“Something that could only happen in Reno:” Shrek Rave rages in the Biggest Little City
Shrek Rave: The Tour stops in Reno, Nevada for their fourth of 35 “Shrek” themed raves across the country. Emerson Drewes reports on the event and all of its quirks.
Green ogres jumped for hours, fairy godmothers collided in mosh pits and gingerbread men headbanged all night long at the Shrek Rave on Oct. 6.
Shrek Rave: The Tour — an ode to the popular early 2000s franchise “Shrek” — took place on Thursday at the Cargo Concert Hall from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Created by rapper Ka5sh under the slogan “It’s dumb just come have fun,” Shrek Rave has amassed national attention after their first rave in March of 2021. In February a national tour was announced with 35 dates, making Reno its fourth stop.
“It’s you know how when you went to middle school and realized there wasn’t gonna be recess anymore and life changed forever and got serious?” said Ka5sh about how they would describe Shrek Rave to someone who didn’t attend. “It’s like that last 5th grade recess but you’re an adult and everyone’s dressed like Shrek.”
The over 1000 attendees showed out with their costumes — hundreds of Shreks roamed around with their faces painted green, others had on dragon wings to look like Elizabeth the dragon or wore them to look like Tinker Bell, who made an appearance in the first movie, like Brooke Germain, University of Nevada, Reno student and Shrek Rave attendee.
Germain waited in line for entry to Shrek Rave impatiently while donning their delicate fairy wings and a short green dress. They were told about the rave through their roommate.
“Shrek Rave drew me in because it’s one of those quirky things that could only happen in Reno, Nevada,” said Germain on the pull of the rave. “It’s got a theme, it’s ironic and as someone who likes to partake in ironic activities it’s really fun for me.”
Once inside, music pounded throughout the concert hall while sweaty bodies gyrated across all inches of the dance floor. On stage, the DJ played remixes of popular Shrek songs like “I’m a Believer” and “All Star” by Smash Mouth.
Items flew from the stage, like white onions, a part of Shrek’s diet and Eggo waffles, a phenomenon UNR student Spencer Gabe got to experience. Gabe caught an onion with a bite taken out of it.
“I remember the first thing they threw was onions, yellow or white onions and it made me really happy not gonna lie, because where else would you be excited to be thrown an onion? You know,” said Gabe. “Then they were throwing Eggo waffles … they threw them out like little Frisbees.
At first, Gabe was hesitant about attending the event and questioned the validity of such a zany event, but in hindsight he had an amazing time.
“When I heard about it, not gonna lie, I did not think it was real. I was unsure how professional it would be, but the event was ran very smoothly,” said Gabe. “It honestly surpassed my expectations.”
Gabe enjoyed the humor of the event and says that the “vibes and energy” was the best part for him.
“I would say it was predominantly college students or college-aged young adults who really wanted to have fun by connecting with the movie that they loved when they were kids or tweens or teens,” said Gabe on the comedy aspect of the event. “I think it lets us all kind of just take down a few of our barriers and dress up like Shrek characters, and have fun.”
Agreeing with Germain, Gabe also says Shrek Rave is “something that could only happen in Reno.”
The event ended 30-minutes early — according to some sources at the event, the music was cut midsong and everyone was kicked out of the concert hall.
Ka5sh said that all Shrek Raves have had a similar high energy environment, even Reno’s.
“Weirdly, Shrek Raves energy’s have been the same all around,” said Ka5sh. “Like each one’s been a super fun and high energy Shrek Rave. People just get it, they know how to have fun.”
Shrek Rave: The Tour continues to rage on throughout the country, those who are lucky will get to see that all that glitters inside the rave is gold.
