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All About Electric Castle Festival
91 
Bonţida, Cluj County, Romania
Open-air
XXL – 50k+
Electronic, Rock, Hip-Hop
$$$
Live music
+3 Days
Electric Castle is an award-winning music festival that puts the multi-genre music ethos on a pedestal.
Since its inception in 2013, the festival has been held annually in the middle of July.
This leading festival is held every year on the Transylvanian domain of the Bánffy Castle, near Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Electric Castle is where rock, indie, hip-hop, electronic, and techno mesh seamlessly, creating an electrifying atmosphere. The cheerful vibe attracts thousands of youngsters who come unleash their party animal persona.
Thanks to its ineffable party music aura and lineup that will sweep you off your feet no matter what beat you are into, Electric Castle shaped its reputation as a top European festival.
Here’s everything you need to know about Electric Castle.
The festival’s location is a historical landmark
Electric Castle takes place every year near the Bánffy Castle, an architectural masterpiece in Bontida, Romania. Showcasing features belonging to Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical styles, the castle was constructed in the 15th century and became a historic monument in 1990.
But not everything was peaches and cream for the architectural gem. The castle was partially destroyed by German forces during WWII and neglected by Romania’s communist regime.
Taking place on the Banffy Castle’s lush domain, Electric Castle won the lottery when it comes to location. With expansive green fields, the multi-day festival gives attendees enough space to dance, discover and explore.
Electric Castle contributes to Banffy’s restoration
Electric Castle festival contributes to the castle’s restoration process by donating a profit cut from ticket sales.
But the event’s financial contribution goes way beyond the Banffy Castle. The festival creates jobs for people and gives real estate owners the opportunity to earn extra bucks by transforming their homes into Airbnbs.
In addition, several residents provide parking for the festival-goers’ vehicles, as well as cheap food and beverages. This is what we call a top notch hospitality.
Electric Castle has earned several awards
Over the years, the festival has been recognized for the great atmosphere it boasts. Consequently, Electric Castle was the lucky recipient of several awards at the European Festivals Awards.
Back in 2017, the multi-genre festival won the Best Camping Award in 2017 – but Electric Castle didn’t stop at one award.
In 2018, the organizers added the Best Food & Drinks Award to the event’s shelves.
The latest award won by the Romanian festival was the Best Medium-Sized Festival in 2019.
The Romanian festival has hosted some of the greatest music artists
Ever since its inauguration, Electric Castle morphed into a beat-fueled playground where major industry names reign supreme and rising talents find a shelter.
Surprising music fans each year with a dreamy lineup is no easy feat, but Electric Castle Festival does it like its a religion. By striking a good balance between music genres and calling the shots for international artists, the Romanian festival is a pro at brainstorming artist rosters.
Bring Me The Horizon, Deadmau5, and Paul van Dyk are among the biggest names who have performed at the Electric Castle over the years.
Electric Castle’s attendance is on the rise
Electric Castle’s first edition saw an impressive turnout of 32,000 people – not too bad for a rookie festival.
In 2014, the second edition witnessed a remarkable rise in attendees to 79,000. As a result, Electric Castle became the second-largest Romanian music event ever after Untold.
The number of festival-goers kept increasing over the years, reaching 231,000 during the seventh edition.
Electric Castle provides accessibility to the hearing impaired
With the assistance of Amber Galloway Gallego, a sign language interpreter specializing in concerts and music festivals, Electric Castle was the first Romanian festival to help deaf festival-goers better experience the event.
The sign language interpreters translated all major acts, providing an inclusive experience for those with hearing disabilities.
2021 witnessed a special edition of the festival
Electric Castle came up with a new concept following the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of hiding under a rock and wait for the restrictions to dissapear, the festival continued to share its music ethos with the public.
EC_Special was Romania’s first major music event during the pandemic years. For nine days, the special event invited music fans to a myriad of music venues and clubs in Cluj-Napoca.
Although the initiative didn’t feel like the authentic Electric Castle Festival experience, it featured 30 venues and 400 acts.
There’s a range of accommodation options
Those interested in a unique camping experiences amid a bustling atmosphere can pick from several lodging options.
Guests can choose different types of camping options available in a wide range of prices.
With tent areas, fancy cabins and cozy capsules, there is something for everyone’s taste and budget.
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