How to Survive a Music Festival
Imagine that your favorite band is finally visiting your country and is going to perform at a music festival. Exciting? You bet! So you rush to the ticket office (or online) and get the ticket for the day when they are performing. Congrats, now you are going to a music festival. It is a huge event with lots of people that usually takes place outside the city. Very unlike a classical concert. You will definitely enjoy it, but there are some nuances to take into account if you want to avoid disappointment.
Arrange your Accommodation
Very often a music festival takes place outside the city. This means that you have two options: to book a place in the city or to stay in the festival area.
The first one is not always easy: the prices are high during the festival period and it’s often difficult to get back to the city either because there is no shuttle or because you want to drink and so can’t drive afterwards. If you still decide to go for this option, make sure that you do the booking at least 2-3 months in advance.
In case you decide to stay in the festival area, bring all the necessary equipment with you: a tent, a sleeping bag, and a mat. Sometimes, like in the case of VOLT festival in Hungary, you can rent a tent from the organizers. It’s better to arrive at the camping area in advance to find a place for your tent. The system works on a first come, first serve principle, so if you’re late, you might be left without a place.
Dress Properly
Music festival equals alcohol. There’s no getting away from this. So be ready for people spilling beer on you, at least once. Make sure that your clothes are ready for it, i.e. wear something old. Also, take a light sweater with you, even if it is summer. Night air can be pretty chilly, even if you don’t notice it after all the screaming and jumping during your favorite band’s performance.
Think about Hygiene
There surely will be toilets on the festival territory, but who said that they will be clean and have toilet paper? Sounds horrible, I know. But make sure that you have paper tissues and wet napkins with you. If you are staying in the camping area with a tent, check if there are showers. If there are, a towel and a shower gel would be a nice addition to your baggage!
Mind your Belongings
You don’t want to be robbed, right? Then make sure that all your valuable belongings are either at home or in a secured locker provided by the organizers. Check if there is a 24-hours surveillance on the locker area before leaving your things there. As simple as that!
Some festivals also provide internal payment system, which allows you to avoid carrying money and credit cards with you. In this case, you buy a contactless card from the organizers, top it and use it in all the shops and bars on the festival territory instead of classic payment methods. Quite convenient!
Stay in a Group
It is a sad but necessary rule, especially if you are a girl. Festival mood is a happy mood, but even there you can meet people who are seeking conflict or are simply too drunk and therefore grubby. So just be aware of your surroundings and stay close to your friends in case you need a hand in escaping an unpleasant situation.
