The humble position to take would be that Submersion Festival is akin to its many contemporaries; a gathering of like-minds, hosted by like-minds, with the intention of furthering musical and artistic experiences in a space that makes us all feel at home with the event and its surroundings. The more modest position is that Submersion has achieved a standing in our wider community that is reflected in the circuitous return of fans, friends, and acts year on year. It’s no surprise that Paradise Lakes, when in the hands of capable operators, has seen more than its fair share of successful home-brewed festivals and concerts.

We’re far from the first to touch ground on that shoreline, but through consistent dedication to the service of inclusive fan-first programming, concert infrastructure, and a community-oriented perspective, the secret has long been out that the Pine Barrens are back in vogue. The returning fans alone shine a bright light on Submersion’s reach, particularly in an economic paradigm where excess funds are few and far between, and the relative costs of hosting these events have skyrocketed with tickets following suit. Return revelers are the financial cosign from the scene at large, making it clear that the juice is very much worth the squeeze, but they’re only half of the picture; Be it Justin Martin, the All.lo Records alumni, Kursa, Mickman, Daily Bread, Taiki Nulight or beyond, Submersion has consistently featured a rotating cast of returning acts year on year. Far from just a product of early offers or financial posturing, it’s the result of cultivating that very same community that we keep bringing up. These artists aren’t just some elevated caste in the social hierarchy, they’re the very same personalities that make Submersion so appealing in the first place. The throughlines in all of the promotional companies and entities involved in the production of this festival are the relationships fostered, and our social ideals held up to the light.

For 2025, the community is set to show up in force once again, bringing the same festive and familial energy that has made each installment since 2021 a beloved centerpiece for the lower Northeastern states. From the production crews to the vendors, from the workshop installations to the braintrust behind the precision audio/visual extravaganzas onstage, we’ve had the privilege as friends and cohorts to watch the as the cement hardens, binding this little pocket of experimental art together in a way that we could have only dreamed of at the start of this journey. With landfall set for this weekend, the winds certainly seem at our backs, and we can’t wait to show you the experience that Submersion has in store for its friends and family this time around.

If you’re still on the fence, now’s the time to get serious. Tickets are running out, the doors open in three days’ time, and we’re hoping to see each and every one of you out in crowd for three days of sun, shoreline, and serendipity.

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