Best of the Fest: Winter Festivals

Friday sets the weekend in motion with sky-high intensity and melodic precision. Rudimental, the Grammy-nominated, BRIT Award-winning UK collective, brings their stadium-sized sound to an intimate setting — a rare U.S. performance that bridges festival euphoria with underground grit. Mozey and Sota deliver high-octane bassline anthems, while Goddard uplifts with liquid-driven melodies that shimmer.

Trailblazer Circadian injects a fierce, genre-smashing UK edge along with weird and liquid beats from Visages and Monroe supported by ATL favorites DJ Wednesday, Subconscious BSC, and 360 Degrees bringing local firepower to the mix, closing the night in true family-rave spirit. The evening culminates in classic-meets-future form with Critical Sound System and a stacked cast of selectors — a main-stage experience that still feels handcrafted for the heads.

Saturday dives into the darker heart of D&B — a collision of eras and styles that defines the festival’s underground ethos. King of the new jump up sound BOU and Kings of the Rollers ft Serum, Voltage, Bladerunner + Inja lead the charge with their trademark chaos-meets-craft energy, while Roni Size returns for another round of Bristol brilliance going b2b with a Legend DJ SS from World of Drum and Bass. Icons Dillinja and Danny Byrd anchor the night with raw sound-system weight, balanced by melodic visionaries like ÆON:MODE, Fred V and Tomorrowlands resident, Andromedik.

The new-wave fire continues with Venjent, the viral D&B phenom alongside B-Complex, LSB & DRS, Basstripper, and Sustance creating a finalé that moves from emotional storytelling to all-out rave catharsis. Across the stages, regional crews and U.S. risers keep Atlanta’s late-night energy burning deep into the early hours.

Each Masquerade room — Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, and Altar — will transform into its own sonic world with custom lighting, projection mapping, and sub-shattering sound systems. Expect an immersive experience with four-stage interplay, upgraded visuals, and afterparties that stretch into sunrise — proof that Atlanta’s rave roots still thrive beneath the skyline. 

Kick off the winter festival with an electrifying outdoor dance party at The Warming Grounds. Groove to the beats of DJ Sophia Eris and DJ Ruca, while experiencing dynamic dance performances choreographed by Hothouse, a premier dance studio in Minneapolis known for its inclusive and expressive movement culture. Enjoy food trucks, warming stations, and a vibrant community atmosphere. This event is free and open to all.

The iconic Sauna Village returns, with a full schedule of curated sauna experiences including sound bathing, Aufguss, family-friendly sessions, and restorative community steams. Visitors can enjoy self-guided sessions, join expert-led guided experiences, or check out special programming including family-friendly activities and unique wellness offerings. With more than 20 unique mobile saunas to explore, attendees will find endless ways to embrace the restorative power of heat and cold.

Join Beth Dooley (James Beard Award-winning food writer), Ella Daniels (Mill City Farmers Market), Emily Vikre (Vikre Distillery), chefs from Owamni Restaurant, and more.

The Great Northern is excited to present a multi-stage celebration of local sound and talent, featuring some of the region’s most dynamic artists across both indoor venues and outdoor Warming Grounds Stage, co-presented by The Current. Performances include local favorites Porch Light, MMYYKK featuring Omar Abdulkarim, Obi Original and The Black Atlantics, DJ Sophia Eris, DJ Ruca and more.

Featuring panel discussions, workshops, film screenings and live podcasts, highlights include a keynote by tech expert and thought leader Peter Leyden, a podcast recording of How to Survive the End of the World with Autumn Brown & adrienne maree brown, a discussion with marine biologist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson on her New York Times bestselling book What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures, the premier of The Great Northern’s original documentary short Rooted: Stories from Minnesota’s Farming Future by Liz Tracy, and Water, Land & Relatives, a panel and film screening featuring Dr. Ken Lucero (Trust for Public Land) and Shelley Buck (Owámniyomni Okhódayapi).

Family Day brings fun for all ages, with hands-on activities, performances, and experiences that celebrate the season. From puppet shows, concerts, winter runs and fat biking to interactive workshops and public art installations, there is something for everyone.