It's finally summer!
And those who are fans of pop punk, metalcore, hardcore and other related genres know what summer means. It means it's Warped Season!
The Vans Warped Tour is a traveling music festival that tours the United states every summer ever since 1995. Created by Kevin Lyman, Warped Tour is also the longest-running touring festival in the United states.
With around 40 tour dates every summer, many fans flock to venues to enjoy this day-long party rain or shine. I've attended this crazy party for four years now and I've made all the mistakes you can on a day at Warped. Saying that it is all day, it benefits to go into your tour date with a plan -- especially if it's your first time attending the tour. And if it is -- welcome to the Warped Family! Enjoy your stay!
1. Make sure your phone is charged.
Though most Warped dates have designated charging stations, most times those areas will be busy and almost impossible to be utilized by everyone. Most of the extra resources that Warped provides for attendees also close before the show closes, so it's better to come with a full charge for pictures and contacting your friends. To be on the safe side, it's also good to bring a backup battery.
2. Know what stages your favorite bands are playing on.
This information is typically released before hand so people can start making plans. It's better to write down what bands you want to see and what stages they are going to play and have that list with you when you arrive. When you arrive, there will be a giant blow-up list of set times, so that's why it's better to know what stages to look for.
3. Bring canned food to skip the line.
There has always been the opportunity to every tour date to skip the line if you bring three canned food items to the gate. As the tour rarely ever sells out at a date, there is still thousands of people in attendance. The "skip the line" line is usually long, but it's a lot shorter than the general admission line. Bring in the non-perishables and you get a wristband that lets you in earlier than everyone else. You can also donate money to that summer's designated charity or old cellphones (sometimes).
4. Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Sunscreen.
Even on the gloomiest of Warped days, you will manage to get a sunburn. And it will be the most painful sunburn you will ever have. There is not a lot of cover from the sun at the venues that typically host the show. There is a lot of open area, not many trees and a lot of concrete that just bounces that heat and sun back onto you. Sunscreen will save your life -- better make it sweat proof too!
5. Only pack cash.
Even though most merch booths have credit capabilities, there have been times where people get double charged and phones or card readers die and break. Cash makes transactions quick, safe and easy. Also, if you lose your wallet and you only lose cash-- yeah, that sucks but you're not losing your bank cards.
6. If you're meeting a band, be aware of those times and requirements.
Most times, bigger bands will be meet and greet opportunities at Warped. There will likely be information on these times and locations at the band's merch booth and it's best to take a trip to all of their booths early in the day. Sometimes there will be requirements to be at the booth before a certain time for a wristband or only the first 100 people to visit the booth will get a pass to meet the band. These go very fast so after you find out set times, it's best to take a trip to your favorite band's booth.
7. Stay hydrated and dress for the weather.
Like any other music festival, the venue charges an arm and a leg for water bottles and other drinks. You are allowed to bring water bottles to the venue, as long as they are empty at your arrival. All tour dates have refueling stations that allow you to refill your water bottle with cold, purified water.
Water is only half the battle for staying hydrated. I know you want to dress cute and wear your favorite outfit, but the heat seems like it's amplified 400x more while at Warped. Dressing in light colors, light and loose fabrics will benefit you greatly.
8. Lastly, have fun!
It's a long day at Warped Tour and it's easy to get worn out when things don't go your way. Don't worry and don't let it ruin your day! Warped is the perfect place to find a new friend, a new clothing brand to love or your next music guilty pleasure! Many huge bands right now like Paramore and Fall Out Boy, and artists like Katy Perry got their starts on Warped summers, so you could easily discover the next big thing!
Interested in going? Check and see if a date is coming near you! Full lineup is available on the Vans Warped Tour website. Shows start on June 24:
