I've been going to music festivals since I was 10 years old and I've
learnt a few things (the hard way). This year I'm going to Glastonbury and
Reading with my friends and as I was making lists for packing I thought I
should share some of my tips.
CAMPING
♥ If you've bought a new tent, are going
with someone who hasn't put up a tent before or you yourself are unsure it's
important you have a trial run at both putting it up and folding it away. It's
a fine art but you don't want to be faffing when there's so much to do.
♥ Make sure you have enough tent pegs,
cheaper tents often don't come with enough for all the holes and the guy ropes,
which you'll need especially if the weather's bad.
♥ Keep your guy ropes short, the longer
they are the more people will drunkenly trip over them and could rip your tent.
They’re usually adjustable, but make sure they’re taught, following the seam of
the tent.
♥ When choosing where to pitch bare in
mind that if it's forecast to be wet, don't camp at the bottom of a hill
because the water will drain into your tent. Your best bet is a slight slope
with the door facing downhill. You also don't want to pitch too near the
toilets (omg the stench) or near a water tap as the ground floods around it.
Also avoid being near a walkway as your tent will be trampled or bushes as
people piss in them.
♥ Try and camp near a flag or near a sign
so that you can find your way back when your blurry eyed and half asleep.
♥ Everyone always forgets a mallet, but
if you don't want to carry one make sure you bring a heavy shoe to bang pegs in
with.
♥ If the festival you're going to allows
fires, position your tents facing inwards around the fire pit. Remember that
tents are highly flammable, keep the fire contained with a wall made from empty
beer cans.
♥ If you bring chairs make sure you put
them in your tents when you leave, people will steal them.
HYGINE
♥ I always bring a bucket to wash my hair
in. Dip your head into a bucket of water, shampoo then tip the water back over
your head. (do this by the taps rather than your tent)
♥ Dry shampoo is fantastic, as are wipes.
You can buy all sorts of wipes from deodorant ones to 'feminine care'
ones.
♥ Toilets are bad. there's no beating
around the bush. The 'porta potty' types are vile and I would try to avoid
unless you’re ok with "Is this mud on the seat?" moments. I have
found the long drops to be the cleanest, you don't really have to touch
anything, they get flushed out daily and the're quick. If you really can't
stand the smell tie a scarf round your face and spray it with body spray before
you go in. Just don't breathe in and don't look down.
♥ I always take a loo roll with me and
packets of tissues in the day. There isn't toilet roll in toilets and they just
come in handy really. Equally bin bags are really helpful, whether it be a make
shift poncho, something to sit on or waterproofing.
GENERAL
♥ We all love clothes and festival
fashion is rad. You can really wear whatever you like, and that's the fun of
it. I feel the cold really badly so I always make sure I have layers as it get
cold really quickly in the evening, things like beanies and shirts make all the
difference. For shoes you need to think about the weather conditions, if it’s
raining all weekend wellies are the best option, but if it’s not I would
suggest something more like Dr Martin's as your feet are more supported and
won't ache as much. With wellies make sure your either wearing a sock that
comes above the wellie, tights or tucked in trousers otherwise they will cut
your legs.
♥ Read the line-up and clash finders
before you go so you don't miss a band you really want to see. Read the
booklets the give out, they often have adverts for fun things happening and
occasionally where to go for freebies.
♥ Choose which day bag you take
carefully. For me, I know if I take a big bag I will fill it with unnecessary
stuff. Also a large bag is annoying in a crowd. A small cross body bag or a bum
bag work really well. Make use of pockets in jackets as well.
♥ Read the rules. It differs from
festival to festival what you’re not allowed to take in and it's often for a
good reason. For instance Glastonbury don't allow glass bottles on site because
it causes harm to the cows who move back in after the festival.
♥ Food tends to be really expensive, so
take non-perishable food like cereal bars and biscuits to curb your hunger.
♥ Taking around plasters and paracetamol
will save you at least once over the weekend.
♥ Take disposable cameras instead of your
swish camera. It won’t matter if it gets wet and the photos always look nice.
♥ Take an old phone, it'll ruin your
weekend if your iPhone gets stolen, and as there's no service generally at
large festivals you'll only really use it for emergencies.
♥ Choose which bag you pack in carefully,
the odds are you'll have to walk miles from where you get dropped of from to
your pitch. A hiking bag or a duffle bag is probably most suitable.
♥ Talk to strangers. Obviously be ‘street
smart’ but you’ll meet some wonderful people.
I hope you have a fantastic time at whatever festival you’re going to this
summer! I’ll try to post some photos of Glastonbury at the end of the month but
here are a few photos from last year’s Reading festival of me and some friends,
looking back through them has got me all excited!
us with 'Robert Smith' before the Cure hahaha
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