Rave FAQ — From Two Guys Who Had No Idea What They Were Doing
We get a lot of the same questions. Here are honest answers from two boomers who are figuring this out in real time.
1Can older adults actually enjoy EDC? Isn't it just for young people?
Joe here — and I want to be direct about this: yes, absolutely. I spent five years watching Tomorrowland on a 49-inch monitor thinking it wasn't for me. I was wrong. EDC is not a youth club. It's a music festival built around PLUR — Peace, Love, Unity, Respect — and that philosophy doesn't have an age limit. The crowd at EDC is genuinely one of the most welcoming communities I've ever encountered. Nobody cares how old you are. They care that you're there, that you're present, and that you're bringing good energy. Benny and I are in our 60s and we have gotten nothing but love from every person we've talked to in the rave community. The music is loud, the lights are incredible, and the feeling of standing in that crowd is something I can't describe. Don't let age be the reason you miss it.
2What's the most important gear to bring to EDC as an older raver?
Benny here. After months of research and a lot of trial and error, here's my non-negotiable list: a quality hydration pack (we use the Lunchbox — it holds two liters and all your essentials), high-fidelity earplugs (your hearing is not replaceable — get the Hears plugs, they reduce volume without killing the sound quality), a portable charger that can handle a full night, and comfortable shoes with real cushioning. I cannot stress the shoes enough. We're talking six-plus hours of standing and dancing on concrete. Your 25-year-old self could get away with fashion sneakers. Your 60-year-old knees cannot. Trail runners or well-cushioned cross-trainers are the move. Everything else is optional. Those four things are survival gear.
3How do you stay hydrated at a multi-day festival like EDC?
Joe here, and this one I take seriously. Florida in November sounds mild but you are dancing hard under stage lighting for hours, and dehydration sneaks up on you fast. Our system: two liters of water in the hydration pack per night, two electrolyte tabs dissolved in the pack before we head in, and a phone alarm set to go off every 20 minutes as a drink reminder. You will not feel thirsty when you're in the middle of a set — the music and the energy override the signal. The alarm overrides the override. We also eat a real meal before gates open and keep a couple of snack bars in the pack for the back half of the night. EDC has free water refill stations throughout the venue — use them. Refill at every opportunity. Hydration is not glamorous but it is the difference between a great night and a miserable one.
4How do you recover between festival nights when you're not 25 anymore?
Benny here. Recovery is the part nobody talks about and the part that matters most when you're our age. Three nights back-to-back finishing at 5 AM is a serious physical ask. Our recovery protocol: get back to the hotel by 5:30, eat something with protein and carbs, take magnesium glycinate to help the body wind down, and sleep until noon. No alarm. When we wake up, electrolytes first, then a real breakfast. We're also bringing a foam roller for the legs — six hours of dancing is basically a workout. Compression socks for the travel days. The goal is to treat each night like a race with a recovery window before the next one. You don't have to bounce back instantly. You just have to be ready by showtime. Give your body what it needs and it will show up for you.
5What is kandi and why does everyone at EDC trade it?
Joe here. Kandi are beaded bracelets — usually made from pony beads on elastic string — that ravers make and trade with each other at festivals. The trade itself is a ritual called a PLUR handshake: you connect hands with a stranger, make the shapes for Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect, and slide the bracelet from your wrist to theirs. It sounds simple but in the middle of a festival, with the music going and the lights flashing, it's one of the most genuinely human moments I've ever experienced. Benny and I are bringing 200 handmade BOOMERSRAVE kandi bracelets to EDC Orlando — Joe and Mom strung every single one. We want to trade with as many people as possible. If you see two older guys in the crowd handing out BOOMERSRAVE bracelets, come find us. The handshake is easy and we will teach you.
6Is EDC safe for first-timers? What should we know going in?
Benny here. EDC is one of the best-run large-scale events I've researched. Insomniac, the company that produces it, takes safety seriously — there are medical stations throughout the venue, harm reduction services, security everywhere, and a culture that genuinely looks out for each other. That said, here's what first-timers need to know: stay with your group and set a meeting point in case you get separated. Know where the medical tents are before you need them. Wear earplugs — the stages are loud by design and hearing damage is permanent. Don't push to the front of a packed crowd if you're not comfortable with the density. And drink water all night, not just when you're thirsty. The community is welcoming and the staff is professional. Go in prepared and you will have the time of your life.
7What should a boomer wear to EDC? Do we have to do the full rave outfit?
Joe here. Short answer: wear whatever makes you feel good and lets you move comfortably for six hours. Long answer: the rave fashion scene is genuinely fun and expressive, and you don't have to opt out of it just because you're older. Benny is going full neon — electric yellow compression shorts, a reflective tank, a light-up fanny pack. I'm going BoomersRave long sleeve, black joggers, and enough glow bracelets to be visible from the Ferris wheel. The one rule we set for ourselves: if you can't dance in it for six hours, it doesn't make the bag. Comfort is not a compromise — it's the strategy. The most important fashion decision you'll make is your shoes. Cushioned trail runners. Don't negotiate on this. Your feet will thank you on Day 3.
8How do you find your people at EDC? Is it hard to connect with other ravers?
Benny here. Honestly? It's the easiest social environment I've ever been in. The PLUR culture is real — people are genuinely open, friendly, and happy to meet strangers. Kandi trading is the fastest way to connect with someone. You walk up, offer a bracelet, do the handshake, and suddenly you've had a real moment with a person you'll probably never see again but won't forget. We've also found that being two older guys at a rave is actually a conversation starter. People are curious, they want to know our story, and when we tell them we're two boomer brothers from Myrtle Beach who decided to stop watching festivals on YouTube and actually go — they love it. Follow us on Instagram at BoomersRave and come find us at EDC Orlando 2026. We'll be the ones with the BOOMERSRAVE kandi.
More questions? Follow along as we prep for EDC Orlando 2026.
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