September 22 - 25, 2016 (Thursday – Sunday)
Woodward Reservoir Regional Park,
Oakdale, California, United States
When it comes to the alternative-reality, anything-goes
festival circuit, Burning Man tends to get all the attention. But Symbiosis,
which was “born from Burner culture,” positions itself as a purer, more curated
version of the bohemia-fest.
Different Every
Year
Founded in 2005 with its first event, taking place in
Santa Cruz, California, the gathering has changed locations several times in
its decade-long history, though it took a two-year hiatus from 2010 to 2011
with a year off in 2014 as well. Through this process, it’s embraced its
migratory nature, having moved from its origin in the Santa Cruz mountains to
Angels Camp, then to Yosemite National Park, after that to Pyramid Lake and
finally to its current location at Woodward Reservoir. The festival has also
been held during different months of the year, giving it even more variety.
While each installation is connected in spirit and ethos, each year always has
its own distinct identity.
For fest-goers who want to have an eco-conscious experience
and meet like-minded people rooted in a sustainable ethos, Symbiosis is an
ideal hub. In addition to art, performance, creativity, and music, there’s a
heavy emphasis on earth-consciousness. While other festivals may have a green
aspect as an afterthought or sideshow, the organizers of Symbiosis describe
their mission as seeking to “provide a space for the fusion of aesthetics,
sound, and natural living, in an atmosphere of interactive co-creation.”
The environmental consciousness goes way beyond just food
(which of course is all organic) and recycling—attendees can get involved in
many eco-initiatives, and organizers invite Native American people who live
nearby to make sure that traditions and ecological heritage are respected.
Not Just another
Burning Man
So how is Symbiosis different from Burning Man? Well,
while Burning Man is the ultimate destination at which to try all the things
society might shun—radical exuberance, substances, unfettered creativity,
youthfulness, and just plain weirdness—Symbiosis, though it also embraces those
things, aims to create an atmosphere that weeds out some of the riffraff that a
festival the scale of Burning Man inevitably attracts. With just several
thousand attendees as opposed to Burning Man’s tens of thousands, Symbiosis is
far more intimate and mindful. But similar to Burning Man, there are no
sponsorships, for-profit commerce, or brands in sight, which means attendees
can take a rare break from capitalism. Instead, there's an alternative marketplace
where sharing, cooperation, and collaboration are key and people of all stripes
feel welcome.
A Quirkier Lineup
The latest installation of Symbiosis (its 10-year
reunion) was held at the same location as its 2013 event. It featured more than
200 acts on four main stages, with musical genres veering away from mainstream
EDM, instead favoring more experimental, alternative acts including Nicholas
Jaar, Shpongle, Emancipator Ensemble, and Griz. Add in the Fungineers , the Vau
de Vire Society , and Bubble Gutter
foran even quicker, entertaining time.
Without any major, big-name acts, the ticket price
(around $300) can feel steep for the five-day festival. However, in addition to
the music, there are many workshops, art projects, lectures, yoga classes, and
alternative performances and experiences. And the Woodward Reservoir itself
presents a popular activity—take a fresh dip in the lake between sets and
activities to take in nature’s beauty.
While there are a few complaints about
less-than-efficient organization, veteran attendees most frequently rave about
the stages at Symbiosis Gathering, which, in addition to serving as the
performances' backdrop, are art installations in and of themselves. With music
going into the night, there’s nothing better than dancing until the sun comes
up amid stunning manmade and natural scenery. This is a truly a place to let
your spirit run free.
Cost: $245 (early bird pricing)
