Back to the 90's: Music, memories, and a feeling of home in the heart of Prague

It's mid-May in Prague.

Most of us know what that means.

A day full of great dance music, live performances under the open sky at Prague's Exhibition Grounds, and above all, a huge wave of nostalgia.

It's a musical experience that I and people from all over Europe return to every year without fail, because at that moment I am transported back in time to my carefree childhood – to a time full of positive music and smiles from great people.

 

The 90's are not the past – they are our DNA

 

Yes, I'm talking about the unrivaled 90's Explosion Open Air Festival, which this time also sparked hope in our private lives – a permanent return to Prague, where we want to make a new home.

I must say that this time we experienced the day with great gratitude and emotion, which allowed us to start a new chapter and return to an active life that fulfills us.

 

We combined this musical event with a longer visit to Prague, where we stayed at the Mama Shelter hotel in Holešovice. We were pleasantly surprised by the retro interior, spaciousness, and helpful staff. Mama Shelter charmed us at first sight.

 

On the day of the festival, we got ready in our room and looked forward to the afterparty, which was to take place again in the hotel bar after the event with special performances by some of the artists.

 

While we were unpacking, we were already looking forward to an afternoon of entertainment in style.

Our preparations were accompanied by background music, which got us in the mood for the greatest hits we knew by heart. We sang and danced around the room like teenagers heading to their first big party of the century.

 

 

The first waves of euphoria

 

In high spirits and full of energy, we set off for the Exhibition Grounds, just a few minutes from the hotel. From a distance, we could already see crowds of people heading in the same direction. Everyone was beaming with color and smiles, taking pictures before entering the grounds and holding each other by the shoulders or hands in small groups. There was simply an unforgettable experience and the immortal fun of the 90s in the air.

 

Crowds of fans were approaching the main gate. In the Golden Circle section, the organizers led us through the gate and we headed straight for the stand with our favorite souvenirs, without which we could never leave. The moment I put on any accessory from this event, I feel a certain unique power, rarity, and chic look that allows me to shine and at the same time gives me a sense of pride that I truly belong to this crowd of loyal fans. This time we were lucky and bought a large amount of items with the 90s logo. We immediately put on beautiful sweatshirts, symbolic glasses, rubber bracelets, and tucked the new Urbano pendants into our backpacks, which were overflowing with other equipment in case it rained or got colder. We had already experienced everything at this festival, so we were ready to not let anything spoil our fun.

 

We gradually made our way through the other food stalls around the venue to see what delicacies we could look forward to. Once again, there were guys preparing sandwiches, which were quick to make but absolutely delicious and filled us up nicely. We slowly made our way to our VIP section, where we ordered our first drinks to toast the official start of our shared experience, which was a great reward for us after a demanding period full of work and stressful hustle and bustle.

 

People began to gather around the stage as the musical warm-up before the live performance began.

DJ Bob's aptly named song Freedom brought us to life, and we couldn't help but dance, smile, and take our first photos and videos.

Then came the immortal hits such as United, Sweet Dreams, and Ecuador. It was impossible to stand still. Even after all these years, everyone knew every song by heart, and we felt like stars from a music video, ruling the outdoor dance floor and the whole atmosphere in the crowd.

 

 

We counted down the minutes until the first spectacular performer was due to appear on stage, and we were burning with impatience. This year, singers we had never seen live before appeared, such as O-Zone, Bomfunk MC's, DJ Quicksilver, and N-Trance. The atmosphere began to flow in a big way, people were drinking, taking pictures in groups, and filming amazing performances as souvenirs. This generation always appreciated all the performances and the beauty of the words of the performers, who spoke to us like childhood friends and humbly thanked us for attending every year.

 

Legends on stage, tears in our eyes

 

I must say that this year's performance by Down Low was really emotional for me. For the second time, they paid tribute to the late rapper Coolio by singing his immortal song Gangsta's Paradise, during which a talented artist spray-painted his portrait in the background on the stage as a beautiful memorial. Everyone was literally captivated and the applause lasted for several minutes.

A tear appeared on my better half's cheek and it smudged my makeup a little. It was just so real.

 

This was followed by the eagerly awaited performance of the lovely singers from East 17 and Masterboy, who, even after all these years, have lost none of their energy and humble attitude towards their fans. They got the whole crowd dancing, filled us with their boisterous encouragement to sing along, and smiles spread like a wave.

 

The entire program was enriched by the arrival of our irreplaceable presenter Tereza Pergnerová, who has always been a part of the 90s and managed to turn back time with her original gestures and elevate the entire concert to extraordinary heights. As soon as she got into the middle of the crowd, people pushed towards the barriers to get autographs and take selfies. It was a beautiful moment and a precious memory of the time spent in front of the TV watching the regular ESO show.

 

We slowly approached the finale with the last stars who were to end this dance-filled evening.

This time we left a little earlier to freshen up in our room and get ready for the afterparty. We were still laughing on the way back, every step sounding like an echo of the chorus, and we were ready to continue the fun into the early hours of the morning.

The bar was already starting to get busy, we were welcomed at the entrance, given a souvenir cassette tape, and sat down at the end of the bar. Suddenly, it was incredibly crowded, the stars were gradually arriving, and I didn't hesitate for a second to take photos with them for my collection of 90s snapshots.

 

A dream come true, like coming home

 

It was amazing to chat with the performers, laugh, and thank them for giving the 90s a face that will never be forgotten through their music. Their words and melodies remain in our hearts—as the soundtrack of our childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

 

When I fell asleep in my bed after returning to my room and shared my impressions, the music was still ringing in my ears, the people around me were dancing in my memory, and I felt that I would carry this day with me forever. This event is not just a festival – it's a homecoming.

Every time I come back here, I come back to myself.

 

And as the slogan on my sweatshirt says, “90's feels like home. Forever.”