Seattle was kind to Day Trip this year: clear skies, mid-70s weather, and a steady breeze off Lake Union. On July 26, Gas Works Park transformed into a house music paradise for the fourth annual Day Trip Seattle. With the main stage set against sweeping waterfront views and a swarm of paddle boarders drifting up to join the party, this was the event of the weekend.
A Lineup Built for House Lovers
Insomniac once again delivered a house head’s dream roster. Chris Lake returned for his second Day Trip Seattle headlining slot, hot off an electric Coachella pre-party set and the release of his new album, Chemistry. Hearing fresh tracks from that project like Ease my Mind woven seamlessly with his iconic bangers was pure magic. UK duo Gorgon City brought their signature bass-driven house grooves and beautiful vocals, Max Styler and Riordan each turned up the energy with sets that had the whole crowd dancing, Ayybo had everyone singing along to his HYPNOSIS breakout track, and Ky William delivered a reliably great set. Seattle locals Lumi and Veta Vitali proved our homegrown talent can hold its own with the best of them. Their opening sets made early birds feel rewarded for showing up right when the gates opened.
Day Trip Pre and Post Parties
This year’s expansion into a full weekend of events gave die-hards plenty to love. Friday’s Open-Air Preparty at Victory Hall set the tone with Odd Mob, Adam Auburn, and a high-energy Tony H b2b Koister set. Saturday’s Open-Air Afterparty kept the beats rolling well into the night with Max Styler, Riordan, Wolfstax, and Mia Maya. Finally, the Sunday Farewell Boat Party aboard The Hiyu was a perfect end to the weekend with Linska, Amb b2b Sloan Motion, and Alex Bosi playing as the sun set over the city skyline.
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Food, Drinks, and Festival Fuel
There were plenty of options for festival goers to satiate themselves after a long day of dancing. Food trucks lined the park with options for every craving: pizza, loaded hot dogs, Thai noodles, vegan comfort food, and even a cookie dough truck for those with a sweet tooth. The standout? Crave’s Filipino eats, which had festival-goers lined up between sets. To wash it down, the famous giant fishbowl cocktails were everywhere, alongside offerings from sponsors Beatbox, Ghost, White Claw, and Simply Pop.
Smooth Operations All Around
Insomniac’s tweaks for year four made a noticeable difference. Moving the festival to Saturday meant a fresher, more energized crowd, and new layout changes kept lines shorter and the dance floor flowing. This year, the End Overdose booth provided an additional level of safety and education. Security was friendly but attentive, making for a smooth, stress-free day. Finally, Simply Pop’s activation had fans flocking for colorful hats that filled the crowd and provided great sun coverage for people that have been dancing all day.
Day Trip Seattle 2025 was a reminder that when the sun shows up, Seattle knows how to dance. This year set the bar high with a stacked lineup, smooth operations, waterfront views, and extra weekend parties. Here’s hoping next summer is just as sunny!
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