Festival season is upon us
Festival season is upon us and if the recent scenes from Glastonbury are enough to put you off, I totally understand if you feel it is not for you.
I’m at that age now where I do festivals that don’t require me to slum it in a tent or have to pay £10 for a bottle of water. Hannah and I do attend a lot of events though. During that time we have picked up some top festival tips that will make your summer a lot easier if you intend to join in on some open-air music this year.
Here are our top 5 tips for getting the most out of your festival experience.
Read the rules
It is very important to read the rules – what are you allowed to take into the venue? What do you need to bring with you?
When you buy your tickets you’ll hopefully be sent the rules and regular updates. Sometimes you may not know the full details until the day of. (I’m looking in your direction ‘Weston Tribute Festival’, with your “not allowed to bring water and food”, and proceeds to charge £3 for a bottle!’).
The last thing you want is to have your lovingly made picnic confiscated, or your cans of gin and tonic taken because you didn’t read the terms and conditions regarding booze.
Can you bring food? Alcohol? Just water? How about camping chairs and picnic blankets? Can you get a handstamp, leave halfway through and then come back a bit later? Do you need to print the tickets out, or download them?
Be sure to check all of the rules, FAQ’s and expectations so you aren’t disappointed before you even start your day.
Learn the tunes
Since Covid and the lockdown ended, the number of concerts I have attended has really picked up. The kids have dragged me along to some very interesting venues and events. I’ve even been introduced to some of my new favourite bands. One thing that has always enhanced the experience is being able to sing along with the songs.
In the last 6 months alone I have learned the words to Beast in Black’s latest metal album, to Phil Madley’s entire collective works – as supplied by Spotify – and listened to the incredibly odd stylings of Thumpasaurus.
Later this month Han and I are off to Nottingham to attend the Splendour festival. There are loads of bands we’re looking forward to listening to, and we are working on creating a playlist to play on the drive up to get us in the mood.
Check out the whole venue
When we attended a 2-day tribute festival last summer we made sure we took the opportunity to do a ‘full recce’ of the festival space. It important to set up camp in a sensible spot – close enough to the loos, but not too close, easy to find if you go on a walk-about, and in a space where you can see the stage – which is easier if you have wandered around to work out where everything is.
Check out all of the food options rather than buying the first thing you see. Is the venue providing free water? They don’t often advertise, as they’d rather you spend out on drinks. The festival last year had stalls offering free samples and activities, which was great to pass the time during the artist set’s that we were less interested in watching.
It also makes sense to know where emergency exits are. Also make sure you can locate the first aid tent and set a meeting point in case anyone gets lost.
Festivals aren’t just about the music; make the most of your time there and check out the whole venue.
Prepare for all weathers
As a Brit I am technically impervious and therefore immune to all of the rain and wind a British summer can throw at me. Two years ago, Hannah and I were caught in a downpour the likes of which I have never seen. And then the sun came out and we had dried out by the afternoon.
What we learned from this rather wet day out was that the weather is not to be trusted, and we should always be prepared for anything.
My backpack always contains a brolly, my sunglasses, a sunhat, a microfibre towel and a spare top. We also put a groundsheet under our camp chairs, as sometimes the ground can be a bit muddy. (As a bonus, a ground sheet can also ‘mark your territory’ as people are less likely to walk through your area if you have something on the floor).
As with all things, hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
And bring a coat.
Best foot forward
Not only is it important to dress for the weather, but you also need to dress for comfort…and the loos. A festival may mean you’re tempted to wear your favourite summery outfits, but dungarees and playsuits do not lend themselves to the confined spaces offered by porta-loos.
Having your clothes on the floor of a public toilet is not a great idea at the best of times – but the ‘amenities’ at festivals are almost universally known for their lack of cleanliness. Particularly as the festival progresses. Therefore not only should you dress for the weather, you should dress for convenience…for when you use the conveniences. No-one wants to be sat half naked after peeling off an all-in-one. Skirts and jeans are the most practical options.
And while you’re being practical remember to bring some tissues and hand gel.
Sensible footwear is also a better idea that fancy open toed sandals or flip flops. If you are going to be standing for hours, particularly when in close quarters with others in Doc Martins you will want to protect your toes and ankles.
Enjoy yourself
Bonus tip – head out with the right mind set.
If you are all prepared with the above tips: you’ve checked the rules, brought what you needed, learned the tunes and dressed appropriately , there is no reason why you shouldn’t have the best time.
Remember to take into account that all of the food will be over priced. Factor that in – no point starving on principle no matter how much you begrudge paying £8 for a bag of chips. Just consider it part of the sunken cost of having a summer-time adventure and enjoy the festival.
