Beyond Wonderland March 2026 – Event Review – Zone Magazine Issue 052 –

Words & Pics By Kaiulani Newhouse

I Went to Beyond Wonderland at 52 — And I’d Do It All Over Again! Let me just start by saying: I am not a 25-year-old with unlimited energy and a high tolerance for loud bass at midnight. I’m a 52-year-old woman who showed up to the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino on March 27th with my best friend Jaimie Hoover and my 18-year-old daughter, absolutely no idea what I was fully getting into — and honestly? It was one of the best weekends I’ve had in years.

Was it exhausting? Oh, absolutely. My feet are still sending me strongly worded messages. But was it worth every single second? Without question.

How Did We Even End Up Here?
Look, when your daughter is 18 and wants to share something she loves with you, you say yes. That’s just the rule. So when she brought up Beyond Wonderland, I looped in Jaimie — because every great adventure needs a best friend — and just like that, the three of us were going down the rabbit hole together. Literally.
The NOS Events Center: More Than Just a Parking Lot with Lights

I’ll be honest, “San Bernardino events center” didn’t exactly scream magical wonderland to me before we arrived. But the moment we walked in, I got it. The place has this incredible energy. What started as a citrus exhibit back in 1911 now sprawls across more than 120 acres, and Insomniac — the company behind the festival — absolutely transforms it into something otherworldly. The stages, the lighting, the costumed characters roaming around — it’s like stepping into a fever dream in the best possible way.
Jaimie and I kept looking at each other like, are you seeing this right now?

The Music: Okay, I’m a Fan Now
I went in knowing Tiësto and Zedd — because I’m 52, not living under a rock — and came out with a whole new appreciation for artists I’d never heard of. The lineup was genuinely incredible. GRiZ had the crowd absolutely losing their minds, and even I was dancing like nobody was watching (they were definitely watching). SLANDER, Steve Angello, Benny Benassi — the energy never let up.
What I loved most is that there was something for everyone. My daughter pulled us toward the bass stages where ATLiens and Sullivan King were performing, and I will admit my first reaction was this is a lot. But five minutes in, I was feeling it. Meanwhile Jaimie and I snuck over to catch some of the trance sets — Giuseppe Ottaviani and Ilan Bluestone together was genuinely beautiful — and for a moment it felt less like a festival and more like floating.

The Costumes, the Atmosphere, the People
Nobody told me I needed a costume. I showed up in a cute outfit feeling proud of myself, and then walked into a sea of the most creative, elaborate, joyful looks I’ve ever seen in my life. Fairy wings, Alice in Wonderland dresses, full LED suits — the creativity was unreal. And not once did anyone make me feel out of place for being the “older one.” The vibe was genuinely inclusive and warm.
My daughter fit right in, which made my mama heart so full. Watching her light up in that environment, seeing her in her element — that alone was worth the trip.

Let’s Talk About the Exhaustion Factor
Real talk: by midnight, Jaimie and I were running on fumes and sheer stubbornness. Our feet hurt, our ears were ringing, and we’d had approximately one too many sips of overpriced festival water. But here’s the thing — we didn’t leave. Because every time we thought about calling it, another incredible set would start, or we’d stumble onto a stage we hadn’t explored yet, or my daughter would grab our hands and pull us into the crowd.
That’s the magic of Beyond Wonderland. It doesn’t let you go.

Would I Go Back?
Ask me again when my feet recover. But yes — absolutely yes. If you’re thinking you’re “too old” for something like this, I’m here to tell you that you’re not. Bring your best friend, bring your kid if they’re into it, wear comfortable shoes (learn from my mistakes), and just let yourself be swept away.
Beyond Wonderland 2026 was loud, wild, overwhelming, beautiful, and completely unforgettable. And somewhere in the middle of all that beautiful chaos, three women — a 52-year-old, her best friend Jaimie, and an 18-year-old who brought them both there — danced like it was the last night on earth.
10 out of 10. Rabbit hole approved.