There’s nothing quite as fun as heading to a music festival. It’s a chance to really let your hair down, to dance, and immerse yourself in some of your favourite music. You can not only see live acts, but you can also enjoy all the other elements of festivals such as the food, activities and the atmosphere too. If you’ve never been to a festival the thought can be a bit overwhelming. How do you know what to bring? Or what it will be like? While festivals are great fun you need to be safe and keep your wits about you when you’re there. Here we’ve put together some top tips for going to a music festival that are sure to help you out. And just remember – have fun!
Consider the vibe of the festival you’re going to
Every festival you go to has a completely different vibe and you need to think about the one you want to head to. There are certain festivals that are more focused on families and tend to have a more chilled vibe and feel safer. Others might not have the same feeling, but can be more fun so if you’re looking to really let go and dance until the early hours, these might be better suited. Some could have a focus on food, others could have activities such as outdoor lake bathing or face jewels. Do your research ahead of time and consider the acts that will be there.
Bring a secure bag for when out and about
One of the biggest things people forget is a bag for when they’re at the festival itself. You’re often not allowed to bring a large bag in with you, so it’s a good idea to bring a small one to carry your phone and wallet. Handbags are a bad idea as they can easily be targeted by thieves, so consider investing in a bum bag that can clip around your waist or over your body. This way your valuables are all safe and there’s no hassle when it comes to carrying the bag. These can be bought from a host of places before you go, including THE ICONIC and both online and high street retailers.
Decide on a budget when you’re there
Festivals can soon rack up in costs without you even releasing it. As well as the costs of your ticket itself, you will also need to invest in camping equipment to bring with you, food and drink and then pay for things once you are there. By deciding on a budget you should avoid yourself spending a small fortune. Try to bring food and drink with you that you can eat in your tent – if you have a camping stove you can heat up things and make stuff like hot sandwiches, pasta and more. If you aim to have one big meal a day then snack on items like cereal bars for the rest of the day you can keep your energy levels up without having to spend too much when you’re there. Drinks can also be expensive and a lot of places restrict how much alcohol you can bring with you to the campsite, so check this out before you go.
Don’t forget essentials like a portable charger
While you can get wrapped up in remembering all the items for camping, you want to make sure you don’t forget tech items. Bring a portable charger (or two) with you so that you can keep your phone charged while you’re there. Your phone will be important for keeping in touch with friends and those you’re there with, as well as taking photos and videos of the acts and keeping an eye on the time. Festivals are huge and so many people attend. If you lose someone you need to be able to contact them if you have any hope of finding them again anytime soon! It can be a good idea to bring a smartwatch with you if you don’t want to have your phone out the whole time, just be careful as electronic items can make you a target for thieves. Keep them out of sight where you can.
Take a bigger tent than you’ll need
While it might be tempting to bring a small tent as it’s “just a place to sleep” you will soon regret it after the first night. Festivals are busy and while you won’t be getting loads of sleep, you will want to have quality sleep when you do get it. If your tent is so small you can barely fit yourself and all your belongings, you’re not going to have the most comfortable of times. Instead, spend a little more to get a big tent – you could even split the cost with those that are going with you and get a tent you can all stay in. You could then keep this tent after and re-use it for the years to come. A much more comfortable alternative!
Plan who you’re going to see beforehand
With so many acts touring and playing it can be a nightmare trying to get between them all and it’s not realistically possible. To give yourself the best chance of seeing your favourite acts, take a look at the schedule before you go and make a plan. See how long different people’s sets are, how far the stages are from each other and allow extra time for you to walk between them. While things might seem relatively near, it will take time to make your way through the throngs of people and you could get lost on the way! Even a rough schedule can mean you make the most of your time and get to see the acts that you paid all your money to be there for.
Think about where to pitch your tent – and don’t forget where you’ve left it
Festival camping grounds are huge and there are so many places to pitch your tent. While you might consider pitching up anywhere, take your time to think about what’s best for you. If you want to be nearer to the action you will need to get there earlier and you will also need to keep in mind that it will be a high-traffic area of people walking past. This could mean it’s very noisy all through the night and you won’t be able to sleep. If you want to be near the toilets, again this can be handy, but will likely be loud through the night and could end up smelling quite bad near the end of the festival. Once you have decided on a spot, take a photo and screenshot on a map if possible. Once you’ve been at the festival all day, navigating back to find your tent can feel like mission impossible. There are also some apps you can download that can help you to pinpoint the location of your tent to make it that bit easier to find it again!
These are just a few top tips for going to a music festival that should hopefully make it that bit easier so you can just focus on having a great time! Make sure you have a great base in your tent that’s got all you need such as food, drink options, and a comfortable place to sleep. Are you going to a festival this year? What are some tips you have to ensure you have the best time? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you!
Photo by Wendy Wei from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-having-a-concert-1190297/
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