There’s a first for everything in life, and your first music festival is like no other. At least, that’s what seasoned festival-goers say all the time. They are already intimately familiar with the party side of things, so maybe they know more than a thing or two about what to expect.
But what about you? Planning your first music festival?
Well, gyrating hips, piercing screams, drunk people experimenting at dancing, crowds pushing at each other, the occasional mosh-pit, even fights, all are things that don’t sound like something a sane person would enjoy. But, if you are a festival newbie, to you it surely looks and smells like a good way to make lasting memories. Music festivals are the ideal places to freely enjoy the spirit of youth.
Before you go to have the time of your life, here are some of the things you should expect.
Expect crowds
You guessed it. A music festival is not a music festival without crowds. And when crowds and loud music are combined, there is only one result, and that result is lots and lots of NOISE. But, the good kind of noise. Expect your ears to hurt on the first day. Soon enough, you’ll get be accustomed to the constant vibration in the air.
Okay, it’s not as bad as we make it up to be. But expect things to be loud. Like, really L.O.U.D. Plus, as a side bonus, you’ll get hit with the full package of standing on the same premise with a thousand other people. That means heavy sweating, heavy air, heavy breathing, and a lot of heavy boots crushing your poor feet. So yes, expect your legs to be exhausted.
Expect to get lost. All the time.
Music festivals are huge. And they last for days. Navigation is a key component of a good festival experience. That’s why it’s essential to use your first day wisely. After all, it’s the day when you’ll have the most energy and enthusiasm.
Learn the layout, learn where the best (and cheapest) shops are, learn the best spots for hanging out, and learn the places you need to avoid. Learn where the bands stay (the few ones you know), and for the love of god learn where the toilets are!
Oh, and make sure you learn where the medical tents are in case you need them in an emergency. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Mediocre food
For lack of better words festival food is not the best. Most treat it as a necessary price one needs to pay, rather than a thing to look forward to. Also, it costs more. Prices are high all across the board. Shrinking your wallet or not, it’s something you’ll have to deal with early in the game, precisely because you’ll get hungry, really fast. Additionally, the number of vendors is overwhelming.
So you do get the option of having a lot of choices, but only some of them will match your tastes. And, no matter what you do, some of the food will just not agree with you, or your stomach! Well, at least now you know the location of the restroom, right?
The restroom
Yes, sooner or later you will have to visit the public restroom. And depending on the way the festival is organized, it might not be the prettiest experience. However, it’s not going to be bacteria hell either. Most portable restrooms are cleaned daily, and what’s even more amazing is that sometimes other people have consciences too, so they will do their best not to leave a mess behind. But for good measure, bring your own wet tissues and hand sanitizer. You will thank me later.
Take a bottle of water
Staying hydrated is a must, even more so if you attend a large concert. Entering a music festival is like going into the hyperbolic time chamber – everything is magnified by 3, even the way your body spends water. To add fuel to the fire, oftentimes depending on the festival, water is limited or inaccessible, or even worse, you’ll need to spend money to get your vital biofuel. Greedy policy or not, someone has to upkeep the water bill. So take a water bottle and top it with fresh water whenever you can.
Groups hanging out together
Going to a music festival alone is not great. Actually, it’s awful. Make sure you take as many friends with you as you can. Unlike concerts, music festivals tend to last for at least 2 days. There is food, drinks, awesome bands, an electric atmosphere, and A LOT of people doing their best at making friends. So take your positive energy with you. Bring out your A-game. People are always on the lookout to make new connections.
In short, just have fun and don’t stress. Meeting strangers at music festivals is the best way to create lasting friendships. Going alone and having a blast is not all that uncommon, but everything is better when you have friends around you. Besides, if something doesn’t go according to plan, it’s way easier to blame your friends than yourself.
Expect to lose some of your possessions
Be it clothing, be it your favorite keychain, be it your sanity, something is definitely going to get lost. Pack your essentials, then pack some more essentials, and then take an extra pair of clothes with you just to be on the safe side. Then convince your friends to do the same.
Sunburns
Forget about your girlfriend, forget about your boyfriend. Your sunscreen is your closest friend at a music festival. It’s the only thing that will defend you from the hot scorching sun. Vibing with the flow is awesome, vibing with the flow and your painful sunburns is not.
Unreliable Internet
The phone connection at festivals is notoriously bad. But that should come as no surprise. Pretty much every single party-goer is on the same WiFi network, sharing pictures and videos on social media. After all, music festivals are the ideal breeding for hot social media posts. Not only that, you’ll need to fight for a spot at the phone charging station. Packing a power bank will go a long way in ensuring you have sufficient battery for emergencies.
Expect to have a blast
Music festivals are awesome at giving you that adrenaline rush to overcome your boundaries and get you out of your comfort zone. Meet new people. Compliment their outfits. Offer awkward high-fives. Take pictures. Aim to have fun.
And don’t forget to stay safe, and enjoy the music.