Tips for First Time Festival Goers | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Tips for First Time Festival Goers

You may be a virgin to the music scene but that doesn't mean you have to look like it.

Megan Garofalo
Apr 03, 2017
Sacred Heart University
1639
Tips for First Time Festival Goers
google

Spring has officially sprung and that means it’s festival season! That’s right my friends Coachella, Lalapalooza, Bonnaroo, you name it - they’re all fast approaching! So, I have curated a list of my best tips for first time festival goers. Here they are!

1. Pack Smart

The first time I attended a music festival I packed way too much! Remember, you're going to be far away from your campsite 95 percent of the time so you won't need a ton of extra stuff, just the necessities.

2. Wear Sunscreen/Hats


I know that everyone wants to have that beautiful bronzed glow for summer festivals but it can really harm your skin. Not only that, but if you are out in the sun all day for a few days straight you're going to get burned and that my friend is not a fun time when you're getting bounced around in a crowd of people. Try getting a spray tan a few days before so you still have that sun kissed glow but don't end up feeling like a fried lobster by the second day.

3. Bring Baby Wipes

I don't know about all festivals but at the ones I've been to there were no showers. Either that or you had to pay a stupid amount of money to use a public one so I opted to just use baby wipes. There was no running water anywhere so each night before going to sleep I would pull out a pack and wipe myself down. In the mornings I would brush my teeth outside the tent with a bottle of water. Don't even ask where I went to the bathroom.

4. Look Up Items Lists Before Going

Festival security is SUPER strict. You don't want to wait on that long line to get in just to be turned away because you have a prohibited item with you. Then you either have to trek all the way back to your tent to put it away and miss the first few shows or throw it away and lose it forever. Plan ahead, just don't pack anything that you can't bring into the festival area!

5. Make a Playlist for the Car Ride

They say that when you're taking a trip half the fun is getting there and I agree! My friends and I like to make playlists for the car ride to the festival to get us pumped for a weekend of music. Some festivals even make playlists for you on Spotify featuring all of the artists that will be performing! So go ahead and enjoy the ride, there will be no need to fight over the aux cord.

6. Bring Portable Fans & Phone Chargers

This one may sound obvious but you'd be surprised how many people forget that they can't plug their phones into an outlet while they're camping. Get a cheap portable phone charger and use it only when your phone is totally dead. A lot of festivals have charging stations so you can recharge your portable charger there each day and then use the power when and wherever you need it!

7. Plan Ahead

Once you arrive, you're not going to want to waste a single minute. You especially won't want to waste time planning your day either. I suggest going onto the festival website a few days in advanced and checking out the lineup and map. You can get a good idea of how much time you will have in between each show that you want to see and you'll know roughly how far you'll have to walk to each one. I'm not joking about this one, it's a serious life saver!


8. Stay Hydrated

Take full advantage of any hydration station or water fountain you see, every time you pass it. You won't regret it! Being outside in the blazing sun while dancing all day is a sure fire way to become dehydrated. Add alcohol into the mix and you have a sure fire recipe for disaster! Set reminders on your phone to drink water periodically so you don't end up spending the weekend in the medical tent!

9. Use a small backpack

Most festivals allow drawstrings and small bags in. Get a cute small backpack from H&M or Forever 21, one that you won't mind getting dirty, and put the necessities in it before leaving your tent each day. Don't forget your keys, wallet, phone, and sunscreen!

10. Have fun!

Live in the moment, put the phone down, talk to new people, and dance your a** off. Just enjoy the atmosphere and have fun, after all that's why you went!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

AI music threatens creativity

The Soul of Sound: How AI Challenges Human Expression in Music

265961
Humans and robots face off in a rock band battle with guitars and drums, under dynamic lighting.
StableDiffusion

In an age where artificial intelligence can mimic the voice of Freddie Mercury or reimagine pop hits as synthwave ballads, a new frontier has emerged — one that blurs the line between innovation and erosion. While AI offers undeniable benefits in technical domains, its intrusion into creative arts, especially music, raises urgent questions. Not just about copyright, but about culture, education, and the very soul of artistic expression.


Keep Reading...Show less
ai generated music
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

Miami University
598410
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
music
Entertainment

Why Your Astrological Sign May Not Match Your Personality

We are all more than just one sign.

SUNY Plattsburgh
512491
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
astrology
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

UNC Greensboro
488546
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
spring
Relationships

The Importance Of Being A Good Person

An open letter to the good-hearted people.

Sacred Heart University
755802
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
good person

Trending Topics

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments