ROTHBURY, MI — From boots with the fur to lavender eye-popping contacts, festival fashion has significantly evolved since the 2008 Rothbury event.
From the Rothbury days of 2008 and 2009 to the inaugural Electric Forest in 2011, MLive/The Muskegon Chronicle has been there to document the colorful atmosphere.
Liz Kirsop, 25, left, and Laura Crider, 19, dance at the Ranch Arena to The Ragbirds during Rothbury Sunday, July 5, 2009. MLive File Photo
Set in the small village of Rothbury, the Double JJ Ranch transforms into a whimsical hideaway in rural Michigan each June, creating an atmosphere of love and friendship that empowers festivalgoers to express themselves through increasingly creative fashion choices.
Patrons take a break and lay on the heart of the Sherwood Forest during the Electric Forest festival on Friday, June 27, 2014.MLive File Photo
We searched through the MLive archives to trace the rapid evolution of festival fashion over the years.
Each year the costumes and outfits become more high-tech and more outrageous. From glowing LED helmets to intricate costumes like the wacky wave inflatable guy, there is always something that will catch your eye.
Rob Robinson of Cleveland poses fro a portrait with his cyber punk mask during the second day of Electric Forest Music Festival at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan on Friday, June 23, 2022.MLive File Photo
‘Wacky wave inflatable gal’ poses for a portrait in Sherwood Forest during the second day of Electric Forest Music Festival on Friday, June 24, 2022 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Keep scrolling for a collection of some of our favorite portraits we have captured throughout the years in Rothbury.
PHOTO GALLERY: Rothbury to Electric Forest music festival fashion
Left to right, Ashley Pinion, 20, of Westland, Kristie Hutchison, 20, of Westland, Lisa Peifer, 24, of Ypsilanti, and Raylin Smith, 20, of Westland strike a pose at the Electric Forest music festival at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan on Saturday, June 29, 2013. The festival concludes on June 30.MLive File Photo
Shannon Unick, 21, and Sara Leach, 19, dance at the Ranch Arena during Rothbury Sunday, July 5, 2009. MLive File Photo
Nina Rodriguez of Colorado dances in Ranch Arena during Electric Forest on Thursday, June 28, 2012.MLive File Photo
Several hundred patrons participate in a yoga demonstration at the Tripolee stage area at the Electric Forest music festival at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan on Friday, June 28, 2013. The class was led by Mary Clare Sweet. The festival concludes on June 30.MLive File Photo
Jessica SanFilippo (cq), 20, middle, takes in the atmosphere at Rothbury near friends, Lynnsey (cq) and Bonin, 19, Brooklyn Waterman, 17, Friday, July 3, 2009. MLive File Photo
The crowd reacts as The Dead take the stage at The Odeum during Rothbury Saturday, July 4, 2009. MLive File Photo
The crowd cheers as Keller Williams performs at the Ranch Arena during Rothbury Thursday, July 2, 2009.MLive File Photo
Casey Fulton, 20, reads in the back of an SUV at his Rothbury campsite Thursday, July 2, 2009. Fulton, who is from Kalamazoo, was reading “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” by Tucker Max. Fulton said he spends the summer traveling to music festivals. “I love it,” he said about Rothbury, “It’s one of my favorites for sure.”MLive File Photo
Festival goers pose for a portrait in Electric Forest on Saturday, June 27, 2015. The festival at Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury Mich. continues through June 28. MLive File Photo
A group of festival goers admire a tapestry painted in the general admission camping area on the first day of the Electric Forest Festival on June 26, 2014.MLive File Photo
Bobby Mitchell of Killingly, Connecticut strikes a pose at the Electric Forest music festival at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan on Saturday, June 29, 2013. The festival concludes on June 30.MLive File Photo
Brit Hamlin of Detroit poses for a portrait to show off her unique costume at the Electric Forest Festival on June 26, 2014.MLive File Photo
Festival Goers enjoy themselves near the Tripolee stage during a Eskmo performance during the 2013 Electric Forest Festival at The Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury Mich., on June 28, 2013.MLive File Photo
Kevin Arceo and Kat Cabrera of Iowa pose for a portrait to show off their unique costume at the Electric Forest Festival on June 26, 2014.MLive File Photo
John Marshall, 26, of Chicago strikes a pose at the Electric Forest music festival at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan on Saturday, June 29, 2013. The festival concludes on June 30.MLive File Photo
Dan Steffens, 20, dances to Bob Dylan at The Odeum during Rothbury, Sunday, July 5, 2009. Steffens is from Chicago.MLive File Photo
Devin Mahoney of Marquette poses for a portrait to show off his unique costume at the Electric Forest Festival on June 26, 2014.MLive File Photo
A group of festival goers mug for the camera prior to exiting the campground area on the morning of July 1, 2013 to leave the third annual Electric Forest music festival after it concluded the night before at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan. Approximately 25,000 fans attended the four-plus day event.MLive File Photo
Taisia Carda, left, and Denyse Baggot of Long Island, NY pose for a portrait to show off their unique costume at the Electric Forest Festival on June 26, 2014.MLive File Photo
Alex Hoelter, 19, waits for Flogging Molly to take the stage at the Ranch Arena during Rothbury Friday, July 3, 2009. Hoelter is from Chicago.MLive File Photo
Luke McDiarmid of Traverse City poses for a portrait in Electric Forest on Saturday, June 27, 2015. The festival at Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury Mich. continues through June 28. MLive File Photo
The Zoo Crew poses for a portrait in front of their campsite during the Electric Forest Music Festival, on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. Over 40 people are camping with the Zoo Crew. MLive File Photo
Philip Wright poses for a portrait inside the Sherwood Forest during the second day of Electric Forest on Friday, June 23, 2017 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Mich.MLive File Photo
Uncle Randy of the Qaud City, Iowa poses for a portrait during the Electric Forest Back-Forty pool party on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Mich. The welcome party was held for VIP campers a day before the festival begins. MLive File Photo
Dania Loginova of Russia, currently residing in Miami poses for a portrait at Sherwood Court during the third day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Alec Hall, 26, from Muskegon, poses for a portrait during the second weekend of Electric Forest in Rothbury on Saturday, July 1, 2017. MLive File Photo
Clinton Marshall, 26, of Battle Creek poses for a portrait in a hand-made samurai warrior during the final day of Electric Forest on Sunday, June 26, 2016 at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Mich. Marshall’s friend Brandon Green put over 300 hours into hand-making the suit. MLive File Photo
Ryan Weather and Kailey Zimmerschied both of Asheville, North Carolina post for a portrait at Electric Forest on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Mich. MLive File Photo
Festival attendees, from left, Chien Nowland, of Traverse City, Ari M. of Detroit, Stefano Pesce of Detroit and Lujine N. of Detroit, pose for a portrait during the second day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Friday, June 28, 2019 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Shana Lombardi poses for a portrait with her totem during the Electric Forest Music Festival on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Lami Jones, of Louisville, Kentucky, poses for a portrait during the Electric Forest Music Festival on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Festival attendee Matthew McLellan “Video the Forest Wizard,” of Seattle, poses for a portrait during the second day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Friday, June 28, 2019 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan.MLive File Photo
Dennis Ross of Orlando poses for a portrait during the final day of Electric Forest Music Festival at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan on Sunday, June 25, 2023. MLive File Photo
A group in general admission poses for a portrait during the first day of the Electric Forest Music Festival onThursday, June 27, 2019 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Mitchell Foster of Romeo, Michigan poses for a portrait in his “last minute green gorilla suit” during the first day of Electric Forest Music Festival on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Jason Evens of Austin, Texas poses for a portrait during the third day of Electric Forest Music Festival at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan on Saturday, June 24, 2023. MLive File Photo
Mitch and Caroline Fenner of Detroit pose for a portrait in their space inspired costumes during the first day of Electric Forest Music Festival on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Jessica VanTassel of Jacksonville poses for a portrait with her barbie girl outfit during the second day of Electric Forest Music Festival at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan on Friday, June 23, 2022. VanTassel runs “Ken likes boys” an alternative narrative to the Barbie story.MLive File Photo
during the fourth day of Electric Forest Music Festival on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Asha Mathis of Buffalo, New York poses for a portrait at Ranch Area during Electric Forest Music Festival on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Asha Mathis, 32, of Buffalo, New York poses for a portrait inside Sherwood Forest during the third day of Electric Forest Music Festival at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan on Saturday, June 24, 2023. MLive File Photo
Madi Alaspa of Duluth, Minnesota poses for a portrait in her “Moon Elf” costume during the fourth day of Electric Forest Music Festival on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Festival attendee Sarah Jane Washington, of Brooklyn, NY, poses for a portrait during the second day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Friday, June 28, 2019 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan.MLive File Photo
Momo Andrews of Flint poses for a portrait dressed as “Rave Pool” in Sherwood Forest during the third day of Electric Forest Music Festival on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Olivia Carideo, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, poses for portrait during the Electric Forest Music Festival on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Sean Goodman and Ashley Cameron both of Akron pose for a portrait with their alien totem named Shelagh during the final day of Electric Forest at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Mich. on Sunday, June 23, 2024. Goodman has attended 12 forests and Cameron has attended five. MLive File Photo
Izzy DeLiso of Long Island, New York, poses for a portrait at Tripolee during Electric Forest Music Festival on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Madelyn Blair who goes by the stage name Dylan Rose poses for a portrait in her “cutie” costume during the fourth day of Electric Forest Music Festival on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Justin Sampson of Rhode Island poses for a portrait during the second day of Electric Forest Music Festival at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan on Friday, June 23, 2022.MLive File Photo
Tyler Harner of Indianapolis poses for a portrait in his female themed Xerxes outfit during the third day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Taylor Stanley and Maddie Montpetit, both of St. Paul, Minnesota, pose for a portrait with their totem during the Electric Forest Music Festival on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
David Merisme, 22, from New York, poses for a portrait at the Tripolee stage during the second weekend of Electric Forest in Rothbury on Saturday, July 1, 2017. MLive File Photo
Noah Johnson, 35, of St. Paul, Minnesota, poses for a portrait during the second day of the first weekend of Electric Forest 2018 on the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Mich., on Thursday, June 21, 2018. MLive File Photo
Denzil Chung of Boston poses for a portrait during Electric Forest Music Festival on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Amede Bennett of Philadelphia poses for a portrait during the second day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Joseph Spinal and Ian Wheelpol o Brooklyn pose for a portrait during the first day of Electric Forest at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Mich. on Thursday, June 20, 2024. MLive File Photo
Lavender from Detroit poses for a portrait during the fourth day of Electric Forest Music Festival on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Rachel Darling of Dearborn poses for a portrait with her totem during the third day of Electric Forest Music Festival at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan on Saturday, June 24, 2023.MLive File Photo
Timmy Kromer of Modesto, California poses for a portrait with his Bitmoji totem during the second day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Arika Brandon of Sand Lake poses for a portrait in Sherwood Forest during the third day of Electric Forest Music Festival on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. Brandon is six-months pregnant with a boy. MLive File Photo
A group of “Forest Rangers” pose for a portrait during the third day of Electric Forest at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Mich. on Saturday, June 22, 2024. MLive File Photo
Martha and Alan Scott of Columbiaville, Mich. pose for a portrait during the first day of Electric Forest at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Mich. on Thursday, June 20, 2024. MLive File Photo
Ryan and Hannah Maas from the Twin Cities pose for a portrait in their mushroom themed outfits during the second day of Electric Forest Music Festival at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan on Friday, June 23, 2022. MLive File Photo
Chris Metrailer of Tulsa, Oklahoma poses for a portrait during the second day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan.MLive File Photo
Goldie of Dallas, Texas poses for a portrait during the second day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Flash the Maus Man poses for a portrait at The Hangar during the first day of Electric Forest Music Festival on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Nathan Carlson of Syracuse, New York poses for a portrait during the second day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Selina Kiss of Grand Rapids, Michigan poses for a portrait during the third day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. Kiss waited several hours to be front row at Bassnectar. MLive File Photo
Haven Shoemaker of Colorado and her four-month-old daughter Oella pose for a portrait during the fourth day of Electric Forest Music Festival on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Grace Lilly of Charleston, South Carolina, poses for a portrait in Sherwood Court during Electric Forest Music Festival on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Spencer Sabin of Mt. Pleasant, Mich. poses for a portrait during the third day of Electric Forest at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Mich. on Saturday, June 22, 2024. MLive File Photo
Allie Mooney of Tempe, Arizona and Kat Brooks of Crystal Mountain, Washington pose for a portrait during the first day of Electric Forest Music Festival on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Jonah Sternberg of Duluth, Minnesota poses for a portrait during the first day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Thursday, June 21, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Cierra Cornwall of Ludington poses for a portrait in Sherwood Forest during the third day of Electric Forest Music Festival on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Festival attendees, from left, Hex Velvet, Ren Kitsune and Diane Astal, all of Columbus, OH, pose for a portrait during the second day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Friday, June 28, 2019 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan. MLive File Photo
Demetri Kokines and Priscilla Dolce both of New Orleans pose for a portrait during the third day of the Electric Forest Music Festival on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, Michigan.MLive File Photo
