From August 7 to 10, something new and electric is coming to 550 Reynolds Road in Monroe County. Mountain Wubz, a brand-new electronic dance music (EDM) festival, is making its debut, and it’s not just about the beats. Hosted by a local family with a shared dream, the event is designed to celebrate connection, creativity, and the beauty of rural West Virginia.
We moved here from Delaware about six years ago,” says festival co-founder Beau Sauselein, who is building Mountain Wubz with his wife Lori and their daughter Bri Heller. “Since then, we’ve been figuring out how to share this land with others. The views are stunning. Pictures don’t do it justice.”
After exploring options like farming and wine production, the family settled on a vision. They wanted to create a place where people could unplug from daily life and connect through music and nature. That vision became Mountain Wubz.
A Festival With Heart
Mountain Wubz isn’t aiming to be the next mega-festival, and that’s intentional. With an intimate setting and a focus on community, the event embraces the EDM values of PLURR: Peace, Love, Unity, Respect, and Responsibility, all of which the Mountain Wubz team takes to heart.
“Responsibility for yourself, others, and the land,” Bri says. “We want to create something where people feel safe, supported, and seen.”
She continues, “Whenever I go to EDM festivals, you feel at home with these people. Everybody’s watching each other’s backs. If you forget something, someone will just show up and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got this.’ It’s a loving community. And the music is just fun to dance to.”
Lineup Built on Connection
Instead of booking big-name acts, the festival showcases emerging underground artists. Submissions were open to the public, and Beau says they received around 150 applications.
“We’re focused on growing with other new artists, vendors, and creators,” he explains. “This event is about building connections: between people, between artists and audiences, and with the land.”
More Than Just Music
Although EDM is the focus this year, Mountain Wubz plans to expand its offerings over time. The family hopes to include yoga, live painting, and interactive art installations. Local artists may also be invited to contribute permanent artwork to the property.
“We’re starting small,” Beau says. “But our dream is to grow and eventually host other kinds of events here too, like country and southern rock festivals.”
They also hope to develop the venue as a retreat space, with camping and a renovated cabin available for Airbnb stays. Still, the heart of the project will always be about inclusion, creativity, and community.
Tips for First-Time Festival-Goers
New to EDM festivals? The Mountain Wubz team has one key piece of advice: come with an open mind and heart.
“Everyone’s dancing in their own way. Nobody’s judging,” Bri says. “It’s about letting your inner child out and treating people and yourself with kindness.”
She adds, “You’ll probably walk away with new friends who feel like family.”
Looking Ahead
The 2025 debut is open to guests 18 and older. The team made that decision to help ensure a safe and manageable launch. In the future, they plan to offer all-ages events, with the next Mountain Wubz festival already in early planning for 2026.
The organizers also emphasize the grassroots, DIY nature of the project. “We’re learning as we go,” Beau says. “But the response has been incredible. There’s a real need for something like this in our area, especially for the local EDM scene, which doesn’t get a lot of representation.”
Get Involved
You can find tickets, FAQs, and lineup details on the Mountain Wubz website (mountainwubz.com), Instagram (@mountain_wubz), and Facebook (facebook.com/MountainWubz). Artists, vendors, and collaborators are encouraged to reach out now to get involved in future events.
As Bri puts it, “Whether it’s family by blood or family you choose, what we’re creating is a space where people lift each other up.”
