Las Vegas takes the cake as America’s gambling hub, and pretty much always has. Situated in the Southwestern state of Nevada, it is the 28th most populated city in the entire United States, with an estimated urban area population of 2.3 million. Situated in Clark County, Nevada, the city was incorporated on March 16, 1911. It’s estimated that between 40-50 million people visit the city each year from all around the world.
A landmark turning point in the history of the city is the year 1931, with a combination of two major events and one minor one. That year, Nevada made casino gambling legal across the state, construction began on the world-famous Hoover Dam, and the state-mandated a reduction of the divorce residency requirement to six weeks.
By virtue of the number of jobs it brought to the area, the aforementioned Hoover Dam’s construction was largely responsible for steering the state of bankruptcy during the great depression of the 1930s.
Known by its many nicknames like “The Entertainment Capital of The World”, “City of Lights”, “Sin City”, “Marriage Capital of The World”, and perhaps most aptly, the “Neon Capital of The World”, it ranks high among the most easily-recognizable cities in the United States.
The city has woven itself so strongly into the cultural fabric of America that all over the world, many people see Las Vegas as the geographical embodiment of American entertainment and nightlife – and in many ways, it probably is.
Sin City
The Sin City moniker that has long been associated with Las Vegas is duly earned. Known for its bountiful entertainment options, the city is ideal for you if you’re looking for a bright, bubbly time where you can fully express and enjoy yourself on vacation.
A globally-renowned resort city, Las Vegas, and indeed, Nevada as a whole, derives the lion share of its revenue from the tourism, hospitality, and gambling industries. As a tourism hotspot, the city is known for its fine dining restaurants, shopping centers, nightclubs, strip clubs, casinos, and other entertainment spots spread throughout the famed Las Vegas strip.
Las Vegas hotels are some of the best in the world, with many of them doubling as casinos. The city has regularly reserved a spot at the top of the list of the preferred destinations of both local and international businesses for conventions, summits, consumer shows, and manufacturer conferences. Globally, Las Vegas ranks as one of the world’s most visited cities. Notably, this level of international demand and acclaim has also made the city a preferred location for movies, TV shows, and flamboyant music videos.
The Las Vegas Electric Daisy Carnival
The Electric Daisy Carnival (or EDC) is the biggest electronic dance music festival in North America. Held annually since 1991, the festival’s flagship event takes place in Las Vegas at the Vegas Motor Speedway. Though it’s normally held in May, this year’s version had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
One of the prominent music shows of the summer calendar, the event hosts some of the most prominent DJs and performers in the genre such as Tiesto, Alesso, Calvin Harris, Diplo, Skrillex, Steve Aoki, and Afrojack. It also incorporates a wide variety of EDM sub-genres including dubstep, house, and techno music.
The festival, in recent times, has received numerous sponsorships from many large 21st-century lifestyle and technology companies such as Tinder, Smirnoff, and Uber.
History of The Las Vegas EDC
For the founders, the chief motivation behind the creation of the event was supposedly the realization of a platform where music would serve as a tool to spur creativity through inspiration. As the show has evolved, however, other more visual attractions such as 3D superstructures and LED-infused designs have added visual flair to the entire ambiance of the show.
Las Vegas EDC has always drawn large crowds, but recent iterations of the show have seen unprecedented attendance levels. For instance, 2011’s event drew over 300,000 people over its 3-day duration and 2015’s edition had more than 400,000 people in attendance.
The last two iterations of the carnival, as part of the organizers’ flair for design and spectacle, have included eight carefully-placed stages across the event location, with each representing a specific EDM sub-genre.
How to Get The Most out of Las Vegas’ Electric Daisy Carnival
Just as with any other vacation plan or road trip, you always have to take some measures in order to fully enjoy the experience. The headliner at Las Vegas is held in May every year, placing it towards the end of the Spring season. This, among many other things, should factor into how you plan for the carnival.
With that said, here are a few tips to consider ahead of attending the Las Vegas Electric Daisy Carnival:
- Make sure to bring essential clothing items like sneakers, t-shirts, a backpack, and shoe insoles for a long day outside.
- Take your government-issued ID (eg driver’s license or passport) with you for age verification.
- The partying gets intense and as such, makes sure to purchase supplies like stomach-relieving medicine, a water bottle, Chapstick, and pain relievers (Advil).
- Since we live in a connected world, take your chargers and a power bank with you. Also, if you have one, carry your GoPro camera to capture those valuable and memorable moments.
- If you’re going to the carnival from the Las Vegas strip, consider using the EDC official shuttles. These pick up and drop off at nine popular Vegas hotels.
- Keeping your stomach full throughout the three-day carnival is crucial to the entire experience, so consider exploring the numerous food trucks at the venue. Most of them have delicious treats to offer!
- If you are over 21 years old, the hosted bars are a cool place to hang out. Spots like the Corona Electric Beach offer a more solemn, chill atmosphere than the main event (if that’s your style).