Photos: Spring Awakening Kicks Off With Deadmau5 And Confetti Blasts
By Mae Rice in News on Jun 11, 2016 3:40PM
A festivalgoer plays with a ball of confetti
![A festivalgoer plays with a ball of confetti]()
Woman dances to Tritonal at the DJ Stage in a Deadmau5 mouse head
![Woman dances to Tritonal at the DJ Stage in a Deadmau5 mouse head]()
A festivalgoer headbangs to TroyBoi at the Electronic Stage
![A festivalgoer headbangs to TroyBoi at the Electronic Stage]()
A festivalgoer holds up a Chicago flag at the DJ Stage while DVBBS performs
![A festivalgoer holds up a Chicago flag at the DJ Stage while DVBBS performs]()
Bear Grillz performing at the Bass Kitchen
![Bear Grillz performing at the Bass Kitchen]()
A festivalgoer on the giant waterslide
![A festivalgoer on the giant waterslide]()
A cannon fires confetti at the crowd at the DJ Stage (right as the bass drops, obvi)
![A cannon fires confetti at the crowd at the DJ Stage (right as the bass drops, obvi)]()
Delusive DJs the silent disco
![Delusive DJs the silent disco]()
Hula hoop dancer Kassidy Doyle practices her dancing in the shade
![Hula hoop dancer Kassidy Doyle practices her dancing in the shade]()
A man with a Deadmau5 mouse head holds an anti-Donald Trump sign
![A man with a Deadmau5 mouse head holds an anti-Donald Trump sign]()
A festivalgoer holds up a homemade Deadmau5 helmet while waiting for the Deadmau5 show at the Electronic Stage
![A festivalgoer holds up a homemade Deadmau5 helmet while waiting for the Deadmau5 show at the Electronic Stage]()
Deadmau5 performs at the Electronic Stage
![Deadmau5 performs at the Electronic Stage]()
Alex Pronger, 21, from Naperville, Illinois
![Alex Pronger, 21, from Naperville, Illinois]()
Brianna Reinke, 21, from La Crosse, Wisconsin
![Brianna Reinke, 21, from La Crosse, Wisconsin]()
Kaelen Blackwood, 19, from Kansas City, Missouri
![Kaelen Blackwood, 19, from Kansas City, Missouri]()
Austin Houchen, 19, from Youngstown, Ohio
![Austin Houchen, 19, from Youngstown, Ohio]()
Rachell Vergallito, 21, from Los Angeles, California
![Rachell Vergallito, 21, from Los Angeles, California]()
Keri Rexroad, 23, from Champagne, Illinois
![Keri Rexroad, 23, from Champagne, Illinois]()
Anna Greenawalt, 19, from Chicago, Illinois
![Anna Greenawalt, 19, from Chicago, Illinois]()
Spring Awakening, Chicago's EDM-centric music festival, kicked off yesterday in Addams/Medill Park. Fans showed up to see Deadmau5—many of them wearing their own, hopefully ventilated takes on his signature mouse head—as well as acts like Steve Aoki, Jamie xx (!!!) and more.
Mouse heads aside, fest fashion was a neon parade of furry legwarmers, grass skirts and flower crowns. There was at least one set of pasties in there, too—frankly, a stylish and sensible fashion choice on a day when the high was more than 90 degrees. Festival organizers did their best to help everyone manage the heat, though; as promised, there was a free, three-story waterslide on the premises.
Get your first taste of the scene in the photos above, shot by Chicagoist photographer Tyler LaRiviere—and we'll have more in-depth Spring Awakening coverage for you Monday.
