I attended my first music festival, Vans Warped Tour, in 2013. I was 15 years old, and I remember feeling equal parts giddy and nervous as I stood within the mass of concert-goers waiting to be let inside. I had gone to regular concerts before, but those were nothing like a music festival--and I knew immediately that my previous experiences would have nothing on what I was about to jump into. My most prominent memories of that day were the almost intolerable heat, massive crowds, constantly getting lost in the venue trying to find different stages, and crowd-surfing for the very first time. That fateful day in 2015 sparked something in me, and in the 5 years since, I've traveled all over the country to attend music festivals of varying sizes, genres and environments. I've had so many great experiences and made unforgettable memories and friends--but I've also had my share of not-so-great experiences, from dehydration to getting the wind kicked out of me in mosh pits. Going to festivals can undoubtedly be a nerve-wracking experience, especially for the first time. There are so many more factors to consider than for a normal concert, and not thinking or planning thoroughly can leave you in a world of hurt. Here are a few tips for first-time festival goers or even seasoned attendees to make sure your music festival experience is one to remember, in a good way:
Plan ahead and get there early.
There's been so many times where I just absentmindedly considered a festival's opening time or how long it would take me to get to a venue, and it's always been a mistake--it would take unnecessarily long to get inside the venue, and I've even missed seeing some of my favorite artists because admission took so long. So make sure to thoroughly (and I mean thoroughly) research what time venue doors are opening and how long it'll take you to get there--take into account traffic around the venue, how long parking will take and how many people will already be there waiting in line. Getting into a festival on time will allow you to feel out where things are and where you want to go, which is especially helpful if it's an unfamiliar venue.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
Making sure you're properly hydrated is probably the most important thing to take care of inside a music festival. I literally can't even count the amount of times I've witnessed people throw up, leave in the middle of a performance and even pass out unconscious because they weren't drinking enough water. It is especially important for summer festivals and outside venues in general--the constant sun and unbearable heat is insanely draining, especially when you're sandwiched against people in the middle of a crowd. Make sure to bring refillable water bottles or packs if your venue has free water stations so you can fill up throughout the day, instead of having to buy the venue's ridiculously expensive bottles. Having to visit the bathroom multiple times throughout the day is infinitely better than passing out from dehydration and having to leave, trust me.
Dress for the venue and weather.
Festivals have become not only a place for people to celebrate their love of music, but to celebrate fashion as well. Festival style is its own separate genre of fashion now, and many brands even release annual festival lines that are full of loose, fun and oftentimes flashy apparel. But in putting together a festival look, it's way more important to dress for your conditions rather than just style alone. I've seen expensive clothing get ripped, borderline 3rd-degree sunburns manifest and heat exhaustion ruin one too many experiences and outfits. So try to consider the environment of the festival: if you know crowds are going to be very rough or aggressive, don't wear loose-fitting clothing or open-toed shoes. If you're going to be in the sun for long periods of time, refrain from dark colors, make sure your clothes are breathable and bring a hat or visor to keep the sun and sweat out of your face. Also, as a general rule, try not to wear anything too expensive or anything that you'd be devastated about if it got damaged. Chances are you'll be covered in mud, sweat, glitter, paint or other questionable materials by the end of the festival.
Know your limits.
This one is extremely important, especially if it's your first time attending a festival. Everyone is super excited and dedicated to being able to see their favorite artists, but in the end, your health is way more important than being able to last the whole festival. Being in a super-tight or rough crowd can easily become overwhelming, especially if you're already a generally nervous person. Don't let yourself dissolve into tears or an anxiety attack by forcing yourself to stay in the audience, and especially don't allow yourself to get hurt if you know the crowd is too rough for you to handle. There's absolutely no shame in watching from a distance, and getting out before something happens to you is far better than waiting until it's too late and having to be pulled out by security, or leave the festival early. This rule goes for general stamina, too--if you're feeling the effects of heat or dehydration, don't try and withstand it. Just go drink some water or stand in the shade until you're refueled.
Stock up on useful gadgets and miscellaneous items, even if they seem unnecessary.
This one isn't exactly necessary, but it can make your experience exponentially greater. Invest in a solid portable phone charger or two to make sure your phone battery lasts the whole time--nothing is more depressing than not being able to record or take a few pictures of your favorite artists' performances because your battery couldn't hold out. Another unlikely yet helpful tool is a spray bottle or one of those combination water bottle/fan/sprayer; hydrating is great, but it feels instantly better to be able to mist yourself with cool water while you're standing in the sun--also, other festival-goers will be eternally grateful if you spray them, too. Hand sanitizer and makeup wipes are also some great go-to items so you're able to feel clean and wipe off any smeared makeup, glitter or paint. More obvious, but equally necessary, items to bring are sunscreen, earplugs or a change of socks.
Focus on yourself and your own experience.
One of the best things about music festivals is it gives you the opportunity to meet so many people from different walks of life and places around the world--I've been lucky to meet and get to know some amazing people in crowds or even waiting in line to use the restroom. But I've also come across some less-than-amazing people, too. Every festival has them: the people who are weirdly judgemental of everyone else at the festival, bitter about everything under the sun and willing to be rude or even violent to get what they want. I've had people sneer and actually confront me for just about everything, including talking too loudly, taking too many pictures or videos and even dancing in a crowd. One year at Warped Tour I even saw two girls get into a fistfight trying to get closer to the stage to see Sleeping With Sirens. I know I don't have to advise not to do that, but I will advise you to just focus on yourself and having your own awesome experience. Don't let judgemental or aggressive people put a damper on your time--after all, you paid for this experience, so you deserve to spend your festival having the most fun possible, in your own way (as long as your own way isn't getting into a fistfight to get up front in a crowd). If someone yells or makes fun of you, just brush it off and continue to enjoy yourself--after all, if that person feels the need to judge or hurt others, they don't even deserve to be at the festival in the first place.
Plan ways to stay in contact with your friends.
Chances are, you and your friends won't want to see the same sets or artists at the festival. So when you split up, make sure you figure out ahead of time ways to keep in contact and meet up with each other later. That could be arming yourself with portable chargers so you're not left stranded when your phone dies, or simply even designating a specific spot in the venue to meet at when the sets you wanted to see are over or if you get separated in a crowd. Communicate with your friends and let them know where you'll be around certain times, so if something does happen, they can look for you and vice-versa. It's nearly impossible to search for someone throughout the entire festival grounds once you get stranded with no contact, and it'll save you a lot of anxiety to designate beforehand.
Along with your own water bottles, bring your own food.
Venue food and drink is notoriously and unnecessarily expensive. You're already paying for tickets, gas or airfare and merch--don't let a festival break your bank by charging you $15.00 for a hot dog or bag of popcorn. Many festivals allow small ziploc bags for snacks; so if your venue allows it, make sure to pack high-protein and nutrient-rich snacks like almonds or little blocks of cheese and meat. Also, with your own food, you'll be able to avoid the long lines of people waiting to buy their own.
Download the festival app beforehand or grab a map and set schedule right when you get inside.
Trying to schedule out what sets you want to attend, where the different stages are and set times can be somewhat of a mess among all the excitement of a festival. Many festivals have apps that include venue maps, set times and other useful information, so make sure to download the app before you arrive if your festival has one--you might not have service inside the venue, so it's best to do it beforehand. Plus, if set times need to be changed or if there are any updates throughout the fest, they'll usually be posted in the app so you can keep up-to-date. If there's no app, make sure the first thing you do when getting inside the festival is grab a venue map and list of set times so you can plan out your day step-by-step, instead of just winging it. Regularly checking the festival and performing artists' social media accounts is a good idea too, in case there are changes to times or cancellations.
Don't be afraid to go it alone.
This is what I believe to be my most valuable tip: don't be afraid to attend a music festival by yourself! Do you really want to sacrifice seeing your favorite artists and having an amazing time simply because you can't find anyone to go with? I know many people think going alone would be less fun or awkward, but that's truly not the case. I've gone to several music festivals by myself, and I honestly had an incredible time at each one. Going with friends can be really fun and a great bonding experience, of course, but spending quality alone time is just as valuable and you'll be able to see music artists you love. Going alone also means you can spend your day doing exactly what you want, and not having to be dragged along with friends begging you to come with them to sets or leaving early because they're tired. It also gives you an awesome opportunity to make new friends with other festival goers, and bond over similar music tastes and incredible festival experiences.
These are just a few of my favorite tips and tricks to make sure your experience goes smoothly--try researching more about the festival you're attending and check FAQ's, Reddit threads or just about any other reputable source on the internet to make sure you're even more prepared.
Some hiccups are expected, and inevitable--you can't prepare for everything. So just do the best you can, and try and have the most (safe) fun possible given your environment and circumstances. Music festivals are a place to enjoy and celebrate live music of all types, no matter what artist, band, genre or crowd--so have fun seeing your favorite artists, and who knows? You might even discover a new one.
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