When I was younger, summer meant sleeping in, swimming, and getting to watch the morning cartoons for as long as my heart desired. Flash forward 10 years and summertime means music festivals. The food trucks, the thrill of seeing your favorite band play, and of course, the opportunity to show off your trendiest festival wear is well worth the hundreds of dollars spent for just a few short days. With all of the excitement going on, it can be hard to remember that these festivals have to be cleaned up afterwards. All of the trash, glitter, and lights must come to an end. Here's a list of ways to enjoy your festivals while still being conscious of our environment!
Use alternatives to glitter
Glitter is similar to a tattoo in the way that once it's there, you are never getting rid of it. It gets stuck in between the crevices of your car, lives in the roots of your hair forever, and hides the threads of your carpet forever. If thousands of people are wearing this pesky plastic in one place, it is bound to stick to everything in sight. Pounds of glitter reside in the remains of your favorite music festival's location. Instead of polluting our planet with particles of sparkles, use biodegradable glitters made from fibers of a eucalyptus tree. Another alternative would be to make your own homemade glitter from salt and natural paint.
Bring a reusable water bottle
Let's be real. Festival food is expensive. A bottle of water alone is typically around $5. Save your money and bring a reusable water bottle for all weekend! If you don't have one readily available, the musical festival you are attending will most likely be selling them at the souvenir tent. These can be on the more expensive side but make for a cool keepsake while also preventing you from throwing old plastic bottles on the ground or in the trash.
Do not use the ground as your trash can
When you are listening to your favorite band, you tend to get lost in the moment. Enjoy your music and get lost, but not so lost that you forget where you are. This planet is your home. You wouldn't throw empty cups and food wrappers on your bedroom floor, so don't do it in an outdoor setting. Be conscious of where the trash cans are located so that you can quickly throw garbage away in between music sets and get right back to the fun. No one likes a litterbug.
Enjoy your experience at festivals. Soak up the happiness, see all of the colorful outfits, lose yourself in the music, but do not forget that these festivals take place in our environment. They are real places that must go back to normal after all of the fun. Do your share of taking care of our planet by following these simple tips.
