Electric Zoo was an annual electronic music festival held over Labor Day weekend in New York City on Randall's Island.

The festival represents all genres of electronic music, bringing top international DJs and live acts from multiple countries to four stages.

In its 2009 inaugural year, 26,000 people attended to see artists Armin van Buuren, Deadmau5, David Guetta and Ferry Corsten.

The event was headlined by Above & Beyond, Pretty Lights, David Guetta, Laidback Luke, Dada Life, Tiësto, Porter Robinson and Skrillex.

[3] Made Event offered free water refill stations, designated help points and employed security staff.

[4] The final day of Electric Zoo 2013 on September 1, 2013 was cancelled after two attendees, Jeffery Russ and Olivia Rotondo, died from hyperthermia and an overdose of MDMA during the festival, and four others had fallen ill.[5] The organizers of the event and a number of performers provided their condolences to the victims.

[8] In response to the incidents that occurred at the 2013 edition, festival organizers worked with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to conduct a review of Electric Zoo's health and safety practices.

All attendees were required to watch a two-minute-long, anti-drug public service announcement to activate their wristbands before they entered the festival.

[9][10] The festival was cancelled part-way through its final day, this time due to severe thunderstorms hitting New York City and the United States northeast.

[11][12] In December 2014, it was announced that ID&T, organizers of the Tomorrowland festival and a fellow SFX subsidiary, would serve as a "creative partner" for Electric Zoo 2015.

The partnership came as part of an effort to re-launch the festival in the aftermath of the 2013 deaths; steps were also taken to address comments and complaints received via a survey after the 2014 edition, such as entry times and the number of washrooms available.

The first day of the festival was cancelled only 2 hours before the expected start time, due to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation refusing to grant safety permits.

Festival officials claimed the cancellation was a result of "global supply chain disruptions", causing the main stage construction to not be finished on time.

Electric Zoo sent out a social media update that they had reached capacity "due to the challenges caused by Friday cancelation [sic]," and would ask the police to help block traffic heading towards the festival grounds.

[citation needed] In 2011, Electric Zoo introduced an on-site recycling program for all trash, water in cardboard containers, compostable plates and utensils, began using 100% biodiesel alternative fuel from NYC fryer grease, and required that all food vendors source only organic, hormone-free, humanely raised animals.