After three years, Wonderfruit is finally back today. But with 14 stages, pavilions, booths, bars, tents, and more scattered across a 50-hectare sprawl of rolling fields, it’s easy to do more wandering than wondering.
For those having trouble making sense of the official guide, here’s a breakdown of what to find and how to make the most of the fest, whether it’s your first or seventh time. We mostly focus on the after-dark reveling, as the abundant daytime programming is too much to summarize. Just hit the activities directory to find your basket-weaving, orgasm yoga, or compassion crystal sesh.
The festival is laid out in a roughly circular shape. The Quarry is pretty much the center. There is a lower area accessed from the main entrance that is more focused on daytime activities and is a little quieter at night as it’s adjacent to the fancy camping tents. It is connected to the much larger, upper area to the north by a single, sloped path. The first location encountered upon entering the main gate is the Ethos Pavilion.
Ethos Pavilion
Just inside the main entrance, the cluster of large umbrellas marks the Ethos Pavilion, where discussions are held on everything from sustainability to spirituality during the day. Got a question about the festival itself? Wonderfruit Content Director Bow Wasinondh will participate in a 2pm panel on Saturday.
Bath House
Just past Ethos, the bath house is one of those marvels of Wonderfruit’s design team. The bamboo structure extends over a natural pond where guests can lay out, take a dip, or catch some kip. Bookmark this one for later, as it’s a great place to relax and recharge your batteries.
Wonderness
Rounding out the lower are are a variety of elementally themed spots (Sun Circle, Earth Zone, etc.) anchored at the far end by Camp Wonder, the kid-friendly zone. Worth noting: Medics, massage, and an ice bath are all located here. Just past Camp Wonder, visitors can check out a “regenerative forest” taking root in the Ancestral Forest zone. If you have the stomach, you can hear more talks here, like a Thai Beautytuber on how to “explore nature” with your five senses.
Forbidden Fruit
Cross over from the lower fields to find Forbidden Fruit just on the right. Step through the reed cervix into a crimson-hued tent where revelers are grooving – and possibly grinding – to the beat, because this is the Sexy Tent.
Theatre Pavilion
Expect ‘da riddem from a variety of Thai and international artists on this stage which looks like a giant wooden basket.
The Quarry
Head north past the Theatre Pavilion and Forbidden Fruit awaits The Quarry. Head down into the trenches to mine some deep beats once it starts going around 8pm. In The Quarry, underground isn’t just a metaphor. This place will be dancing till dawn.]\
Neramit
Chill out under the shade of the Neramit’s roofed wooden pavilion. There will be some music here, but it’s mostly a loafing spot until late morning, when the hoards descend on it after greeting the dawn at Solar Stage.
From the nexus of Neramit and Quarry, you have several choices. Head further up north to the largest performance stage at Living Village, wander northeast to Solar Village, or scrounge for eats and beats just to the east at Taste of Wonder and beyond. Depending on the time of the night and your state of mind, you could also just follow animal impulse and head toward the brightest lights and sounds.
Living Village/Creature Stage
The Living Village’s biggest feature is also the festival’s largest traditional stage.You’ll also find food and a beer garden in what tends to be a chill zone dominated by large crowds watching the acts on the Creature Stage where revelers can sit by the fields and let the sounds instruments take you on a trip.
SOT
Wherever you are headed, at some point you will pass the SOT zone. Though little reference to its cringe origins as “Straight Outta Thonglor” remain, it was a bid to bring in more contemporary beats. The marketing copy makes generous use of the term “urban.” Expect hip-hop, dancehall, and bass music. Grub here too.
Polygon Live
When the clock slides past midnight and the capsules kick in, the Polygon Stage lures Wonderers with its luminous dome pulsing with geometric patterns of light. Techno lovers and those in the roll-zone will be transfixed by the stage’s 360-degree immersion in flashing lights and beats.
Taste of Wonder
Shop for cool things here. Get a professional photo. Rock out to kickin’ country music atop the Molam Bus.
Solar Stage
Before dawn breaks, most everyone finds their way to the Solar Stage, a wonderfully complex pyramid puzzle structure where people can climb, sit, snooze, or hang. By the time day breaks, it becomes a living thing that will confound what remains of your senses.
By late morning, remaining revelers usually head to Neramit to keep the groove going.
