The festival is also notable for its elaborate stage designs, bazaar of vendors of scene paraphernalia, movie screenings, and a dancefloor featuring underground DJs from around the world.

[1] The first Drop Dead Festival was held in August 2003, after the success of a series of smaller events put on by NY Decay Productions at the Pyramid in New York City.

Although the main event moved to larger locations, CBGB traditionally held pre-parties and after-parties for the festival until the club closed.

In 2006 the Drop Dead Festival was held at the Knitting Factory on Labor Day weekend, September 1–3.

Since 2007, Drop Dead has been held in Europe as a traveling festival, including Prague (2007), Portugal (2008), Vilnius, Lithuania (2010), and Berlin (2011, 2012).