebration of art and culture.

Written by Colin Eldridge