As everyone is beginning to purchase their wristbands and campsites for Faster Horses, I have started getting questions from friends about what to expect at the party of the summer. I decided to ask on the Faster Horses Festival Advice Facebook page to see if some FH veterans could help me out. This is a list of what we came up with:
1. Make sure you bring an awning or canopy. As nice as the sun can be, you'll need to get some shade. - Amanda.
You’re going to be woken up by neighbors blasting music at 7a.m. and the music normally doesn’t start until noon. You will want a place to hangout and relax before the festival starts each day. As for the canopy, after the first day roasting in the sun, you will want to be under that canopy as much as possible to avoid a terrible sunburn. Also, don't forget the lawn chairs, or you will be sitting in the grass the whole weekend.
2. Don’t wait until the last minute to coordinate who is bringing what. - John B.
This is especially important when you have a big group of people. Make sure you prepare ahead of time so you aren’t scrambling at the last minute.
3. Shower beers are a must. - Matt J.
If you’re one of the lucky ones to get a shower!
4. Ladies, the earlier you get to the showers, the better! - Ashley W.
Very true. The lines can get pretty long. Be prepared to wait, or get there early. You can also use one of the water spigots - the water might be ice cold but there’s never a line.
5. Make sure you have a buddy within your group of people! - Katie K.
It is so easy to get lost in the crowd. It’s smart to have a go-to buddy to stay with throughout the weekend.
6. Pedialyte or Gatorade powder mixed in coconut water first thing in the morning is a miracle after drinking in the heat all day. - Kelly K.
You can also bring the Pedialyte or Gatorade powder into the festival so that you are staying hydrated throughout the day, as well.
7. Bring snack-style foods. We have a campfire going the whole weekend so we bring wings and meatballs and cook them over the fire in an aluminum pan. - Brandon F.
It also can be a good idea to figure out who will be cooking while you are at the festival. Whether it'll be one person the whole time or if you are going to switch each day.
8. Don’t use a duffel bag, use plastic totes for your clothes. When the storm hits, everything stays dry! - Ashley T.
This was so helpful during the thunderstorms the past two years. You won't have to worry about all of your clothes getting wet.
9. Dry ice! - Nicole S.
If you put dry ice in your cooler, it should last much longer than regular ice. Buying ice at the campgrounds can get expensive if you have to buy it every day.
10. Battery operated fan to keep in the tent. - Ashley T.
The festival is in the middle of July, so it is bound to be extremely hot, especially inside of your tent. This will save you, especially for those that don’t have electric sites.
11. Clean up after yourself! Don’t leave trash everywhere. Make the site look as good as it did before you got there. - Bryan J.
Don’t ruin the experience for everyone else and make others clean up after you.
12. Write what camp site you have on your arm, or somewhere that you can see in case you get lost or separated from the group. - Brandon F.
You can also take a picture of your campsite location and put it as the background on your phone. This might also help in the case that you were to lose your phone at the festival - hopefully whoever finds it would bring it back to your site.
13. Bring earplugs.
Depending on where your camping, most people are awake and blasting music at all hours of the day and night. If you want to get any sleep throughout the weekend, definitely bring some earplugs.
14. Make friends with your neighbors.
As well as everyone at the festival in general. You will meet so many people in such a short amount of time; make the most of it!
15. Be a little spontaneous.
Like mentioned above, there will be tons of new people that you've never met and will probably never see again. Have some fun and don't worry about what others may think. Have new experiences and don't hold back.
16. No drama.
Everyone is there to have a good time. Don't cause any unnecessary drama between your "faster fam" or anyone else.
17. Prepare to buy food inside of the festival.
There are so many vendors inside of the festival, and you'll want to try at least a few. I highly recommend the Grilled Cheese food truck.
18. Use sunscreen!
I promise you will get a tan. Don't refuse to put sunscreen on because you want to tan; you will end up looking like a tomato.
19. Get to the concerts early.
There are a lot of festival goers that won't show up until one or two artists before the final performance. Not only are they missing out on really great artists, but the line to get into the festival also gets really long. Show up early and listen to some people that you haven't heard before - they might become your new favorite, and you have a better chance of being really close to the stage.
20. Be ready for the best party of the summer
It is going to be worth every penny spent and every second of time preparing. As soon as it's over, you'll be counting down the days until the next one.
See y'all there!
