With nine intricately designed stages, a packed line-up of DJs and EDM acts and a huge international fanbase, Tomorrowland is one of the largest, most anticipated electronic music festivals in Europe (if not the world).
Each year since its debut in July 2005, over 600,000 festival goers flock to De Schorre park in Boom, Belgium, to attend one of the festival's two weekends, both filled with non-stop raving, trippy art installations, and interactive activities for all. The immersive ‘DreamVille’ campsite is filled with shops, food, art and green spaces for moments of calm between sets.
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However, a fire broke out at Tomorrowland’s main stage on Wednesday evening, the day before this year's festival opening. Thankfully, there were no injuries, but the stage, which was elaborately designed to resemble an ice palace, was almost entirely destroyed.
So is Tomorrowland still going ahead?
Luckily for ticketholders, the answer is yes. The campsite opened today with crowds already arriving, and most stages remaining operational. But with the main stage gone, the festival's organisers face logistical hurdles to sort where headliners will perform. Will they be relocated? Will the line-up change? Will they reshape the festival with surprise pop-up stages? Nothing’s official yet.
‘We can announce that, DreamVille (campsite) will open as planned and will be ready for all DreamVille visitors,’ says one a post on Tomorrowland's official Instagram account. ‘We are focused on finding solutions for the festival weekend (Friday – Saturday – Sunday). More updates and detailed information will be communicated as soon as possible.’
This isn't Tomorrowland's first time dealing with quality control. In its 20 years running, the festival has endured severe weather, pandemics and even pyrotechnic mishaps (Barcelona 2017, anyone?). Yet with the chaos comes community – the festival has been met with an outpouring of support from fans and performers as organisers and set designers work out a solution. After all, the beat must go on (and on and on and on).
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