I’m a big lover of festivals… that feeling of being in a little festival bubble without a care in the world has to be one of the best! However, I know for some of you, it’s your idea of hell! As we’re now officially in Glastonbury weekend, the festival of all festivals, I thought I’d put together a little guide of tips and tricks to survive any festival that you’re attending this summer! Whether you’re dipping your toe into festival life with a day festival like SW4, heading into the sun and going abroad to a festival like Love International, or doing good old Glasto this weekend (I’m so jealous!), read on for my survival guide…
Sleeping arrangements
This has to be the first on the list; it’s the first thing that springs to mind when you think of attending a festival… how many nights can I realistically last in a tent?! If you’re opting for a day festival or two this summer, thankfully you don’t have to worry about trying to find your tent in the pitch black! If you’re doing a ‘proper’ festival, my advice would be to get a tent for double the amount of people staying in it (trust me – a pop-up tent for two is NOT meant for two adults!). Also, take a giant flag with you so you can quickly identify your tent amongst the thousands of others. If camping really isn’t for you then why not try glamping – I think that’s going to be my choice next year, a tent is less appealing the older I get! Happy camping!
Outfits
For those of you going overseas to get your festival fix – you’ve got it easy! Wardrobes for a festival in the sun like Hideout Festival consist of bikinis, swimsuits and denim shorts for us girls… simple! But those of us who choose to stay on home soil have a more challenging time trying to pack for all types of weather in one small bag. My advice would be LAYERS! Pack outfits for a weekend full of sunshine but also chuck in some macs, jumpers and wellies so you can edit the outfit when it inevitably pours with rain! To me, a festival isn’t a festival without some rain so embrace it! You can’t go wrong with denim shorts, flowy dresses and of course lots of glitter!
Hygiene
For the festival virgins out there, this is probably a big one! The idea of a festival often brings up images of dirty toilets, no showers and lots of mud… mainly all true, but it’s usually not as bad as you think. If you’re a day festival goer, as long as you’ve got a pack of tissues and some hand sanitiser you’re good to go! For those of us who prefer a weekend of festival fun the shopping list is slightly longer; my festival must-haves when camping have to be a portable shower (lifesaver!!), baby wipes (pack more than you think you’ll need!), toilet roll and dry shampoo! A lot of festivals now have hair and makeup salons – I got a blow dry at Glastonbury a few years ago, and it was the best decision ever!
Friends
Festivals can be a strain on friendships and relationships alike! When you’ve been drinking day and night, sleeping in a tent and walking for miles for a good 3 or 4 days, tensions can run high. My advice would be to make sure you pick a group to go with that you know you can put up with for more than a day – no moaners! A meeting point is a MUST – phone reception doesn’t exist in the middle of a festival field, and make sure you’re always with at least one of your friends, so you don’t have to spend half a day wandering around on your own! If you’re there for the music, be prepared to split up for some parts of the weekend so you can see the acts you want to see. Festivals provide some of the most fun weekends in peoples lives, so most of all enjoy and prepare to make some fantastic memories!
So that’s my survival guide for a summer of festivals. What’s your biggest festival survival tip? Or even better, what’s been your biggest festival mishap over the years? If you’re at Glastonbury this weekend – ENJOY… and whatever other festivals you’re attending this year, stay safe and have the best time!
