After Midnight: Phish's Big Cypress Festival Episode 2: A Long Day on Alligator Alley
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Nov 21, 2019 
John Paluska, Phish's manager, shares the wild logistics of organizing the Big Cypress festival, detailing the monumental task of creating a temporary city for 75,000 fans. Promoter Dave Worland discusses the chaos of traffic jams and law enforcement challenges. Visual designer Lars Fisk and artist Russ Bennett describe their creative contributions, highlighting the festival's unique atmosphere fused with art and nature. Together, they unveil the joys and hurdles of throwing a cultural phenomenon on Seminole land, while fans endured a surreal experience during the New Year's event.
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Big Cypress Built From Scratch
- Big Cypress Festival was unique for being a vast, off-grid event held in a sparsely developed swamp with no existing infrastructure.
- Organizers had to build roads, power, water, and camping areas from scratch, making it a true city created for the event.
Festival Built With Seminole Traditions
- Festival site construction involved extensive on-site building in swamp conditions using local materials and traditional Seminole techniques.
- Collaborators learned to harvest palm fronds and built traditional chiquis inspired huts, blending art and local culture.
Nature and Art Intertwined at Festival
- Designers integrated the festival with nature, using the Everglades' water and grasslands creatively.
- They created an immersive environment with art, lighting, and natural features, enhancing attendees' connection to the landscape.