THE GOOD

One of Metro’s finest was giving high-fives to festivalgoers on their way into the Speedway. After slapping hands with the cop myself, I turned back to see another attendee exchanging a kandi bracelet with the policeman. Throughout the night I saw people heavily engaged in discussions with the fleet, and it looked like both ends were taking something away from their conversations. Hashtag: #PLUR. –Mark Adams

Sunrise stragglers: Sometimes it’s those moments at the very end of the night, when it’s down to the freaks and weirdos and loners—the guys in tinsel dresses and the quiet nerds in cargo shorts and the '90s club kids in Boy George makeup—that are the ones worth staying for. It’s then, long after the bros and babes have gone home, that you’re reminded of the original point of all of this: that this is a place where people can feel free to cast off the roles and labels of their daily lives and just be, present, in the music. –Andrea Domanick

I usually abstain from the carnival rides at EDC (minus the Ferris wheel), usually because there’s already so much to take in that I don’t want to miss out on things I can’t see at a typical street fair. I gave in this year, though, because the Hang Glider looked like way too much fun to pass up. I might have been a bit nauseous afterwards, but it was totally worth riding to see the festival from such a unique vantage point. –MA

No kandi? No problem. The free kandi bracelet-making station tucked in the center of the Speedway was a nice communal touch to help get everyone in on the PLUR, complete with color-coded “candy bins” where you could scoop out beads of your choice. Even if trading bracelets isn’t your thing, it was the perfect diversion for when you needed a break from the music but wanted to do more than sit. –AD

It took only five years, but I finally shelled out $60 for a black EDC T-shirt and matching black ball cap (with yellow daisies — pretty). You’re welcome, EDC coffers. —Don Chareunsy

THE WEIRD

Were counterfeit bracelets an issue at EDC this year? After seamlessly entering the festival through the media entrance Saturday night, I had to go through an odd, time-consuming process to gain entry on Sunday. After scanning my bracelet at the media entrance, I had to walk down to the main entrance to have my identification verified and my hand stamped, only to return to the media entrance to be let in. What gives, Insomniac? –MA

Hey, festivalgoers: Sitting on the ground in the middle of Kinetic Field will never—I repeat, NEVER—be a good idea. Why did so many of you think it was? –MA

The Star Wars-esque Bass Pod was overrun with hot guys wearing only colorful briefs. #NoComplaintsHere. These are not your father’s typical Stars Wars fans. —DC

The award for PLUR-est Moment Ever goes to the group of kids trading kandi with Metro Police officers near the Kinetic Field. And they weren’t the first to do so—the officers already had decent stacks of bracelets on their wrists. While they seemed more politely amused than sincerely into it, it was an interaction with law enforcement we could stand to see a lot more of these days. –AD

We heard Steve Angello’s “Children of the Wild” at the Kinetic Field no fewer than five times over the course of the weekend, only one of which was when Angello was playing, and two of which were on Sunday night. Given how organic much of the rest of the festival felt this year, it was disappointing to see the commercial EDM heavy hitters continue to play it safe. –AD

THE UGLY

While my drive to the Speedway on Saturday was a pretty pleasant one—even considering the hour it took to get from Las Vegas Boulevard and Nellis to my parking space—Sunday night’s was severely different. Attendees were cutting people off left and right and at one point my car was even run off the road and onto the shoulder. To the Arizona driver in the purpley-blue Scion: I wasn’t feeling the PLUR right there. –MA

Medical calls weren’t just for fans. Several employees we spoke with said many of their colleagues were falling ill from the heat, while others struggled to find water. One even said they weren’t offered food until 2 a.m.—after starting their shift at 5 p.m. At an event this huge, it’s inevitable that some things will fall through the cracks, but the well-being of workers shouldn’t be one of them. –AD

My colleagues have said it before, I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: The amount of trash all three nights was deplorable. Clean it up! —DC