My Weekend Review Of Rockville 2025

Even with the time that has passed since the festival, Welcome to Rockville (WTR) 2025 at the historic Daytona International Speedway, is still living rent free in my brain. This event, filled with rockers, metal heads, Juggalos, and everyone in between, was one of the best I’ve attended so far. Everyone was so kind to each other, and we all came together for the same purpose: to celebrate the music. With stand-out performances from bands like Three Days Grace, Marilyn Manson, Insane Clown Posse, and Mudvayne, Rockville was truly an event to remember. 

The layout of WTR was thoughtful and well planned. With plenty of parking, speedy but thorough security lines, and multiple lanes, the festival was off to a great start. Once inside the venue, the stages were spaced far enough apart that there was minimal overlap between bands performing at the same time, yet not so far that one was deterred from jumping stage to stage. It was worth the little jaunt to have the sole experience of the band you were trying to catch. The festival also took the liberty of projecting performances from stage to stage in between acts, so the fans lingering at the rail and in the area still had some entertainment as they got excited for the next band. The production and stage setups were exquisite, with phenomenal sound quality, perfect lighting, and LED screens so big you could easily make out what was happening on stage from 200 yards away. With a constant camera crew on each of the larger stages, there was no chance of missing the action even if you were farther back in the pit. The countless rail security members were kind and dedicated; they did a great job making sure everyone was kept safe at all times and communicated with the crowd, ensuring surfers made it to the front unscathed. 

Food vendors were spaced throughout the venue, with delicious and at least one healthy option around each corner, and prices were decent for the portion sizes. My personal favorite of the weekend for food was the Birria spot, which featured both tacos and grilled cheese among other yummy options, but Rockville had a diverse selection available for everyone, including but not limited to: Mediterranean food, pizza, Island Noodles, Nachos, and BBQ. Merch booths were also evenly distributed throughout the grounds, with vendors selling everything from clothes to accessories, to fans, all the fun festival necessities. Artist merch and Rockville merch were also readily available, with multiple checkout lanes so you got your items super quickly and with great service. 

WTR was very considerate of attendees and definitely took the heat into account. With multiple water stations throughout the festival as well as many vendors carrying the liquid gold, hydration was easily accessible. Water prices were also lowered venue-wide to $2 per bottle after the heat hit hard on day one, and free water was given out on all stage rails. They also had hoses at the stages to spray down attendees during peak hours of the heat.  The event provided large cooling buses for festival goers to escape from the sun and relax in some AC, which is where I spent quite a bit of time each day, and it really helped to recover and recharge from the scorching temperatures outside. The fans were raging from open to close, and I know these amenities helped make it possible.

There were some incredible artists that performed this year. My personal top three were definitely Insane Clown Posse, Mudvayne, and Three Days Grace. It was so cool to see Adam Gontier back on stage with Matt Walst and the rest of the band for Three Days Grace, and it was so surreal to hear so many people around me singing in unison to songs I’ve listened to for over a decade. As for Mudvayne, it was my first set, and they definitely made a fan out of me. Chad Gray’s performance is truly moving, and he captivated the audience with his vocals and facial expressions. The entire band had phenomenal stage presence and was one of the most unified live performances I’ve witnessed.  It was also my first time catching an Insane Clown Posse set. I was soaked in Faygo Diet Cola by the end of it, but I could not have had more fun. Interacting with the clowns, the other photographers, and especially the Juggalos in the crowd was so incredibly memorable, and I can’t wait to see ICP live again. 

Some other notable acts we got to see included: Marylin Manson (incredible live vocals and stage presence), Rob Zombie (interesting stage sets, phenomenal crowd excitement), Bush (Gavin came out and sang on the rail with fans), Crossfade (reunion set), Halestorm (killer stage presence and seeing the drummer whip out GIANT drumsticks was pretty cool too), Incubus (“Drive” was phenomenal live), Butcher Babies (high energy crowd, Heidi Shepard came out into the crowd and sang in the middle of a circle pit), Nonpoint (favorite performance of the pre-party) and Deadly Apples (a new favorite artist for my boyfriend.)

While not open to general attendees, I do have to mention how beautiful the Media Area was; tucked away in turn 4 of the track, was a quiet but busy oasis. Plenty of shade, multiple couches and lounge areas, cute photo ops, and lots of artists giving interviews to the press! It was a wonderfully welcoming and safe environment. My favorite part was the Drip Bar. Owned by Alan Cosme, Drip specializes in small-batch craft beverages, using only the best and finest ingredients to create other worldly flavors and the yummiest refreshments. I visited that bar so many times during the festival, it was so restorative to have healthy, non-alcoholic drink options. I ordered a decent portion of their menu, and I can safely say these guys are the best! Every drink was sublime. Really great people, really great service, and incredible beverages. In the media area, I also had the privilege of sitting for Jay Howell (artist of Bob’s Burgers) and getting my portrait sketched, which was a super cool little moment I’ll never forget. 

And so, what originally started as a single day event held in Metropolitan Park in Jacksonville, in 2011, with an estimated attendance of 10,000, has evolved into the nation’s largest Metal and Rock festival. Now relocated to Daytona International Speedway as of 2021, the festival boasts attendance of over 230,000 people over the four-day event. It has become such a staple and destination hotspot over the past few years that “The World Center of Racing” and Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) have announced a 10-year contract, with the speedway agreeing to host the festival for the foreseeable future until 2035. Welcome to Rockville has resulted in an economic boost of over $80 million each year.  With attendees coming from over 30 countries and from all 50 states, spending money at local attractions, hotels, restaurants, and small businesses, WTR has been and will continue to be a major impact in the Daytona community. In the spirit of supporting local society, DWP has graciously donated $10,000 to AdventHealth, which specializes in everything from dermatology to primary care to heart and vascular care and every category of health care in between. 

All in all, Welcome to Rockville was an incredible event, top festival I have been to thus far, and one of the most insane experiences of my life. I could write a book on how many cool things we got to experience on this trip. I cannot wait to attend again next year. Thank you to everyone at DWP and WTR for having myself and The Festival Voice on board.