With summer getting closer and closer, festivals are starting to warm up their rigs, artists are practising their acts and you should be preparing your mind and body for multiple days of raving.
Knowing what to take to a festival is a concern for many, so Big Creative Education has put together a festival essentials checklist of everything you need to help you on your way. This includes what to take, what to do and what not to do, plus important extras to make sure you have the best time possible.
So, if you’re thinking of heading to a UK festival this summer, whether that’s Glastonbury, Wireless, Reading, Bestival or Boomtown, then this is the list for you.
Grab your sunnies, dust off your raving trainers and get ready to party. Here’s all you need to know…
What festival essentials do I need to bring?
Tickets
There’s nothing worse than trekking halfway across the country, queuing for hours and getting to the ticket gate, before remembering you’ve left it at home. That sinking feeling of dread will overwhelm you as the security guard says “No ticket, no entry.”
Although we’re in the 21st century and most festival organisers will send you an e-ticket, which you can access through your email on your phone, it’s always advised to have a printed version handy. According to our Music Events Management students, it is absolutely essential that you also print your tickets, because what happens if your phone runs out of battery or you accidentally delete the email?
Always have a backup ticket! Print a copy or email your booking confirmation to a friend, just in case.
It’s also worth knowing that, at this time of year, ticket scammers are quite active. Only purchase your ticket from approved sellers, and take the necessary steps to make sure you’ve bought a genuine one. For more information, TakeFive has written a great article on ticket fraud.
If you’re thinking of selling your tickets to mates because you can’t go anymore, always check the festival’s resale policy as these differ from festival to festival. It wouldn’t look great if your friend arrived at the festival only to be turned away.
Identification
Most UK festivals will require ID at the gates for practical reasons, so bring one. In the UK, the following forms of identification are valid:
- UK/International Passport
- Driving Licence
- Proof of age cards that include a PASS logo (such as a CitizenCard or Young Scot card)
- Un-expired EU national identity card
Money
Try your best to figure out how much you’ll need for the festival, and always make sure you’ve got a backup just in case you lose your cash or cards.
Many festivals will have cash machines dotted around the site, so you can make a withdrawal if you need to, but try not to carry too much cash on you because you never know what might happen.
Festival Essentials Checklist
Here’s a simple checklist of the most essential festival items.
- Ticket
- Water bottle
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Practical footwear
- Toilet roll
- A coat or hoody
- Waterproof jacket
- Toiletries
- Money/cards
- ID
- Portable charger
Tips for Festivals
Can I drink at a festival?
If you’re old enough to drink and you want to, festival organisers will want to see your ID before they serve you alcohol. Many festivals allow you to show your ID once to gain an over 18 wristband, so you don’t have to show it every time you go to the bar.
What do I do with my valuables?
Most festivals provide lock-ups where you can store your valuables. Some are free, others are paid. It’s a good idea to store your wallet, car keys and cash in them, just in case you’re prone to losing your things.
You can even avoid cash machine queues by going back to the lock-up to get your money for the day. Some festivals also provide e-wrist bands. You can top these up via pay points and use them to pay for things. This saves you from having to take physical cash with you.
What happens if I lose my friends?
Losing your mates at a festival is never fun. In this situation, there are a few things you can do.
Firstly, before venturing out to see your favourite acts, always organise a meeting point for you and your friends. If you lose them, obviously try and ring them, but getting a strong phone signal is often tricky in fields full of thousands of people, so make your way to the meeting point. Hopefully, your friends will do the same!
The second thing you can do is speak to a member of staff and be directed to the production office. If there is an emergency and you need to find your friends, the festival staff should be able to help you.
Thirdly, you could just roll with it! People are generally happy and friendly and usually welcome stragglers into their groups. If you can’t find your own friends, make new ones!
I think I have been spiked. What do I do?
If you think you or a friend has been spiked, don’t panic. The first thing to do is to make sure you have people around you that can support you and get you water or other aid. At the same time, seek out a medical staff member or go to the medical tent and explain the situation.
Do not worry, you will not get into any legal trouble if you tell them you think you have ingested something illegal. They are there to help you and to look after your welfare.
Festival fashion
Trying to decide what to wear for festivals is always a big question. Especially for UK festivals, when we are never sure if it’s going to rain or shine! Our advice is to be prepared for both.
In simple terms, bring essential clothing, like decent trainers, boots or wellies, some warm clothes and most importantly, a raincoat. Remember, if you want to risk it, you could always purchase extra rain gear from the festival’s shops. Most festivals will have stalls full of raincoats and wellies ready for the occasion!
We would also advise you to take a small bag or a rucksack that can hold water and valuables. Do not bring impractical footwear. High-heels in fields tend to be a nightmare. Get yourself some decent boots or trainers.
Anyway, enough talk of rain, just make sure you do a sundance before the festival and hope you’ll get plenty of use out of your sunnies!
What acts should I see at festivals?
Honestly, there is no correct answer here. You see who you want to see! To help manage your time, we suggest you get yourself a festival timetable, sit down and work out a plan. Some festivals have their own apps that allow you to create your own festival schedule.
Remember, you are there to create your own story, so be open-minded, explore new artists, genres and experiences and, most importantly, have fun!