If it’s with all your heart, then you’ll want to head to Rawhide Event Center in Chandler this weekend for Crush Arizona. Ditto for anyone who loves over-the-top music festivals, laser light shows, big beats, and getting rowdy and going hard with thousands of fellow EDM fiends.
Each year, the annual Valentine’s Day-themed dance music festival offers all of these thrills at Rawhide, as well as a lineup of big-name DJs and EDM artists and countless patrons dressed in love-themed costumes.
Crush Arizona started out as a rave-like one-off event at Stratus in 2008. It was the brainchild of local EDM kingpin Thomas Turner of Relentless Beats fame, and has since grown into an annual extravaganza and dance music lovefest.
This year’s edition takes place on Saturday, February 17, and features sets from Kaskade, Carnage, Getter, Crankdat, Grandtheft, Volac, and Gerry Gonza that will blast a variety of genres ranging from electro and house to dubstep and trap music.
What else is there to know about Crush Arizona 2018? Check out our comprehensive guide to this year's event.
When and Where: Crush Arizona takes place on Saturday, February 17, at Rawhide Event Center, 5700 West North Loop Road in Chandler. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the festival goes until 2:30 a.m.
Prices: General admission is $70 while VIP tickets (which include express entry, a souvenir lanyard, an exclusive viewing deck, and other perks) are $109. Tickets can also be purchased at Zia Record Exchange locations throughout the Valley. High-end table and bottle service packages are also available.
Age Limits: The festival is open to anyone 18 and over. You have to be at least 21 to drink alcohol, however.
The Lineup: Performances will begin at 5:30 p.m. and include sets by Kaskade, Carnage, Getter, Crankdat, Grandtheft, Volac, and Gerry Gonza.
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The Weather: It’s going to be a little chilly but not freezing.
Getting There: If you’ve never been to Rawhide before, it’s located
Shuttles: Octiv Entertainment will offer party bus service to and from the festival on Saturday. Riders will depart from Zuma Grill in Tempe, which will host a pregame session beginning at 4:30 p.m. The buses leave for Rawhide at 5:30 p.m. and will start returning at 2:30 a.m. Tickets are $15 to $40.
Parking: It costs $10 per vehicle to park at Rawhide. You can also prepay online.
Food and Drink: There will be bars for those over 21, and food vendors and trucks for anyone who’s hungry.
Water: A free water station will be available, and reusable aluminum bottles and Camelbak-style water bladders, both of which must be empty when entering the event, are permitted. Vendors will also have water for sale.
Don’t Bring: Any of the usual items that are forbidden at a music or EDM festival, including illegal substances, drug paraphernalia, lasers, weapons (toy versions or otherwise), eye drops, outside food or drink, posters, large purses, open packs of cigarettes or tampons, or large bags. LED gloves are also verboten, which means no light shows, as are Native American headdresses.
Pre-Party: If you'd like to pregame, Habstrakt's gig on Friday night at Shady Park in Tempe will serve as the official preparty for Crush. The event gets going at 9 p.m. Richi Savage, Highline, and