Everything You Need To Survive This Summer’s Music Festival Season
With music festival season officially underway: Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, Austin City Limits — the number one thing on everyone’s mind (besides remembering to activate your wristbands), is “what should I bring?” To help you out, we’ve put together a packing list of essentials so you’ll be prepared no matter what.
1. Rain Gear
Learning to bring rain gear even if there’s a 30% of rain is something I learned the hard way when last month’s Governors Ball was cancelled halfway through due to severe thunderstorms. Artists like Miguel performed on through the storm valiantly until the festival was cut short, but while the show was amazing, I definitely could have used a rain jacket, boots and a phone protector.
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2. Cellphone External Battery Pack
With all the social networking tied into music festivals and the release of PokemonGo, your phone’s battery is going to be drained halfway through the day if you don’t take extra precautions. Make sure you bring along an extra phone battery so that you can still get a picture of your favorite headliners or find your friends in the crowd at the end of the night.
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3. Water
There’s nothing more important than staying hydrated at a music festival. My biggest fear is definitely paying the large ticket price and then passing out from exhaustion and spending the whole festival in a medic tent because I didn’t drink enough water. Therefore, take advantage of the free water refill stations, and even bring one of those Camelbak backpacks that can hold up to two liters of water.
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4. Items for the “Portable Restrooms”
With all that water and overpriced beer you’ve been drinking, eventually you’ll have to use the festival bathrooms (especially if you’re camping). Stay clean and sanitary with some baby wipes, hand sanitizer, and even your own roll of toilet paper. You’d be surprised how quickly supplies run out and how infrequently they’re replaced.
5. Sunglasses That Actually Work (UV Protection)
It’s summer. The sun is going to be in your face all day. It would suck to go to a music festival and not even be able to see any of the acts. Make sure your sunglasses are actually polarized, meaning that they not only neutralize glare but also block harmful UV light. If your eyes are really sensitive to the light, maybe even bring an extra pair of diffraction glasses for any night shows that assault your eyes with stage lighting. Also, wear sunscreen!
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6. Ear Plugs
It might seem redundant to wear ear plugs at an event where listening to stuff is the primary objective, but hear me out, it’s worth it. Festival stage speakers are designed to project. So if you insist on standing toward the front of the stage all day, having a set of plugs on hand will keep you from going, “WHAT?!” all next week.
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7. Blankets
By day two, or even just 5pm, everyone usually gets pretty tired and decides to “sit one out” in the back with a blanket. Since the ground has already been stomped and spilled on by a thousand festival goers, it’s better to not “rough it” and just bring a blanket for you and your friends.
8. Inflatable Car Air Bed Mattress
If you’re staying at a festival campsite that lets you keep your car next to the grounds (as opposed to a far-away parking lot), we highly recommend packing an inflatable car air bed mattress. It’s larger and more comfortable than a sleeping bag, and you won’t have to worry about sleeping in nasty weather conditions.
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9. Energy Bars
Whether it’s a Clif bar, Kind bar, or those TAKE5 bars they were handing out at Governors Ball, most energy bars are full of grains and soybeans to keep you energized. And with all the expensive festival food trucks, it’s a smart money-saving move to pack snacks of your own.
10. Good Vibes
Wear something crazy. Get creative! Festivals aren’t only about practical packing lists — they’re about the music and the people you’re with. Bring glow sticks or other fun party accessories. The more fun everyone around you is having, the more memorable the whole experience will be.
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