Your Music Festival Survival Guide

COVID-19 might have ruined this summer’s festival season, but as soon as the pandemic is over, we can’t wait to start hitting up music festivals again. The sights, the sounds, the food, the feeling of community–music festivals are where you feel at home, and you’d attend one every weekend if you could. You’ve watched festivals on YouTube, but nothing compares to the full experience. The moment it’s safe to go out again, we’re grabbing our tent and festival supplies and hitting the road. How about you?

Before you throw yourself out there again, it’s important to make sure that you have everything you need to make your experience fun and rewarding. Festivals can be a blast, but they can also be overwhelming, and you need to be prepared for possible setbacks. Here’s what you need to remember to make sure you stay safe over the two- or three-day weekend.

Stay Hydrated

When you’re at a music festival, you’re going to spend all day walking around, standing in the sun, screaming at the top of your lungs, and socializing with friends at your tent. You’re not going to have regular meals where you can get hydrated, and it’s easy to forget to take a swig of water once in a while. Dehydration can lead to fainting, fatigue, dizziness, and excess sweating–and if it’s not treated, you might require hospitalization. Not exactly how you planned to spend the weekend, is it?

To keep yourself hydrated, carry a 30 oz. tumbler full of water with you; you can find ones of good quality on the internet. A good tumbler is sturdy and insulated to keep your drink cold, even when you’re running around in ninety-degree heat. Know where the filling stations are so you can get more water when necessary. You’ll be walking around a lot and sweating throughout the day, so it’s easy to get dehydrated without even realizing it.

Bring Snacks

There might be food trucks and tents at the festival, but they probably won’t be cheap–and you already spent enough money buying the tickets and driving to the venue. Besides, you’re not always going to want a hot meal in the middle of the day. Bring snacks like dried fruit, nuts, grains, and granola bars to keep yourself nourished and energized throughout the day. If you don’t, you might find yourself experiencing dizziness, nausea, and even fainting. And you definitely don’t want to spend the rest of the festival in the medic tent.

Pack Hygiene Items

Music festivals aren’t exactly known for their hygiene. While you might not get the chance to take a hot shower at the end of the day, packing some basic hygiene items will help you stay clean and comfortable. Bring rolls of extra toilet paper in case the Port-A-Potties run out: because they probably will. Pack baby wipes, hand sanitizer, and even dry shampoo if you feel like it. You should also bring napkins and paper towels, so you’re not spilling your food everywhere. Part of the fun of music festivals is “roughing it,” but that doesn’t mean you have to expose yourself to unsanitary conditions.

Bring Blankets and Beach Towels

After the first day or so, you’re going to get tired of standing all day. Make sure you’ve got blankets and beach towels, so you’re not sitting directly on the dirty ground. A beach towel also makes great protection if you start getting cold or get hit with a light drizzle of rain. Make sure you also bring lawn chairs that you can set up at your tent.

Pack a First-Aid Kit

There might be a medic tent at the festival, but why walk all the way over there when you can treat minor injuries yourself? Bring a first-aid kit so you can take care of minor scrapes, cuts, burns, and injuries without ruining the fun. You should also bring a set of earplugs to make sure that your ears stay protected during periods of loud music and screaming. Yes, you came to a festival to hear the music, but if you’re standing close to the stage, you’re going to hear the music loud and clear even with your earplugs in.