Hocus Pocus returned to Miami’s Factory Town from Thursday, October 31 to Saturday, November 2, transforming the venue into a Halloween paradise for electronic music fans. Presented by Link Miami Rebels, the festival offered three nights of non-stop music across four stages, with a lineup featuring over 75 renowned DJs and an extra dose of techno-heavy sets. New additions like the haunted house and the Park stage’s dark techno vibes only added to the immersive experience. Here’s a breakdown of each day and the highlights that made Hocus Pocus 2024 unforgettable.
Day 1: Halloween Night Music Highlights
Kicking off on Halloween night, the crowd went all-in on costumes, with some pretty impressive outfits that added to the festival’s vibrant atmosphere.
Escapio Proximo set the mood with an Afro House vibe, highlighted by Ahmed Spins B2B Maz and Francis Mercier B2B Nitefreak—both pairs delivered sets that had everyone dancing nonstop.
Meanwhile, over at the Park stage, Charlotte De Witte dominated with her signature techno bangers, which kept the energy high all night.
Infinity Room, the main stage, was a hub of groovy tech and minimal house. Ben Sterling went all out, dressed as Jack Sparrow with a pirate crew to match, while Jamie Jones and The Martinez Brothers closed the night with a powerhouse B2B that easily cemented itself as one of the top sets of the night.
Day 2: Tech House & Melodic Techno Highlights
Day 2 packed in a heavy mix of tech house, melodic techno, and hard-hitting beats. Classmatic held it down at Cypress End, tucked away in the venue’s back corner, before some of the crowd shifted to Infinity Room for ANNA B2B Massano’s captivating melodic techno set. Cassian B2B Kevin De Vries was a crowd favorite, delivering a mix of iconic progressive house tracks and fresh IDs that left the audience buzzing.
At the Park stage, TRYM took things up a notch with a blend of high-BPM techno, while Eli Brown B2B Lilly Palmer stole the show with a relentless 3-hour set that gave fans everything they had hoped for and more. It was an energy-packed night that pushed limits and kept the crowd engaged from start to finish.
Day 3: Afro House Takeover & A Techno Legend In Action
On the final day, Espacio Proximo hosted an Afro House takeover that brought a warm, infectious vibe to the festival. Rising star Alex Wann drew a packed crowd, especially when he dropped his viral remix of “Milkshake” and other recent hits like his brand-new remix of WhoMadeWho and Kölsch’s “Heartless.”
However, the best set of Hocus Pocus 2024 has to go to Patrick Mason. Because of daylight savings being on Saturday (Day 3), instead of two-hour set he played for three, which was a gift to all techno fanatics at the venue. Patrick’s energy was off the charts and almost all of the tracks queued up were intense IDs. The crowd stared in awe when Patrick would take a “break” for mixing to show off his majestic dance moves. At one point, he hopped up on the same platform his decks were on and danced emphatically to a wave of drums. The entire audience was sent into a frenzy as this buildup descended into a pit of heavy techno.
After the 3-hour rush of constant motion that Patrick erupted onto The Park stage, a pivot in the vibe was exactly what the Afro House takeover at Espacio Proximo provided for the rest of the night. AMÉMÉ earns silver (or possibly even tied for gold) when it comes to the top Hocus sets this year. It was impossible not to smile when swaying back and forth to his euphoric flow of thick percussion with dreamy vocals, rap lyrics, and well-placed effects on the board.
Caiiro then closed out Hocus Pocus 2024 with a series of chill afro house hits and remixes. He was the perfect set to reign in the sunrise as we made all the way to close at Factory Town (7:30 AM) for the first time.
Production, Decor, & Overall Atmosphere
The attention to detail in production was top-notch, with impressive lighting, sound, and Halloween decorations that brought the spooky vibes to life.
Costumed dancers and side quest-themed rooms added an interactive element, and the haunted house provided an eerie escape for those looking for an extra thrill. On the food side, the bao buns and chicken fried rice on Day 3 were a highlight, adding to an overall unforgettable festival experience.
Final Thoughts
Hocus Pocus 2024 exceeded expectations, from the meticulously curated lineup to the immersive Halloween atmosphere. It is clear why this festival has become a favorite for house and techno fans—every detail is designed to elevate the experience, and the music is consistently top-tier. For anyone looking for an unbeatable Halloween festival, Hocus Pocus is it, and next year can’t come soon enough.
Photos courtesy of @adinayev_media
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