How to Find Raves

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: November 7, 2021 References

While you may love the idea of going to a rave and dancing the night away, it can be difficult to find out when and where there will be a rave near you. Finding mainstream raves online is pretty easy, but searching for underground ones is a lot tougher. By making connections with others and doing some digging, you can find the best raves near you in no time.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Searching Online

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Look for music festival raves. Music festival raves are the most popular kinds of raves, so they’re the easiest to find. If there’s a music festival rave near you, you’ll probably hear about it through social media or through an advertisement. Look up your city or town name plus “music festival” to search for them online. These are usually large events put on by music companies with multiple DJ performances.^{[1]
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Did You Know? These raves are usually the safest, as they have security checkpoints throughout. However, they’re also the most expensive.
2
Download EDM, or electronic dance music, apps. There are multiple apps on the app store for ravers to post about where they’re going and when the next rave is. You can find apps like this on the app store to search for your city to see when the next rave is happening.^{[2]
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- You can also use the app to connect with other ravers and coordinate carpool situations or meetups.
- RollRandom and EDM Train are 2 great apps for ravers.
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3
Find social media pages for ravers. Go to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and type in your city name and “raves.” You’ll most likely be able to find a page with events or posts about raving in your area that you can follow.^{[3]
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- Some raves are so underground that they won’t be posted on social media, in which case you’ll have to rely on flyers or word of mouth.
4
Follow EDM venue pages on social media. If you’ve already been to a rave and you liked the venue, search for their name on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Follow their pages so you can be alerted whenever they post about an upcoming show or rave.^{[4]
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- You might also be able to buy tickets online through the venue’s website.
5
Search for DJs on social media. If there are any local DJs in the rave scene that you like, try to find them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Chances are, they’ll promote their next gig and the location so more people come out to see the show.^{[5]
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- You can follow your favorite DJs on social media so you never miss out on an update from them.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Finding Raves in Person

1
Spot fliers around town. Check out the fliers posted on telephone poles in your city, especially near music venues. Often, raves will be advertised on the flyer, even if it doesn’t say exactly where. Take a picture of the flyer so you don’t forget, and try to find out more information online.^{[6]
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- The fliers will probably be bright and colorful, so they won’t be hard to spot.
2
Make friends with ravers to find out about events. A lot of underground raves are spread by word of mouth, meaning you’ll need to know people who know what’s going on. Try to connect with friends who also like to rave so you can get some insight on when and where the raves are happening. Talk to people on raving messaging boards or chat with people in person at the first rave you go to.^{[7]
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- If you don’t know anyone who raves, that’s okay. You’ll be able to make rave friends once you go to your first one.
- A lot of long-time ravers know a ton about the culture and where the next rave is. If you can, try to make friends with some people who have been raving for a long time.
3
Volunteer for a rave promoter. The people who know where all the raves are usually are the ones promoting them. Try to get in touch with a venue manager to see how they promote events, then offer to hand out fliers or post online about it. Chances are, you’ll be able to get some info on where the next rave is from them.^{[8]
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- Volunteering to help out the rave community is also a great way to meet more ravers.
4
Be active in the rave community so you get invited to raves. Unless people in the rave community know who you are, you probably won’t get invited to many underground raves. Make a lot of friends, talk to people when you go out, and be patient as you wait for an invitation.^{[9]
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- It’s usually all about who you know in the raving community.
Did You Know? A lot of underground raves are held illegally, which is why they can’t be advertised in public. If you go to an illegal rave, you could get in trouble, so use caution when you go.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Staying Safe at a Rave

1
Find friends to go with you. Raving is super fun, but it can be a little scary to go on your own. Try to link up with a few friends so you can watch out for each other while you party.^{[10]
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- If you don’t know anyone who raves, try finding friends on an online rave forum to meet up with in person.
2
Drink a lot of water beforehand. Most venues won’t let you bring your own water in, and they’ll probably overcharge you for water inside. Try to drink a bunch of water the day before the rave so you don’t get too dehydrated as you dance the night away.^{[11]
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- If you do need to buy water, don’t worry about getting overcharged. It’s better to pay a little extra and not get dehydrated.
3
Charge your phone so you can stay in contact with your friends. Before you leave for the rave, make sure your phone is charged up and that you have everyone’s number. That way, if you get separated from the group, you can text or call someone to find them again.^{[12]
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Tip: Raves can get super loud, so if you do get separated, texting is probably better than calling.
4
Have a plan for getting home safely. You can have someone in your rave group drive, get picked up by a friend, use public transportation, or take a rideshare back home. Whatever you choose, make sure you have a solid plan on how you’re going to leave the venue safely once you’re done partying.^{[13]
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- Raves usually end super late, which means busses and trains might not be running. Take a look at the schedules beforehand just in case.
5
Take your drink with you, even to the bathroom. Although raves are, for the most part, safe, there’s always a chance that there’s someone there with bad intentions. If you’re drinking something, take it with you, even if you have to use the restroom. That way, you can avoid someone putting drugs into your drink while you’re not looking.^{[14]
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- You should also never accept a drink from a stranger unless you saw the bartender pouring it in front of you.
6
Avoid taking illegal drugs. Historically, raves attract a lot of drug use in and around the venue. When you go to a rave, you may be offered drugs. You should never take illegal drugs, especially if you aren’t sure where they’re coming from.^{[15]
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Research source} You can still have plenty of fun at the rave!
- Illegal drugs can be laced with toxic or poisonous chemicals, which can give you an adverse or life-threatening reaction.

Community Q&A
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Question

Do you have to be 18 or have ID?

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It depends on the venue that the rave is held at. Check on the venue's website to see what the age restrictions are and what you'll need to bring with you.
Question

Is it okay to bring a pet?

Community Answer

No, it most definitely is not. People may behave badly around the pet, people high on drugs may hurt it, people may have allergies, and the pet may be terrified by the music. All in all, it's a bad idea. Also, your pet may consume something dangerous/lethal.
Question

Do they have raves in rural areas, or do these events only take place in the city? I've really been wanting to go to one of these events, but I prefer rural areas over cities.

Community Answer

Rural areas have just as many; they just hijack a farmer's field, throw a tent up and grab the speakers.