Dancefestopia Music Festival — Local services in Paola

I wanted to leave some feedback about my recent experience at Dancefestopia 2025. Overall, it was mostly a good experience, the artists were great, the people were great, and the venue was great.

I would love to give this event 5 stars, but I had some issues with the choices made by the event organizers. My main issue is with the decision to thoroughly nickel and dime the attendees, I’ve been attending music festivals since 2009 and this is some of the greediest behavior I’ve ever seen.

I purchased for my girlfriend and I two VIP passes and two tent camping passes. I presumed that a tent camping pass would entitle you to use all of the camping facilities, such as the showers. After all, that’s been the case at every other camping festival I’ve been to, why wouldn’t it be the case at DFT? I was absolutely shocked to learn that I needed to purchase two $100 shower passes in order for my girlfriend and I to use the showers on site. I felt the event organizer’s greed infecting and ruining the otherwise good experience.

I’d read that there was a pool on premises, and I presumed that my VIP wristbands would get me access to the pool. I was wrong again, at the nice events run by Insomniac a VIP wristband gets you a free ride and shorter line to certain rides, but that was not the case here. The over $1400 dollars I spent got us nothing but access to the VIP areas, no free canoe ride, zip line, or pool access; those all had their own separate passes that cost additional money.

My advice to the organizers: First, include showers in the camping pass. If you’re worried about lines, there are shower trucks you can rent and drive into the camping area. It will cost money and you will make less money but your attendee will enjoy the experience more. Second, include with the VIP passes either access to the pool and/or a free zip line/canoe ride. Again, you will make slightly less money, but your VIP attendees will feel like they got more of their money’s worth.

My advice to potential attendees: go to an event put on by a normal not-super-greedy organizer, like Insomniac or the people who put on Bonnaroo/Okeechobee. You might have to drive farther, put your experience will be much improved by the much more chill and generous organizers. Alternatively, show up to DFT and give them as little money as possible while actively costing them money by wrecking...

Not enough water stations and the ones that were in place were very inconveniently located away from camping areas, venue staff kept changing rules, despite a heavy security/police presence the number of little baggies with white powder was overwhelming, medical/first aid staff were rude and didn't seem like they knew what they were doing. I saw some dude bleeding pretty bad from his head and the first aid person couldn't be bothered to get off his phone. I didn't recognize several of my favorite artists' music because they were all playing the same heavy womp stuff as every other artist. Several even used a the same "meme" samples so it felt like I paid to see some of my heros sell out. Despite the inconveniences, i had a good time but I don't feel that it was worth what I paid. It's all just a matter of perspective though, so take this review with a grain of salt. Also, can y'all just legalize cannabis in KS already? i feel like the police can make better use of their time & resources than harass out of state drivers because they think they might be carrying...

A true feeling of a walk back in time. Stay quiet listen for the Calvary bugler of General Winfield Scott. Further south Ft Scott Kansas as well as military facilities named after General Scott who even to this day holds the longest of any Army General with said rank.

Also, if one goes silently and respectfully one might still feel the sacredness of this area. President "Stonewall" Jackson called upon General Scott to uproot the indigenous Southeast Native American Nations of the Cherokee, Seminole, Black Foot and Create. This dark period of American History is infamously known as the "Trail of Tears." This assignment almost cost General Scott his Army Commission. He was steadfastly against President Jackson's authority to move those people to the Southwest "dust bowl" of Oklahoma and surrounding territories.

General Scott was also attempting to reckon with Jackson of the magnitude and logistics involved. Of course... the President kept in tact his nickname....