The Road to EDC Orlando
Every step of the trip, in our own words. New entries land here as the countdown rolls on — and every night of the festival gets its own recap.
The outfit situation is handled
Benny called me this morning like he'd solved world peace. 'Joe, I figured out the outfits.' He's going full neon — electric yellow compression shorts, a reflective tank, and a light-up fanny pack he found on Amazon at midnight. I'm going a little more understated: black joggers, a BoomersRave long sleeve, and enough glow bracelets to be spotted from the Ferris wheel. We both agreed: comfort over cool. These are 60-year-old knees. We need to be able to walk on Day 3. The rule we set: if you can't dance in it for six hours, it doesn't make the bag. Shoes were the real debate — we both landed on cushioned trail runners. Festival fashion can wait. Our feet cannot.
Recovery is the real prep
I did some reading this week and it turns out recovery between festival nights is basically a sport. We're talking three nights back-to-back, each one going until 5 AM. Benny and I are not 25. So I put together a recovery kit: magnesium glycinate for sleep, electrolyte packets for the morning, compression socks for the flight home, and a foam roller that's coming in the checked bag whether Benny likes it or not. The plan is simple — get back to the hotel by 5:30, eat something real, sleep until noon, and be back on our feet by 3 PM. We're treating each day like a race with a recovery window. If the pros do it, so do the boomers.
Hydration is a full-time job
The Lunchbox hydration pack arrived today and I immediately put it on and walked around the house for 20 minutes. Benny texted asking if I was 'training.' Yes, Benny. I am training. Here's what I've learned: at EDC, you're dancing in Florida heat for hours and the only thing standing between you and a bad night is water. We're each carrying 2 liters in the pack, plus two electrolyte tabs per night. The rule is one full sip every 20 minutes whether you feel like it or not. I set a phone alarm. Benny thinks that's overkill. Benny has also never danced for six hours straight in November in Orlando. The pack fits perfectly, the hose clips to the shoulder strap, and it holds our phones, kandi, and snacks. This thing is going to save us.
The project is real now
Today BoomersRave got a plan, a website, and a deadline. The passes are in hand, the flights are booked, the hotel's set, and two brothers from the boomer generation are officially training for three nights under the electric sky. Benny, we've got 18 days to get ready for three days of nonstop good vibes. No pressure.
21,350 beads
The beads are ordered — all 21,350 of them. Glow letter beads, glow smiley beads, and a mountain of pony beads, arriving Tuesday, October 20. Then the real work starts: Joe and Mom are on stringing duty, turning that pile into 200 BOOMERSRAVE kandi bracelets to trade at EDC. We have lots of bead stringing to do.
Day 1 — Orlando, we have arrived
Recap lands here after night one: the gates, the first stage, the first kandi trade, and whether two boomers can hang until close. (Spoiler: we can.)
Day 2 — Full send
Night two recap: outfits, meetups, sticker count, and the set that blew our minds.
Day 3 — Still standing
Closing night. Fireworks, final trades, and the "boomers still standing" photo.