A music festival can make for a unique and unforgettable experience. In many cases, your trip to a festival can define your summer – or even an entire chapter of your life. You might never again get a chance to see this particular combination of acts on this particular weekend, after all.
To get the best from your experience as a festival-goer, it’s often a good idea to put in a little bit of planning and preparation. What, exactly, might that planning really look like?
Plan your schedule
In all but the very smallest festivals, you’ll be looking at more than one stage, with many different acts performing at the same time. This means that you’ll need to think about your schedule. Which bands do you really, really want to see? Make a list. Where there are scheduling conflicts, you’ll have a decision to make!
If you want to be really thorough, then you can plan every day from minute to minute. Just bear in mind how long it might take you to walk from one stage to the next. Take a look at the grounds, and where all the stages are located.
Get your finances in order
Festivals cost money. Not only do we need to worry about the price of a ticket, but there’s also food, drink, camping and travel to think about. Do a little bit of saving in advance. You might even set up a dedicated savings account, just for the event. You don’t want to miss out on things or lose that sense of spontaneity just because money is a little bit on the tight side.
If you’re going to the festival with friends, then it might be a good idea to think about saving money by travelling together, or by splitting your costs in other ways.
Pack your essentials
What you pack matters. Especially if you’re camping. Most major festivals will subject you to security checks, which involve someone going through your bags. Make sure that everything’s accessible. What’s more, you might have to carry your belongings over large distances. So, make sure that you’re travelling as light as possible!
Transport and accommodation
Wherever you’re staying, make sure that you have the accommodation booked well in advance of your arrival. If you try to book close to the event, you might end up with a problem. When it comes to travel, it’s best to err on the side of getting there early. If you do this, then you’ll be able to enter the grounds and seek out the best camping space!
Stay updated
Most festivals will provide frequent updates via social media and email. If there are any developments you need to be aware of, this is where they will be announced. So, it’s a good idea to pay attention and turn on notifications so that you don’t miss any breaking news.
Stay safe and have fun!
A festival is a place for fun – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think about safety. Make sure that you’re hydrated, and wearing sun protection. Know your limits when it comes to alcohol, and have a buddy system in place and a meeting spot agreed upon.
