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EDC Las Vegas is a secret Pride festival where gays can truly unleash

The iconic Sin City event, along with Hotel EDC, gives everyone in the LGBTQ+ community freedom to be their authentic selves.

Ricky Cornish with friends at EDC Las Vegas.

Ricky Cornish with friends at EDC Las Vegas.

Ricky Cornish

For the 30th anniversary, EDC Las Vegas pulled out all the stops.

The signature Sin City event attracts hundreds of thousands of ravers for one magical weekend under the electric sky. Plus, for the third year in a row, Hotel EDC offered an immersive sanctuary for fans to fully escape reality in one convenient location.


Every walk of life is represented at the groundbreaking Insomniac festival, but nobody shines brighter than all of the queer music lovers who make up a large percentage of the head-banging fans in the crowds.

Beyond the proud LGBTQ+ representation at EDC, the inclusive nature of the iconic festival really serves as a lucrative safe space for everyone. The classic rave motto PLUR, which stands for Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect, encapsulates everything Insomniac has to offer.

This was my fifth year in a row attending EDC Las Vegas, and I can confidently say that it was my favorite yet. What made this year stand out? Quite frankly, everything that is at stake right now.

At a time where divisiveness and differences define today's political climate, it is so incredibly refreshing to see strangers become family in a matter of seconds. Whether if that's a simple hug, a silly dance move, or an exchange of trinkets or bracelets, love is undeniably in the air at EDC.

With three decades officially under Insomniac's belt, EDC Las Vegas took things up a notch in recent years by launching Hotel EDC, which is an immersive activation thrown by Vibee. The sold-out experience brings all of the thrill that ravers expect at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

Right off the bat, Hotel EDC lets fans jump into the fun with all rooms outfitted with EDC decor and photo ops located all throughout the property. Virgin Hotels already comes with plenty of alluring amenities including a serene spa, delicious dining options, and gambling opportunities at every turn, but Hotel EDC amps things up to another level.

Before heading off to EDC in North Las Vegas, guests can get the party started early by checking out a DJ set at the gorgeous pool, getting their glam done at the Headliner HQ, or even order room service in their customized suite. I'm personally a huge fan of a comfortable hotel bed and spacious shower, so I had no problem unwinding at the end of every night in my luxurious room.

There are plenty of delicious dining options available at Hotel EDC, but Kassi Beach was the ideal place to not only unwind after a fun night at EDC, but also hype up for all of the thrilling adventures in store. Everything that a raver could want at a hotel was available thanks to the incredible Vibee staff.

With a 24/7 concierge, the team greets guests with a Headliner Party Pack that serves as the dream merch bag equipped with a bucket hat, fan, body glitter, sunglasses, pillows, and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed watching my neighbors go downstairs in their exclusive EDC robes as they grabbed food, got in glam ahead of the festival, or changed into swimsuits to enjoy the electric sets at the beautiful pool.

Beyond the fabulous accommodations, EDC Las Vegas served as the reset I truly needed. In my opinion, this festival serves as the unofficial kickoff to Pride season as Pride Month creeps up just after EDC wraps up.

Although Pride has become synonymous with partying and bright energy over the past few years, there's a very deep meaning behind all of the revealing outfits and unapologetic affection.

There are hostile politicians who will do anything to erase queer visibility, so having large scale productions such as EDC embrace LGBTQ+ culture is so crucial and necessary for our community to keep fighting. It's such a relief to know that our community is not only tolerated at some of the biggest events in the world, but celebrated for all of the differences that make us so unique.

It's so hard for me to describe just how liberated I felt with people in my community under the fireworks as we dance to heart-pumping sets from John Summit, Steve Aoki, Zedd, and so many more incredible DJs. Moments like these are what I'll hold onto for the rest of my life, so I hope you explore spaces such as these. You won't regret it!

This experience was provided by Hotel EDC, Vibee, and Insomniac. To learn more about Hotel EDC, visit the official website here.

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