The Miscellany News

Vassar’s students are ready to travel to New York City for one of the city’s largest music festivals, Electric Zoo (Ezoo). The electronic dance music (EDM) event takes place in New York City’s Randall’s Island Park on Labor Day weekend from Sept. 1 to Sept. 3. This year’s festival features some of EDM’s top names, including Martin Garrix, DJ Snake, Zedd, Tiesto and more. 

Each year Ezoo releases a theme in conjunction with its lineup that inspires outfits and decorations, attracting people who want to experience a distinct atmosphere while watching  their favorite artists perform. This year’s theme is Hyperspace; past themes include Wild Island (2016), 6th Boro (2017), Supernaturals (2019) and The Landing (2022). 

Many Vassar students are attending the festival this year. The Poughkeepsie Train Station – located just miles from Vassar’s campus – offers a $20 train ride to New York City, making it a convenient and inexpensive option for traveling students .

 “Attending Electric Zoo in the heart of New York City is more than just enjoying music, it’s a deep dive into a culture that many of us live and breathe. I am counting down the days until I can take in this culture and all of this experience it has to offer,” said Aiden Santoro ’26 in a written statement. Eli Sherman ’26, another Ezoo attendee, added in a statement, “I’m super excited to expand my music taste, specifically within house music. I know and love all of the big names that are performing this year (Chris Lake, Fisher, Dom Dolla, John Summit) but am excited to explore some of the lesser known DJs and find new music.” 

While some students enjoy the solitude of Vassar’s campus and the quietness of Poughkeepsie, the proximity to New York City is a major part of “the Vassar experience” for plenty of others. Ezoo is just one of many examples of events that take place near Vassar’s campus. Many students like Aiden and Eli plan to take advantage of these seemingly endless opportunities during their time at the college.