Festival How To: Know How: What to: All you need to know: Everything: Guide: Tips
What to bring:
Clothing:
I wear high socks throughout the festival. Whether it rains or not, the festival grounds inevitably get muddy! BRING EXTRA SOCKS. They don't take up much space - and they are a life saver. Having wet feet for an extended period of time is not fun! And underwear. I bring a couple pairs, just in case.
Comfortable t-shirts/tank-tops. Because my chest is not too big, I bring tops that I can wear sans bra. It makes dancing more comfortable and me feel less inhibited. But that's just me. Bring whatever t-shirts/tank-tops that feel comfortable dancing in, wearing for extended periods of time, and can be dirty/sweaty (without getting upset). I normally bring one for each day.
Unless I wear a dress! I love dresses for festivals. I can wear one piece of clothing that matches itself (no need to pick out matching top and bottom) that beautifully flows around me as I twirl to the music!
If I wear a dress, I always put on shorts/legging shorts/leggings/some type of bottom over my underwear. Sitting on the ground and all the moving from camp site to camp site meeting new people and going on new adventures gives your clothing a lot of use - and honestly, if you are drinking alcohol or not drinking enough water (aka dehydrated) you may not be thinking clearly and may open your legs and ... you should wear something under the dress!
Bring a comfortable, cute, able to be worn for multiple days: shorts. If you are going to be wearing the shorts more than 2 days, bring an extra pair. Or bring a skirt. Whatever you want.
If it rains, wearing a bathing suit is amazing. It dries quickly. This can only be done if the weather is hot enough.
Rain coat. If you wanted you could use an umbrella instead. The nice thing about a raincoat is that it doubles as a regular coat if you get cold at night. Regular coat? Ha.
I wear sweatpants and a sweatshirt to bed. So I make sure to bring a pair of each to sleep in each night. I also bring an extra long sleeve/sweatshirt thang for the day if I get cold (kind of thin so it can be layered) and a thicker sweatshirt/or if you like a coat for the night. I also bring a pair of sweatpants/ if you are warm enough in leggings for when I am cold at night (and outside of my tent).
Rain boots. To be worn when it is raining or with mud or even if you are cold.
Sandals. To be worn during the day if it is not muddy.
If you want Hiking boots/Doc Martens. I can wear these for the whole festival instead of rain boots and sandals. But it is your choice.
Stuff
Tent.
Outdoor chairs (lawn chairs). If I can camp next to my car, it makes this whole experience much easier. No need to carry everything to the camping spot from the car. Anyways if I can, I bring an extra chair or two. Someone will forget a chair, and it is very friendly to have an extra spot open - it is very inviting to the festival community and a great way to make new friends.
Easy up canopy. These are not completely necessary if you cannot park next to your camp site, but it is a wonderful homebase. Homebase is my safe spot at a festival. It is my home - where I can go to relax and unwind after hours of music and meeting new people and having new experiences. Anyways, the easy up can house all the lawn chairs and coolers.
Cooler. The cooler will hold your drinks and food - which will be gotten to in the next section! Yummy.
Air mattress. I love camping. But I may love it because it feels like home - I make it feel like home by using an air mattress. With the air mattress, you also need to bring a pump. I use a hand pump - you honestly could get away with not bringing a pump and borrowing one from someone at the festival, but I like to be self sufficient. This is not completely necessary (this meaning air mattress) but I love it so I use it and this is my blog and the things I thought important for a festival so I added it.
Sleeping bag and Pillow. Pillow is not necessary but nice. And you can use a comforter or multiple blankets or whatever you wanted instead of a sleeping bag - a sleeping bag is just more compact.
Wagon/Utility cart. This is essential if you cannot park next to where you set up your camp site. This will allow you to carry all your stuff to your camp site.
Toilet paper. Paper towels. Hand sanitizer. Baby wipes. Allows you to wash your body (seriously). Hat. Sun screen. Bug spray (if you want). Tooth brush. Tooth paste. Hair brush. Towel. I never shower while at a festival - well other than my "shower" with baby wipes. But somehow a towel comes in handy - whether it rains and I need to dry off to get into my pajamas (sweats) or just to clean mud off myself. Flashlight. At night it gets dark and mildly scary when it is a new place and hard to find your campsite. Lighter. A good thing to have. Ear plugs. If you want to go to sleep without listening to music blasting around you, ear plugs are amazing.
Food Stuff
If you are going to cook, bring [or make sure someone if your group (if you are going in a group)] a mini grill. Propane (an extra one).
Pan. Spatula.
Butter. Bread. Cheese. Eggs. Bacon (if you want) Hamburgers. Hot dogs. Ketchup. Apples. Carrots. *or whatever fruit/vegetable mixture you want. But apples are a must* Gatorade. Water. Nuts/granola mix. With this you can make: Breakfast egg and cheese/ egg cheese and bacon sandwiches. Grilled cheese or grilled cheese with bacon, hamburger (use the bread as the bun), hotdog (use the bread as the bun). Energy from the nuts/granola mixture. Eat fresh apples and carrots - trust me you will thank me later. The fresh fruit/vegetables is the most amazing taste you can imagine, especially when it is hard to find fresh food. You will find tons of vendors selling fried items which are amazing, and you can live off these for the weekend. But you do not have to. The gatorade is great when you are low on energy and dancing away. It is easy to bring to where the music is being played. And water is amazing. Fresh water is the most important thing you can bring. I always to remember to drink. I bought a Camel-bak - which I bring to all the festivals. I keep it filled, thus I keep myself hydrated always.
If you drink, make sure to bring beer and liquor. It is extremely expensive at the festival. As are cigarettes. So bring enough to last you the entire time - although you can easily bum cigarettes, it is nice to not have to rely on other people. If you need soda with your liquor, don't forget it!
Extra stuff
If you have extra room or are able to camp next to your car - some nice extra things to bring include:
Instruments. Instruments allow for mingling between campsites. As well as encourages people walking by to stop and hang out - maybe pick up the banjo and play a tune. Whatever instrument you have, us festival goers want to hear it especially if you are able to play some groovy tunes.
Playing cards.
Face paint.
Tapestry. It will beautify your easy-up.
Table. You always need something to put your stuff on. Make your food on - put your food on while it is being made. To roll your cigarettes on... :) Just a great space to do things.
Frisbee.
Rolling papers and tobacco.
Any games/toys that are able to be shared between groups of people.
Always remember: Be nice. Be welcoming. Encourage everyone to be part of the "group" so there is no group. Cliques are not cool. People want to feel liked. When you have a happy demeanor, people will want to be around you. Stay positive. You are amazing.
