By: Courtney Kat (@theenergizerkat)
Groove Island was a weekend full of great music, amazing vibes, and even a better atmosphere! 🌴💃
Day 1
We first arrived that morning at the Ferry Station where we were greeted with warm smiles from the Groove Island Staff. Once we started walking toward the boat we could hear house music blasting and we knew that the weekend had officially begun. Everyone was dancing, having a great time and meeting all the new people around them. As we started pulling up to Catalina Island, we were enchanted by the beauty of Avalon. It is a little golf cart community that offered picturesque architecture, beaches, restaurants, and activities for all.
We checked into our adorable nautical themed rental right off the main strip of Avalon and quickly got ready to embark on our day. We took a short walk over to the Beach Club and as we turned the corner we could see a stage along the beautiful coast of Catalina. This stage laid in the middle of the white sandy beach surrounded by draped cabanas that gave you the feeling of paradise. We watched Sam Feldt play an unforgettable 2 hour set as the sun went down and the water behind the stage changed colors.
Day 2
The next day we were so excited to wake up on this little slice of paradise. We got all dressed up in our Ibiza Style and went out to the Beach Club for our next round of entertainment. Mikey Lion and Shiba San both laid down some next level sets getting the whole crowd hyped to be there! Groove Island is for people of all ages, whether they were 21 or 80, everyone was there to have a great time and spread positive vibes.
We head back to our house to get dressed to the nines in our Roaring 20s theme nighttime looks! This was one of my favorite themes that they had. All of the Groove Islanders took their own approach with this look dressing up in fringe, pinstripes, and much more as we made our way to Catalina Island Casino. This Art Deco masterpiece played the perfect location for all the nighttime activities. There were not only three floors of music, but also a silent disco, yoga, and meditation which provided the guests with a large variety of experiences to enjoy.
Day 3
The third day at the Beach Club was the Mermaid Cove theme. This theme was great because it seemed to push people’s imagination. Islanders' costumes ranged from mermaids to pirates to sea creatures and everything in between making it a magical aquatic celebration.
Later on, we came together to watch the last sets at the Descanso Beach Club. Underneath the stars, we watched Dillon Nathaniel and Oliver Heldens play energetic, lively sets that got the whole crowd moving. It was great to see that the artists were enjoying playing in this little paradise as much as we enjoyed seeing them. The energy of Groove Island reached an ultimate high and you could tell that this was going to be one to remember.
Day 4
This day we woke up a little more somber than the others because we knew this magical weekend had come to an end. Groove Island was such a memorable experience we feel so fortunate to have been able to experience this. It blew all of our expectations out of the water! The audience that Whet Travel attracts is unlike any other, the creativity and level of connection that they bring with them to these events are bar none. Catalina Island was so perfect with its stunning coastlines and beaches, making it one of the most memorable festival locations yet. Overall we left with overwhelming memories and friendships from this fantastic weekend. The Groove Island team went out of their way to create this wonderland of music and I can not wait to be back next year!
