Costumed party people from the Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Northern California, Arizona and Colorado were among thousands who converged Saturday Sept. 22 at the National Orange Show for Nocturnal Wonderland just north of Redlands and Loma Linda.
It was Day Two of the Insomniac event, billed by promoters as a "fully immersive and interactive audiovisual adventure."
Organizers promised that "for two days the NOS Event Center will be transformed into a magical landscape full of fairy-like performers, fire dancers, enchanted art environments, pyrotechnics, special effects and rides!"
Some revelers' costumes included tie-dye, neon colors, handmade masks, fuzzy hats, foam hats, lingerie, bows, tutus, fishnet stockings, tape, wings, capes, and all manner of footwear.
Outside the Orange Show venue before sundown, several streets were closed and San Bernardino police were among uniformed law enforcement helping manage traffic flow.
Scores of people walking to gated entry locations on Arrowhead Avenue said Friday night was "off the hook," "awesome," and "bad ass." They said they came from Rancho Cucamonga, East L.A., Culver City, Santa Monica, Stockton, Sacramento, and places as distant as Colorado Springs.
There was no camping at the event, which started at 5 p.m., shut down at 2 a.m. Saturday and resumed at 3 p.m. Sept. 22.
The event was for ages 18 and up, with alcohol sold for ages 21 and over. A "Zero Tolerance For Drug Use or Possession" announcement was the first item listed on a General Info web page for the event.
Security was considered a priority for Insomniac, which devoted another web page to Prohibited Items and Acceptable Items. It was green light go for the following:
- YES Small Bags, Single Compartment Backpacks and Purses (maximum 12" x 12")
- YES Reusable Insomniac Aluminum Water Bottles (must be empty upon entry)
- YES Fanny Packs
- YES Non-Professional Flash/Still Cameras
- YES Cell Phones
- YES Sunglasses
- YES Hats
- YES Lighters
- YES Closed Packs of Cigarettes
- YES Sealed/Wrapped Tampons
- YES Earplugs
- YES Sealed Chapstick and Lipgloss
- YES Glowsticks
- YES Glowing/Illuminated Costumes or Jewelry
- YES Sealed Packs of Gum
- YES Camelbaks (empty upon entry; no more than 2 large compartments and 1 small compartment, size doesn't matter)
- YES Hula Hoops (even LED hula hoops)
General admission tickets were $85 for one day and $149 for both days. VIP single-day tickets were $175 and $299 for both days.
The festival featured, theatrics, decor and art installations but the main draw was music.
Saturday's lineup included David Steven starting at 3 p.m., followed by Funkagenda, Deniz Koyu, Chris Lake, John Dahlbäck, R3hab, Arty, Benny Benassi and Pretty Lights. Scheduled to close the show from 12"30 a.m. to 2 a.m. was Sebastian Ingrosso.
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