HighLIGHTING Insomniac’s Electric Mile

by Catrina Thomen, Arts Editor

The event company Insomniac’s Electric Mile made its grand debut on Jan. 1, 2021. Located in Arcadia, California, the drive-through experience opened itself up to the public with an interactive audio/visual lightshow. The show consists of lasers synchronized to upbeat music, artistic setups, and engaging performers.

Insomniac's is a homegrown music event promoting company that does a wide variety of audio/visual light shows each consisting of their own special theme. What makes the Electric Mile so special you may ask? The drive-through consists of highlights from 7 of Insomniac’s most iconic festivals throughout the mile and a half track.

“The drive through experience was overall really fun” senior Mariah Pacheco said. “My favorite part of it was seeing all the lights and the different setups that they put together so that every turn would be a new look.”

Upon entering the area, the employees scan you in with the QR code from your receipt and you take your place in line. Before the light displays begin, an employee they refer to as the “flyer guy” invites you to call a secret voicemail line where you get “directions” to Insomniac’s warehouse rave party where the lightshow journey begins.

“I yelled at one of the alien actors and called them a cutie and they stopped, look[ed] at me, and blew a kiss,” Becky Orellana tweeted.

While passing through the show you can see the individuality in each festival highlight.

Beginning with the INSOMNIAC’S ROOTS rave, then passing along through interesting setups like NOCTURNAL WONDERLAND, BEYOND WONDERLAND, ESCAPE HALLOWEEN, COUNTDOWN, and the company's most popular festival, the ELECTRIC DAISY CARNIVAL. The last light setup is THANK YOU ROAD which guides vehicles out of the experience with bright rainbows and big smiley faces.

“I highly recommended the electric mile. It was designed as a fun safe experience for all ages,'' Kennedy parent Dusty Labonte said. “All performers and staff wore masks and were never (closer) than 6 feet from our vehicle I brought my entire family and at no point ever felt as though it was risking our health in any way.”

Tickets for the experience begin at $69.99 per car (up to eight people). However, there are additional packages like the V.I.P. pass or merchandise such as smile boxes that can be purchased to add to the experience.