I’ve been to countless music festivals in my life and I’ve also performed during many. (That’s me in the photo performing at Austin Psych Fest in 2010. Photo by Teal.)
There are a few items that have made my festival experiences as an audience member a bit easier.
I wear a small backpack or hip pouch (aka fanny pack) to carry my essentials.
1. You’ll want to drink as much water as possible.
Check the rules for the particular fest you are attending to see if they allow you to bring in empty containers for water or camel packs. Camel packs
2. Sanitizing wipes.
You never know when these might come in handy, just be sure you don’t use them on your body.
3. Intimate wipes.
These are the ones you can use on your body. I started using them when I first began touring. If you are feeling sweaty and sticky, these can be quite refreshing.
4. Hand sanitizer.
I prefer Jao Brand Hand Refresher for daily use, but I use Thieves when I’m at a festival. You don’t want to get sick and there are germs everywhere. Thieves is strong and contains essential oils, but it won’t dry out your hands like Purell.
5. Tissue.
Most of the time a port-o-potty is your only option at a festival. Bring tissue just in case the toilet paper has run out, which happens far too often.
6. A small flashlight.
When the sun goes down, you want to have the option of choosing the cleanest port-o-potty possible. At least I do! I bring a small flashlight so I can see while inside the port-o-potty. I find a place to hang the flashlight and keep it turned on while I’m in there to help me avoid as much yuck as possible. There is usually a screw or something similar, where the door is attached, that I find to hang it on.
7. Earplugs.
I definitely damaged my ears in my younger years by not wearing ear plugs. You don’t have to wear them all day, just when you want to get up close for your favorite bands. They’re also helpful when you somehow end up in front of the speakers, trying to get closer to the stage. Trust me on this.
8. Breath mints.
You never know who you are going to run into or meet at a music festival. Hopefully you have fed yourself in addition to drinking plenty of water, so your breath may be suffering by the end of the day. If I have room, I’ll also throw floss
WHAT FESTIVALS ARE YOU HEADED TO?
WHAT ARE YOUR ESSENTIAL ITEMS?
SHARE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!
May your journey be your muse,
Rachel
