Costa Rica’s Envision Festival seeks to be the apex of conscious gatherings, and it does a pretty good job of accomplishing that.
To look at Envision as a music festival would be selling it far short. The Feb. 22-25 festival incorporates yoga instructors and healers, a lineup of speakers, art installations, spirituality, education and a connection with nature in one of the most biodiverse ecologies on the planet.
Speakers come from environmental and tribal backgrounds, and performers and instructors are selected from an international pool. Musical performers also represent an array of international backgrounds, with music ranging from headliner Xavier Rudd’s electronic reggae, to TroyBoi’s rap and hip-hop background, to CloZee’s international music laced over beats, to Behrouz’s deep house, to the Sierra Nevada’s own Charlesthefirst and his wavy ambient production.
Envision has been held eight years in Costa Rica’s Pacific Coastal town of Uvita at the confluence of rain forest and tropical sea – the festival takes place a two-minute walk from the beach. And while its strives to be inclusive of families with children, it also promises that the music goes until sunrise each night.
Consistent with its message and goals of sustainability and zero waste, the festival bars the use of any single-use plastics, offers locally sourced produce and ingredients in its on-site food options, and has contributed to ongoing efforts to reforest the festival grounds.
With a largely international audience, onsite camping is included with the festival ticket – though there are many other options for lodging nearby. Shuttles are offered from Costa Rica’s central San Jose airport to the festival site.
Aimed to “awaken our human potential,” Envision Festival offers an environment seeking to stimulate all of the senses and leave its participants with an inspiring experience unlike that of most other festivals.
Additional musical performers include: Thriftworks, Bob Moses, The Russ Liquid Test, Matanza, Mike Love, Dimond Saints, Desert Dwellers, Stickybuds, Whitebear, Soohan, Sodown, DJ Tennis, Audiofly, Chaim, Tara Brooks, Be Svendsen, The Librarian and others with more than 60 musical performers in all.
Ticketing, travel planning and complete information can be found at EnvisionFestival.com
-Shaun Astor
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