History of Escape Halloween in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: October 31, 2025

Escape Halloween is an annual electronic dance music festival produced by Insomniac, held at the National Orange Show Event Center in San Bernardino, California, on the weekend before Halloween. Since its debut in 2011, the festival has embraced Halloween and horror themes, featuring themed stages, walk-through mazes, art installations, and costumed performers. A wide range of electronic music genres are represented, including EDM, house, techno, drum and bass, hardstyle, trance, and more, creating a diverse and immersive Halloween experience.

2011: Escape Halloween Debut

In 2011, Escape Halloween, an electronic dance music festival organized by Insomniac, debuted at the National Orange Show Event Center in San Bernardino, California. The event was centered around Halloween and traditional horror themes, featuring themed stages, Halloween walk-through mazes, art galleries, and costumed performers, with music genres including EDM, house, dance, electro house, drum and bass, techno, dance-punk, hardstyle, dubstep, and trance.

2011: First Escape Halloween festival

In 2011, the first Escape Halloween festival debuted under the name "Escape From Wonderland". It was held by Insomniac Events at the National Orange Show Event Center in San Bernardino, CA, and featured artists including Afrojack, Benny Benassi, Cedric Gervais, and Crizzly.

2011: Charity Work

Since 2011, Insomniac has worked with charities in the San Bernardino area, allocating $1 per ticket transaction and $10 per guest list attendee.

2012: Escape from Wonderland Returns

In 2012, Escape's second year, the festival kept the name "Escape from Wonderland" and returned to the NOS Event Center in Southern California.

2013: Escape From Wonderland at San Manuel Amphitheater

In 2013, the festival continued to keep the name "Escape From Wonderland" and took place in the San Manuel Amphitheater in Southern California.

2014: Escape: All Hallows Eve

In 2014, the festival adopted the name "Escape: All Hallows Eve" and returned to the NOS Event Center in Southern California.

2015: Escape: Psycho Circus Debut

In 2015, the festival changed its name to "Escape: Psycho Circus" and was hosted again in the NOS Event Center in Southern California. The lineup included Adam Auburn, Eric Prydz, Joris Voorn, and Paul Van Dyk amongst many others.

2016: Escape: Psycho Circus Returns to NOS Event Center

In 2016, the festival kept the name "Escape: Psycho Circus" and again returned to the NOS Event Center, hosting Yellow Claw, The Chainsmokers, Hardwell, Armin van Buuren, and Kaskade among others. This was also the first year that Richie Hawtin's ENTER. did not host the Cannibals' Tea Party, techno stage.

2017: Escape: Psycho Circus at NOS Event Center

In 2017, the festival continued to keep the name "Escape: Psycho Circus" and again took place at the NOS Event Center, featuring Tiesto, DJ Snake, NGHTMRE, Marshmello, and more. Audiotistic hosted a stage and Basscon brought hardstyle to the Halloween party. Bassrush hosted The Chopping Block for two nights, while Factory 93 hosted both nights at the Cannibals' Tea Party with Jamie Jones presenting Paradise on and Nicole Moudaber's MOODzone.