With Vans Warped Tour having made its return and Lollapalooza just around the corner, it feels as if we’ve returned to the nostalgic summer festival season; back to the days when we were just kids and the only thing we had to worry about was what bands were playing, and where the stages were. But for the new humans experiencing these festivals for the first time: welcome to the hottest day of the year, and musically the best day ever.
With that being said, for any first-time music festival attendees, there are three things you need to do to prepare for a music festival.
Purchase important festival essentials
Battery pack, phone charger, noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs, light backpack or fanny pack, etc. These are very important yet simple essentials that’ll make your life easier throughout the day; Phone suddenly losing battery? Festival only accepting clear bags? Need earplugs when you’re near the stage? These essentials are an absolute MUST to get through the entire day (or weekend) conveniently, comfortably, and safely.
Our favorites:
• A Mophie or Anker portable charger. Preferably 10,000mAh or higher
• Reusable water bottle. After you check to see if it’s allowed at your event, we recommend one that is plastic (they are lighter than the metal ones) and has a clip that you can attach to your bag or belt-loop.
• Earplugs: for high-quality sound protection without muffling music we recommend Loop’s Reusable Earplugs.
A small blanket or towel can also come in handy for lounging during sets.
Figure out how to get to the festival venue
Now that you have all your stuff, it’s time to discuss traveling and transportation. One suggestion (if the festival is in another city or state) is to spend the day before the festival traveling/flying to the festival destination. This way, you’ll arrive at your accommodation the night before and have some time to rest. Then, you can spend the morning traveling to the festival venue.
If you’re flying, consider arriving before noon to account for delays and baggage claim. Booking a hotel or Airbnb within walking distance of the venue can save time and eliminate rideshare chaos and cost. (We personally love the inclusive breaskfast and ease of Choice, Hilton, or Hyatt hotels)
If the venue is nearby, you should still get there early and plan accordingly. Do research on public transportation, check which route is the best to take when driving, leave early to prevent getting stuck in traffic, etc.
Some venues offer shuttles or park-and-ride options. Be sure to take advantage of those to avoid long walks or expensive parking. Apps like Citymapper or Google Maps are great for transit planning. Don’t forget to check if roads are closed for the event!
Plan out what bands you want to see and when
This is a very important strategy, as some festivals will have multiple stages even if it’s just a one-day tour. Usually, they’ll post a schedule of what time the bands are playing as well as where. With that being said, PLAN ACCORDINGLY. When arriving at the festival, take a look at any maps that show the stages and what bands are playing; or better yet, take a photo with your phone so you don’t have to keep coming back to it.
Try making a “must-see” list, a “would be nice to see” list, and a few breaks for food, merch, and hydration. Avoid trying to catch every act because festival fatigue is real. Coordinate with friends if you’re in a group, so you all know where to meet if you get separated.
Some festivals may even have an app with schedules and an interactive map and if that’s your case, download it and use it to your advantage (psst: this is also where that handy dandy battery pack mentioned earlier comes in).
Service during most festivals is often limited, take a screen shot (or even print out!) the set list if you have it ready before the event, super helpful when you’re bouncing between stages!
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All of this goes to say that music festivals for music lovers are prime examples of having the best day ever; they allow you escape for a day, and overall they’re a dream come true. And if you follow these three golden rules, you really will have the best day ever.
