The air is getting warmer, the heavy clothes are going back to the wardrobes. We all know what this means: Festival Season is almost here!
Whether you’re a seasoned festival veteran who’s unsure if you still got what it takes or a first-time goer afraid that this experience is not for you, we got your back with a few tips on how to survive a music festival.
Top 10 Ways to Survive a Music Festival
1. Hydration
Water is the elixir of life, as they say, and with you being up to 60% of it, you need it to survive.
It’s easy to forget to hydrate yourself amidst all the music, the crowd, and the excitement. But festivals can be draining because of the combination of sun, high temperatures, and all the moving you’ll be doing.
Dehydration happens when you lose more water than you replenish. Oftentimes this happens without you realizing it. When you notice that you’re thirsty, it could be too late. We all have seen someone being dragged over the fence because of dehydration. Don’t be that person, be proactive and hydrate yourself.
Most festivals have hydration stations where you can refill water bottles. Hydration packs are also an excellent alternative. Just be careful of over-priced water bottles inside the venue. Check out the festival’s rules to see what kind of bottles or packs you’re allowed to take.
2. Eat well
Your body needs the energy to withstand all of the things you’re about to make it go through. A lack of nutrition will make you feel like trash every time. Remember to eat well during the event so you don’t miss out on the fun.
While greasy food is a great post-alcohol meal, try to prioritize filling and healthy options before going to the venue and starting your day.
3. Protection from the sun
The sun is no joke, even a cloudy day can give some pretty nasty sunburns and heatstroke. It’s a radiation burn, after all. Not “just” a sunburn.
Sunglasses, hats, and 30+ FPS sunscreen are your friends. Don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen per the manufacturers’ instructions. You don’t want to finish the day looking like a tomato in all your photos!
4. Look after your valuables
A festival maxim that should always be in your mind is: “Don’t bring anything you wouldn’t want stolen.” While this is less dramatic for festivals with no camping/overnight stay, it’s still true. It’s much better to leave something valuable at home than leave the venue without it.
We know that phones are essential nowadays, so there are ways to prevent losing them. Don’t keep phones in back pockets. Try a fanny pack and always be mindful of your belongings.
5. Sleep
Sleep is one of our most basic needs, and it’s so easily overlooked. Even on our normal days, we do that. But the point of this is: you won’t be able to fully enjoy the acts you love if you’re tired and/or sleep-deprived.
Good quality sleep is essential for your brain. It regulates your emotions and your other physical needs. So be smart about it. It’s better to miss out on those first bands to get a few more hours than go early and feel terrible by the end when the biggest acts are on.
6. Hearing protection
Yes, hearing protection isn’t “cool.” But losing your hearing isn’t either. And you can’t recover your hearing. Once you lose it, you lose it.
Festivals are loud. You’re exposed to that loudness for a prolonged space of time. So you need to take care of yourself. Your future self will thank you for your smart choices. Bonus point that hearing protection is inexpensive, so you have no excuses.
7. Stay connected with friends
Festivals are more fun with company, so you have to be prepared in case you get separated from them. But remember that they’re also packed with people. Getting lost is easy.
Define a meet-up spot, somewhere you can see from a distance and it’s easily recognizable. Cell phone reception isn’t the best either, with everyone jamming up the signals. There are apps like FireChat where you can communicate with friends without network reception. Another good thing to do is consider investing in a portable charger.
8. Get your drugs tested if you can
One of the appeals of festivals is the freedom to experiment. While we can’t condone the use of illegal substances, we know that it happens at festivals. You have to be responsible with your choices, so test before you ingest.
Many festivals nowadays provide testing stations so you can be safe while having fun. Look up if they’re available at your venue. Drug dealers at festivals are more likely to sell drugs that aren’t what they seem. If you are going to take drugs, get them tested.
9. Know your limits
You won’t be able to enjoy the day if you don’t pace yourself, whether that is with drugs or alcohol. You have to know the line and don’t go over. Don’t try to match your friends, they’re different people than you, with different bodies, and get affected differently.
Remember that you can always take more, but can’t take less after you ingested. If you feel like things are going downhill, don’t be afraid to go to the medics and be honest. They won’t tell the police, they just want to help you. Stay hydrated with water between drinks.
10. Plan, plan, plan.
Your experience will be much smoother with a little bit of planning.
Download the festival’s app. Check the set times. Check the map and pick meet-up spots. Plan how you’re going to get to the festival and back home. Book hotels or buy tents. Check the weather and prepare for rain or sun. Bring a jacket for once the sun sets so you don’t freeze. And wear some comfortable, closed shoes.
Yes, the shoes will get ruined, so bring a pair you don’t mind losing.