Zoo Electric Festival

Zoo Electric Festival

Zoo Electric Festival, better known as Electric Zoo, is one of New York City’s landmark electronic dance music festivals. It was launched in 2009 on Randall’s Island Park, a green island in the East River between Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx. It grew quickly from a single day into a three-day event, at its peak drawing more than 100,000 fans across the weekend, and it became a fixture on the US festival circuit, famous for its giant themed stages and big-name DJs set against the Manhattan skyline.

The festival is traditionally held over Labor Day weekend at the end of summer. Several stages spread across the island’s lawns and sports fields cover the full range of electronic sounds, from main-stage EDM to underground techno.

Electronic Music Festival Highlights:

• World-Class DJ Line-Ups: Electric Zoo has hosted many of electronic music’s biggest names, including Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, deadmau5, David Guetta, Above & Beyond, Skrillex and The Chemical Brothers.
• Multiple Themed Stages: Separate stages cover big-room EDM, house, techno, trance, bass and dubstep, so fans can move between genres all day long.
• Stage Production & Themes: Each edition has its own theme, with elaborate stage designs, LED walls, lasers and pyrotechnics that light up the island after dark.
• New York Skyline Setting: Dancing on open lawns by the river with Manhattan’s towers on the horizon gives Electric Zoo an urban festival atmosphere few other events can match.

Tips for Visitors & Trip Planning:

• Tickets & Age Policy: Buy tickets only through the festival’s official channels, not resale sites. Electric Zoo has traditionally been an 18+ event, so bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
• Know the Rules on the Island: Security is strict, with bag checks and a list of banned items. Drink plenty of water, since late-summer heat and humidity on open fields can be intense, and plan where to meet your group in case phone signal drops in the crowds.
• Getting There: Randall’s Island has no subway station. Festival-goers usually take official shuttle buses or a ferry from Manhattan, or walk across the footbridge from East 103rd Street in East Harlem. The M35 bus runs from 125th Street and Lexington Avenue.
• What to Wear: Late-summer New York is hot and humid, so wear light festival clothing, comfortable closed-toe shoes for grass and crowds, and sunscreen. A light rain layer helps, since summer thunderstorms can roll in quickly.
• Accommodation: Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year in New York City, and hotel prices in Manhattan, Harlem and Queens rise sharply, so booking well in advance is strongly recommended.
• Explore New York City: Before or after the festival, take in the view from an observation deck, ride the ferry past the Statue of Liberty, catch a Broadway show or walk the Brooklyn Bridge — browse top New York City tours and activities here.

The line-up, stage schedule, ticket tiers and transportation options are announced ahead of each edition on the festival’s official channels. See details below, under “Event Related Information” section.