Lightning In A Bottle 2018 Festival: Photos, Videos, & More

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – “Sign the unicorn. Have you signed the unicorn? Sign the unicorn!” For four days, my camping neighbor pleaded to passersby with a marker in hand, seated in a large unicorn-shaped pool toy that was jerry rigged to the hood of his SUV. At the Lightning in a Bottle festival in Bradley, Ca., adult men sitting in pool toys strapped to SUVs is normal.

Situated next to Lake San Antonio, brush-covered valleys are covered in tents, EZ-Ups, and teepees every Memorial Day weekend, creating makeshift homes to thousands of festival-goers. During the day, there are talks and panels, cooking classes at The Learning Kitchen, yoga or dance classes, hammocks to hang in, arts & crafts to make at the Artclave, eclectic music or performance art at The Grand Artique, swimming in the lake, or bass-bumping music to listen to at one of the stages throughout the grounds. As the concerts take over the night, the grounds transform into an untamable festival ecosystem.

Walking over makeshift bridges towards the entrance to the festival, strangers’ dusty hands slapped against each other in a brief moment of camaraderie. Climbing the last steep dirt hill, an adult playground emerged over the horizon. Colorful fabrics covered abstract shapes that made up the various stages next to streets lined with booths of artisan crafts and food.

Renowned journalist Amy Goodman of “Democracy Now” led a talk called “Covering the Experiences Changing America” and spoke of her experiences covering the Dakota Access Pipeline. She laughed when telling the story of her arrest warrant just for doing her job, while encouraging and inspiring young adults to act.

Art was everywhere – from craft classes, to artists painting on large canvases next to the stages, to larger-than-life installations and walk-through galleries. Some of the “only at Lightning in a Bottle” experiences included a Soap Box Derby and 5K Run, along with a Do Over! Salon where stylists would makeover anyone brave enough to spin their “wheel of misfortune.” Barefoot children ran through the kids zone, watching magicians and kid-centric shows or making some art while their parents watched close by.

Let your freak flag fly. . . . #lightinginabottle #lightninginabottle2018 #lightninginabottlefestival @libfestival
A post shared by Kevin Galler (@trash_on_the_ground) on May 29, 2018 at 11:52am PDT

Each day at sunset, everyone turned to watch the skyline, howling at the sun as it said its goodbye for the day – and that’s when the festival really transformed. People led their friends through the grounds by carrying totem poles lit up with LED lights, large art installations shimmered against the night landscape, and light shows matching the music lit up the stage structures. The easygoing, slow moving festival of the day turned into a wild dance party at night.

The friendship and closeness cultivated at Lightning in a Bottle is unique to the festival, and it seems as though everyone that attends experiences a loss of ego – they can let loose, be themselves, and have fun – even if just for the weekend.

To learn more about Lightning in a Bottle, visit their website.

Main photos by Patch staffer Emily Holland and guest photographer Matthew Goulding