Classes are over, and summer is finally here. With summer comes festival season, which is my favorite time of the year. The lineups are always amazing and they're always a good time to hangout with friends and meet new people. While I spend the entire week preparing for Hangout Fest, I'd like to share some tips for festival goers.
1. Don't get hammered before the music even starts.
Festivals are hot and there's hardly any shade. Getting as drunk as possible as soon as you get there is just going to make you dehydrated even faster than if you were sober. Nobody likes the super drunk person in the pit anyways.
2. Do take sunscreen with you.
I wish I did this for Music Midtown, but I thought I would be fine.Oh how wrong I was in that moment. I was burnt after the second set of the day and there was no sunscreen in the entire festival. If you don't like putting sunscreen on your face, opt for a cute hat! Some festivals might sell it, but go prepared and take as much as you need with you.
3. Don't over pack for the day.
Depending on the festival, it might be a camping fest or a daily entrance fest. Both festivals I've been to were daily entrances, and I over packed so much for both days and got stuck toting around everything I brought. My shoulders hurt so badly by the end of the night, and I was over the bag I brought an hour into the festival.
4. Do dress comfortable and realistic.
While I love the festival looks this year, I don't see it as realistic for me, which I why I suggest dressing for comfort and not for social media. No one is really going to care about what you look like in the middle of a set, because they'll be too busy jamming out. Don't show up to a festival in heels and a dress if you know it's on the beach or in the middle of a farm.
5. Don't wait in the pit all day without water or food.
Grab food and drinks before you head into a pit for the day and always leave to go to the bathroom. The earlier in the day, the easier it is to get in and out of the pit at the big stages. Camp out for the day, but leave the pit when you need to and make your way back.
6. Do stay hydrated.
The week before a festival, I make sure that I drink tons of water just to make sure that I'm hydrated enough before making my way to the fest. Most festivals allow you to take one empty bottle in, but sometimes you can sneak two in. Drink plenty of water each day of the festival and make sure you're hydrated before the headlining shows.
