Heading to a festival and want to do it right? These festival hacks will help you do it like a total pro.
With a summer of festivals ahead of us and the dreaded outfit choice fears, I want to help you make the best choices on what to pack. The worst part is getting to a festival and feeling unprepared or seeing someone do it better.
If there is one thing in this world that is universally beloved by everyone, it’s music – people love congregating for their favourite artists, appreciating their musical talents and coming together for something bigger.
Now that the season is in full swing, people are getting ready to get their groove on for these festivities.
Preparing for a festival will help you enjoy the experience to the max. Such a large gathering of people always calls for some precautions and measures in order for you to have the best time.
I don’t want you leaning your head out of your tent thinking ‘I’ll remember to do it next year.’ I’ve got you covered, so you do it this year!
Check out my music festival hacks you need to know to ace your festival like an absolute pro.
Must-Try Festival Hacks
1. Bring On The Fanny Packs (Bum Bags)
I know that they’re not trendy or glam, but you need to take care of your stuff and a fanny pack will always have your back.
With a fanny pack, you can pack up your money, phones and all your essentials in while wearing it around your waist front-side-up so no one else will be able to unceremoniously reach inside.
Plus you will look ridiculously cool, or just ridiculous.
Let the bum bag take the strain and go back dancing in the rain!
It’s a total festival look. Want to know more? Check out this step-by-step festival packing list.
2. Beat Your Water Woes
The ultimate festival hack.
You should definitely pack your own water bottle for the festival – not only because it’s just more eco-friendly (and it is) but because it will save you having to buy bottle after bottle of water.
Rollover water bottles are lightweight and can be easily carried around.
Also, please stay hydrated! Hydration is key. Water is important. Plastic is bad. Don’t forget your water bottle.
3. Try Travel Hacking Your Way There
If you’re travelling to attend your favorite music festival from a whole way off, then you definitely need to try some travel hacking.
What is travel hacking exactly? Basically it entails using loyalty programs and benefits from hotels, airlines and credit cards to get discount on your travels.
If you already know how to do that, then it’s all well and good. If you’re scratching your head on how to go about it, my intro guide to Travel Hacking is a place to get you started.
4. Discounted Tickets
For all of you hardcore music fans who couldn’t get or couldn’t afford tickets to your favorite concerts, we suggest you take it to the discounts sites for music events and festivals.
Thanks to these discount codes, reserved only to users who know the code, you can buy a front row seat or a ticket for another concert with the money you save. This is more of a life hack than just a festival hack, always do your research when it comes to discounts!
It’s also always worth just asking around, posting on your social media or shouting out to the universe you’re after a cheaper ticket. You never know, the festival God might deliver.
5. Power Banks For The Win
Smartphones are the nucleus of today’s society – from amazingly useful apps to creating memories and videos with the weirdest filters. They’ve become an integral part of any social activity.
It’s pretty much a cert that you’ll be constantly Snapchatting or Instagramming throughout your stay at the music festival and at some point, you’ll need to juice it up so it won’t automatically shut down!
Power banks are portable chargers, and an essential piece of travel gear that’ll become your safe havens during such times, so don’t forget to pack one!
One piece of advice, make sure it’s charged before you get to the festival.
6. Instant Hygiene With Dry Shampoo
You’ll definitely have to maintain basic hygiene during your stay, but who has the time to take luxury baths in a portable tent when you can play around with your friends and enjoy some of your favorite music?
This is why keeping a bottle of Dry Shampoo on you is a total must. When the hair gets gross, all you need is to do is spray some of it on and you’ll certainly be Insta-worthy again!
If you’re feeling extra adventurous and in full festival mode, go for some glitter dry shampoo or maybe even a colourful one! Dare you.
7. Calling First Dibs On The Perfect Campground
The best festival tip.
When it’s time to choose the perfect location to put up your tent, you need to be extremely strategic. Make sure that your dibs are off the path so drunk people can’t continuously stumble upon it.
You should also try to find a place that’s near a landmark and the loo so you can both; easily find it, and go to the loo without having to walk ten miles in the opposite direction.
My personal opinion is that it’s always better to be in a quieter campsite. You might think it’s worth being close to the fun, it’s not. Stay back. Sleep when you can.
8. Shower Wipes For An Instant Fix
How to stay fresh at a festival?
If you’re camping out on the grounds then getting that hot-water shower is going to be a pipe dream for the duration of the festival. And since no one wants to stink it up, it’s always best to come prepared with some shower wipes for an easy and instant fix when things start to get a little too sweaty. Lol.
Shower wipes are super easy to get and will definitely give you a fine illusion of cleanliness when things get tough. If you can, try and go for an eco-friendly wipe.
9. Pick Specific Meeting Points
Music festivals are large hubs and chances are that you’ll be separated from your group of friends on more than one occasion. So, it’s always best to pick a specific place where you can all meet up if one or two get lost.
However, make sure that the meeting point is a specific spot – don’t be generic and choose a vague setting. Pick a place that’s far away from the crowd so you can easily spot each other.
As tempting as it might be to run away with your new best friend you met at the front of the stage or think you can be a lone wolf, don’t do it. Stick with your friends as much as you can, or at least tell them about your SOS meeting point.
10. Don’t Forget The Sunscreen
This is one of the most important tips – you’ll be staying in a crowded place with hundreds of people with the sun beating down hard on all of you!
It’s important to keep your SPF topped off in such situations, or you’ll get some ugly, painful sunburn. No thanks.
11. Burner Phones!
Go hunt down that old school Nokia from your parents drawers, trust us, it’s worth it. Battery life is key at festivals and ideally, you want a phone you won’t care about too much if you lose it.
Obviously if it’s a day festival, don’t bother with the hassle and just bring your normal phone. But if you’re out in the festival woods for a long weekend, we definitely recommend getting hold of a slightly less precious phone.
12. The Bigger The Tent, The Better
Just because there’s only two of you, does not mean you should buy a two man tent. Always, ALWAYS, get a bigger tent.
Why?
Bags, pillows, the random junk you thought you “might” need, drinks and crisps packets. These things take up space and there’s nothing worse than feeling claustrophobic in your tent.
Chances are you’ll feel claustrophobic anyway, but at least ease the pain slightly with a bigger tent.
13. Extra Clothes Stash
This one is mainly for drivers. If you have somewhere to stack some extra dry clothes, DO IT.
You never know what could happen and it’s better to be safe than sorry. This tip is mainly for your trip home in case of torrential downpour. Pack some nice snug socks, clean trousers and a nice top to get back into.
14. Plan Your Exit
Either leave early, or leave late. But do not get stuck in the rat race out of a festival! It’s never worth it. It’s overwhelming, annoying and will bring on an instant INTENSE case of Sunday night blues which you simply do not need.
Plan your exit, your future self will thank you.
15. Locks!
For the campers out there, why not invest in a lock? Obviously, don’t bring valuables in the first place. But we’ve all heard the horror stories of tents being raided, so just to stay on the safe side, get a lock.
You might think it’s best to set the combination as 1234, but don’t do that. Find a slightly harder code, write it on your arm and share it with your fellow campers!
Worst case scenario you might come back to your friend asleep next to your tent because he or she couldn’t remember the code, but hey, that’s better than losing all your belongings! Swings and roundabouts.
These are some useful and best festival hacks you can use to get festival ready! Hope you use some of the mentioned lifesavers and have an awesome, memorable time partying it up.
Remember, stay hydrated. Eat bananas.
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