Festival Planner

We have been to a few outdoor music festivals, but 2007 was the first year we drove eight hours to get to one and camped for five nights! We have made a list of items we’re packing for the trip this year, and some of them I wish we’d had last year. We bought a camper for this year’s trip and some camping gear and other items that are necessities. We’ve linked to online merchants where we found the best deals on our camping gear and supplies. There are a few tips on the list that may apply to outdoor music in the summer even if you’re only going for one day. Have a great summer and Rock On!

Items to Pack:

Rain Gear

• I would recommend rain gear or a poncho but not an umbrella. Umbrellas block other people’s view. We got rained on for one whole day at our music festival. I get cold easily so I froze from being wet. I got the Gander Mountain Women’s Packable Rain Jacket and Pants. I love them. There’s even a pocket for my camera so it doesn’t get wet.  I won’t leave home without it again. Brian got a rain poncho because he didn’t think he needed a full suit.
• I would not recommend taking any good shoes with you. We’ve been to some festivals in the rain and it can get really muddy.

Camping gear

• Sleeping bags and/or an air mattress if tent camping. The ground can be pretty hard after 5 nights if you’re not used to sleeping on it very often.  Depending on the climate where you are going you may not need a sleeping bag for warmth, but the extra padding comes in handy. 
• Camping chairs (the kind with drink holders in the arm rests proved to be very handy)
• Lantern
• Flashlight (especially useful in the portable toilets at night)
• Awning for your camper or a screen tent to provide protection from the sun and rain. Insects also if you have the screen tent.
• Tent – if you don’t have a camper – Make sure it is a sturdy tent that doesn’t leak.  You don’t want your only form of shelter blowing away in high winds and you don’t want to get rained on in your sleep.  Sometimes you get what you pay for. 
• Campers and RV’s may be available for rent also. Check the website for the festival you are going to. There may be ads from local places that rent campers and RV’s. Sometimes they even deliver and set them up for you.

Cooking gear and Food

• If you’re planning on cooking don’t forget your propane stove or fire ring and grate (Some festivals include meals with a VIP ticket. Be sure to check the festival website to see if you need to worry about meals)
• Bring late night munchies even if your food is included with VIP. 

Fire wood and fire ring

• Most festivals require you have a fire ring. An old tire rim works well.  Be sure to check your festival’s website for camping guidelines.  Last year Rock Fest had restrictions on fire wood being brought in due to some sort of infestation.  Be sure you’re not required to purchase fire wood at the festival.

Hygiene items

• Anti-bacterial hand wash (most festivals have porta potties so this comes in handy to keep your hands germ free
• Extra toilet paper (just in case)
• Toiletries for bathing (shampoo, soap, toothbrush, paste)
• Towels & wash cloths
• Small foldable plastic table (I used this to keep my shower items and clothes on while showering so they don’t have to set on the wet concrete floor.)
• If you hate the idea of showering in the shower house or if your festival doesn’t have showers, there is a portable shower you can get for your campsite. It comes in 2 parts, the enclosure and the water container. I haven’t tried this, but it looks like a great alternative.

First Aid kit and medications

• Be sure to pack any medications you take on a daily basis.
• We keep a first aid kit in the car and one in the camper.  You just never know…….
• We pack pain relievers, headache relief, diarrhea relief, antacids and band-aids also.

Trash bags

• If you have room to pack a trash can too then I would recommend it.  Our trash bag kept blowing away and falling on the ground.

Coolers

• Water – We have a rule for drinking alcohol in the extreme heat, after every alcoholic beverage you have to drink a bottle of water. This helps keep you from getting dehydrated.  Be sure to pack lots of water. 
• Most festivals have convenience stores where you can purchase ice, beverages and other incidentals but the prices can be a little inflated. 
• Dry ice lasts longer than regular ice.  You can place it in the bottom of your cooler wrapped in newspaper.  Do not put anything in this cooler that you don’t want frozen though.  This works well for packing food when camping for a week, especially meat.  Check out the link for more information and to find dry ice in your area.
• Even if you have VIP tickets which include your beverages, you will want to pack your own (especially water) for times when the VIP area isn’t available.

Flag, sign or balloons to identify your campsite.

• Get creative – it’s great to walk through the campgrounds and check out all the campsites !
• Festive stringed lights – there are many themes available – unless you have a generator or your festival offers electrical sites, you won’t be able to plug them in – but they look cool anyway.
• At some festivals, you could have a hard time finding your tent in the dark because the tents are so close together.  A flag that sticks up farther than the tents would be a great marker or mylar helium balloons.

Music for the camp site

• Portable radio, Ipod with docking station, laptop (We use our laptop and a set of speakers. We have a AC/DC adapter for the car so we can charge the laptop)

Generator

• We did not have a generator last year, but we are getting one for this year. It would be nice to be able to run the air conditioning and be able to have music without having to recharge batteries every couple of hours.)

Games

• Cards, board games, yard darts,

Camera

• Most outdoor festivals allow you to take pictures of the bands. Be sure to check the rules on the website for your festival to be sure they allow cameras.

Pen and Paper

• To exchange names and numbers with new friends, and to record set lists !

Sun Protection

• Hat or bandana
• Sunglasses
• SUNSCREEN (lots of sunscreen)

Sweatshirt or light jacket

• Just in case it gets chilly at night

Bug spray and/or citronella candles

• We didn’t need either of these things in Wisconsin last year, not a bug in site – If you’re going anywhere other than Wisconsin then I’d pack them.

Ear plugs

• Just in case

Extra set of car keys

• Just in case

Don’t forgot:

• Identification – Driver’s license, State ID card, Passport – You will need it to purchase alcohol.
• Tickets – Don’t leave home without these!
• Map or atlas – If you’re driving to an unfamiliar venue, be sure to take a map.
• Cash – Be sure to have some on hand.  Vendors may not take credit cards.  Some venues do have ATM machines.
  • Airline Tickets – We use Travelocity. They have a great service called Fare Watcher Plus. If you put in your destination they will email you when fares go down in price. I have used this many times and saved money on airfare.
  • Rental Car/Limo – We use Priceline
  • Hotel rooms – We use Priceline We always use the “Name your own price” feature and always get great deals. So far we haven’t had any bad experiences. If you’ve never used this feature and you have questions, please send an email to info@CantStopRockin.com and we’d be glad to share some tips on how to use this feature.
  • Be sure to leave emergency contact phone numbers with friends or family. Your cell phone may not work if you’re at a remote venue.

I hope this Festival Planner is useful to you in being prepared for your next music festival. Go have some fun, hear some great music and meet new friends! Most importantly, be sure to share your festival experience with us! If you have any suggestions to add to the list, please let us know by email or post a comment.

email info@cantstoprockin.com