10 Tips For Surviving A Music Festival

Surviving a music festival can be one of the most amazing experience or most hellish depending on how prepared you are.

Your first time attending a music festival can be quite overwhelming at times but using a few of these tips will help curb some of the unexpected events that may pop up along the way.

Yeah, once you get there you’ll be so overwhelmed with what’s going on that you’ll say “eff it” to everything you forgot but once the morning rolls around and you’re without supplies, you’ll be cursing yourself.

In this post, I want to give a few tips on what to bring to music festivals. Although some of these aren’t necessary, you’ll always be thankful when you have them.

Any other drink besides beer

How many times have you made the mistake of just buying cases of beer for a festival then later down the line you could really use water or an energy drink.

Beer will dehydrate you in mass quantity, bring drinks that don’t contain alcohol for a change.

Extra sets of clothes

I admit, I generally don’t care at all when it comes to my personal hygiene when I’m at a festival, I’m there to get dirty and go wild.

However, when the temperature drops by 50 degrees and it begins to rain, you’ll really wish you brought an extra hoodie or pair of pants.

Lights

I don’t know how many times I’ve bought a battery lantern only to forget it just as I leave. It’s always helpful to have a light that isn’t your cigarette lighter.

The light can sit in your tent so you can actually see where you’re going, instead of throwing everything in and just laying on top of it (you’ll end up doing this anyway).

Food

Food?! Do I really need to tell you to bring food? Apparently, yes.

Food is one of those items that you weight against the alchohol. Not enough room to fit food? Oh well, throw in another case.

You have to eat at some point, it may as well be something other than granola bars and banannas.

A (good) tent

Don’t skimp out on buying a good tent. Yes, the $20 childs tent looks like a great deal but these things leak, are way too small and generally get lost very quickly.

Opt for at least a 4 person tent, this way you could invite people back or if you’re with your buddies, there’s ample amount of room for all of you.

Sleep (once in a while)

Out of everything that you’ll do at a festival the main thing that will catch up to you is the lack of sleep.

Going at it for 2 or 3 days straight is very admirable but your body will feel miserable once it starts to shut down from exhaustion.

Try to grab a nap when the music dies down, sleep on something comfortable (aka. not the ground) and give your brain a rest for a change.

Acoustic instruments or MP3 players

Depending on the festival, the music may die down in the early mornings for the people that are finally crashing.

If you’re apart of the group that is staying up the whole time, you’ll probably want to hear something.

A drum circle is always welcoming at parties and when you want to try to catch some winks in your tent, an MP3 player is a godsend to chill you out.

Hell, just 2x of everything

This is more of a general tip because it seems like everyone runs out of everything by late night on the 2nd night.

Cigarettes, beer, fire wood, clothes, you name it and it’s pretty much exhausted at this point. Pack up twice you think you’ll use and if you don’t end up using it, give it away to people.

Good Vibes

I don’t think this necessarily needs to go on here but I think it’s worth mentioning.

Bring good vibes to the party, help each other out, give stuff away, let people chill out with you, share your fire, share some food, talk to people, don’t be grumpy and most importantly: don’t get arrested at parties.

People are there to have fun and let go of the world for a while, they don’t need people to complain about their jobs nonstop, just be a good spirit.

Something to barter with

If you didn’t take the tips about bringing extra supplies and things other than beer it may be good to bring things you could eventually barter with.

I’m not saying to do anything illegal.

Bring items people may want to trade for food, water, a tent or any other item. Trade some glowsticks for cigarettes, play some music for beer, hell, anything works at festivals.

Of course, bring some extra money as well.

Go with the flow (but be smart)

In the end, just go to have a great time. I usually don’t think to hard about the things I’m bring, I just try to cover the essentials and eventually note what I should bring next time.

After a while you’ll be able to deal without certain things while others you’ll really be happy you brought. You can read a bit more about How To Prepare For A Summer Music Festival with this handy guide.

Remember, you’re going to be camping out for multiple day, it’s best to be prepared before you end up cold and miserable.

Happy partying

Did I forget to mention anything you usually bring to festivals? Share some tips in the comment section below.