As Elements Music & Arts Festival prepares to return to Long Pond, Pennsylvania, from August 7-9, the independent event continues to grow while staying true to its community-first roots. What began as a Brooklyn warehouse party has since evolved into one of the country’s premier camping festivals. Ahead of this year’s edition, we caught up with Elements co-founder Brett Herman and general manager Dan Slutsky to discuss the festival’s evolution, this year’s newest additions, and the vision driving Elements into the future.
Elements has grown tremendously over the years while maintaining the spirit that inspired the festival. When asked what sets the event apart from other camping festivals, Brett Herman emphasized the participatory nature of the experience. “Elements is very much a music and arts festival. It even started more as a party specifically than a festival, so we’ve always tried to keep the experience and the non-music things at the forefront,” Herman explained. Drawing inspiration from his two decades of experience at Burning Man, Herman noted that the goal is to make attendees feel like active participants in the event’s culture rather than passive guests.
Building a Festival Within a Festival
A cornerstone of this immersive approach is the “Vibe Village” culture. General manager Dan Slutsky describes this as the festival’s unique take on group camping. “We encourage participation, and it’s often been described as a festival within the festival. People bring full stages, art installations, or create these wacky interactive experiences. It’s very Burning Man in that way, while still being a music festival with major production,” Slutsky said. This focus on identity and community remains central as the festival scales.
For the 2026 edition, attendees can expect significant upgrades. “We’re upgrading two of our main stages with entirely new Fire and Earth stage designs that we’ve been working on all year,” Slutsky shared. Beyond production, the team has launched a dedicated Guest Relations department to ensure every touchpoint—from digital interaction to on-site navigation—is seamless. New art installations in the woods and a retro-inspired candy shop are also set to debut.
Curating a Diverse Sonic Landscape
When it comes to the lineup, the team prioritizes a collaborative approach to talent buying. Rather than adhering to a single genre, they aim to represent a full spectrum of electronic music, ranging from UK garage and house to dubstep and harder techno. “We also make it a point to highlight regional artists because supporting talent early in their careers has always been part of our culture,” Slutsky noted. Herman added that the joy of discovery is a key component of the attendee experience, citing past successes with artists like The Chainsmokers and Louis the Child.
The Reality of Producing a Temporary City
Producing a camping festival is a logistical feat that often goes unnoticed by the average attendee. “Planning really never stops. We’re already working on next year’s festival, and booking starts 14 or 15 months out,” Herman explained. “It’s almost like running a temporary city.” Slutsky echoed this sentiment, noting that while the work is far from glamorous—involving everything from infrastructure to waste management—the reward lies in creating unforgettable memories for the community.
Looking ahead, the team remains focused on the “Disneyland” model of immersion, where every detail is meticulously considered. Whether it is a surprise pop-up set from an artist like Pretty Lights or a spontaneous interaction in the woods, the goal is to foster moments that transcend the main stage performances. As Elements Music & Arts Festival continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, it remains a testament to the power of independent, community-driven event production.
