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During the summer my calendar includes so many events (including festivals). In Chicago, every neighborhood has its own signature street fest (think food-focused events like Burger Fest or Rib Fest. The list is incredible). We close the streets, add stages for bands and it is a lot of fun for an afternoon.
We also have larger festivals like Pitch Fork, Lollapalooza or Riot Fest, which is likely a whole day adventure. These can be a lot of fun since you can see a lot of bands in the same weekend. It’s a great way to see sets you may not go out and see when they’re in a smaller venue or you can discover a new favorite band.
Table of Contents
Festival Survival Guide and Tips
One of my favorite parts of attending festivals is the random things you’ll see and experience in passing. For example, Riot Fest has an obsession with John Stamos and it’s become a huge piece of the lore. One year there was a John Stamos art show with fan art and another year there was a John Stamos statue carved in butter. I also met Bob the Bachelor at Lollapalooza in 2017 and he was really nice!
My first festival experience was in 2017 at Lollapalooza. I stressed about which bag to bring and I was overthinking how much stuff I needed to bring. I probably brought way too much and over time I’ve realized what’s essential and what’s extra.
I recently went to the Indy 500 and honestly, packing for it reminded me a lot of packing for a festival. While I have a lot experience packing for festivals, it didn’t occur to me how similar they are.
Related Post: If you’re hitting the road for a marathon, check out this list of packing essentials for a destination marathon.
Festival Packing Checklist
Before the festival, create a packing checklist. Identify the items you must have for the day of the event since you’ll likely stay on the premises for whole day. Also keep in mind what’s allowed inside the event and how much you’ll need to carry for the whole day.
The most important rule for any festival is read the permitted items guide. Ensure your bag is permitted and the items inside it. Some festivals offer lockers, but they’re usually inside, which doesn’t help if you can’t get through security.
Festival Tips for First Timers
You’ll likely be carrying your items all day, so you’ll need to be strategic for what you bring. Some festivals offer lockers, which is nice but also can be expensive! Based on the bag requirements for the event, you may be limited based on the size and specific restrictions for the bag itself. Stick to travel size container for items like hand wipes or hand sanitizer. You’ll want to check with your specific event on what’s allowed and not permitted.
Festival Cell Phone Battery Hacks
Bring a rechargeable batter and a variety of cords. If you can bring one that’s 10,000 mAh or more, do it. If you’re recording video you’re likely going to drain your battery. Your battery also may drain faster when you’re in a large crowd since the cell signal might be harder to reach. If there is a vendor offering options to charge your devices in exchange for joining their email list or hanging out in their booth, it might be worth considering.
One thing to keep in mind is the weight of the battery. The more mAh power in the battery, they tend to get heavier. This battery will charge your phone two times and it weighs less than 7 ounces. It’s also tiny. It’s whole footprint is 4.22″ x 2.06″ x 1.07″ so it won’t take up too much space in your bag and it recharges quickly for the next use.
I also love this multi-option charging cord to cover your bases for lightning cord and USB-C users. Some vendors might have charging stations as part of their booth so it’s worth keeping an eye out for these stations if you need them later.
Pro Tip: Before you enter the festival, have a plan for where to meet friends if there is an evacuation (sometimes weather can put these types of events on pause) or at the end of day, especially if your phone dies.
Remember Your Skin Care Tips in Summer
First off, you’re going to want to bring sunscreen. Check the permitted items list for your event before you go, as some venues don’t allow spray cans. You’re going to need to reapply it several times throughout the day. I’m a fan of Sun Bum sunscreens because they smell like a tropical vacation! I also recently found this brand, Unicorn Snot, and they have really great sunscreens with glitter. It comes in a spray or cream options! I also recommend bringing baby wipes if you have room in your bag if it’s hot and you’d like to stay fresh. (You can find my favorite baby wipes here!)
Best Shoes to Wear to a Festival
You’re in for a lot of walking so wear something comfortable. This is not the time for flip flops! I’ve found old running shoes to be a perfect option and I’m less likely to care if they get ruined.
What to Pack for a Festival
First things first, you’ll want to pack for the whole day. Depending on the temperatures, you might need to adjust your outfit. And if you can bring a thin sweatshirt, this could be valuable after the sun goes down or if you are stuck in the shade. There is always band merch if you need a sweatshirt in a bind!
I love rompers as a comfortable option! Shop a few of the romper options from this post here. And don’t forget your sunglasses! These cat eye sunglasses are my favorite. I have two pairs!
Hydration Options for a Festival
I’m a big advocate of using your prime running gear for real life adventures and this is the perfect use-case scenario. If you have a running hydration backpack (or even a handheld water bottle), some festivals will allow you to bring in empty containers and have places to fill up inside the grounds. If you can bring a clip-on water bottle it might be easier than carrying a whole hydration pack. No matter what bag you bring, you’ll want to ensure the pack itself is permitted and meets the bag requirement (regarding overall dimensions or number of pockets).
Related Post: Flaying to your festival destination? Use this packing list for essentials you’ll want to bring in your carry-on bag (some of them are on this list too).
Festival Hacks for Staying Comfortable
Most festivals offer limited seating so you’ll like be sitting on the ground between bands. Blankets can be so bulky however you can bring newspapers to sit in the grass or a beach blanket tarp. If inflatable furniture is on the permitted list, this hammock could be a great option.
Festival Survival Guide Must Haves
Festival Glitter Options
If you’d like to wear glitter for the day, I wore these glitter options for a half marathon and they stayed put the whole time. They also washed off really easily.
- For a subtle glitter option, check out Unicorn Snot’s Face and Body Bio Glitter on Amazon
- For a chunkier look for hair or face, try this one from Meicoly.
Festival Misc Items
A few more items to consider in your festival bag! Just don’t carry too much since you’ll likely be carrying it all day.
- A koozie can help keep your overpriced cans colder longer.
- A deck of cards will help occupy your time between bands.
- Ear plugs in case you find yourself close to a speaker.
- Cash just in case some vendors aren’t cashless.
It also helps to locate friends if you have something you can hold up to find each other at a crowded stage, like an inflatable or this picture of Nicolas Cage on a stick.
Festival Survival Kit Wrap Up
While the logistics are a lot to think about, festivals can be really fun. I hope you have a lot of fun at your next festival!
I’ve created a whole idea list inspired by this post, you can check it out here.
What’s on your festival survival guide must-bring list? Let me know in the comments.
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