There’s nothing quite like festival season. The excitement of seeing your favourite artists, discovering new bands and spending a weekend surrounded by fellow music lovers is hard to beat.
Unfortunately, festivals also come with a few challenges, including surprise rainstorms, questionable toilet queues and the occasional struggle to remember where you pitched your tent.
Whether you’re a seasoned festival veteran or preparing for your first event, this survival guide will help you make the most of your weekend without losing your sanity.
Accept that the weather has its own plans
If you’re attending a British music festival, there is one rule you should always remember: never trust the weather forecast.
A forecast promising sunshine can quickly turn into a muddy adventure worthy of a wildlife documentary. Pack for every possible weather condition, including sunglasses, waterproofs and a warm jumper. It may seem excessive until you’re wearing all three at the same time.
Wear comfortable footwear
Festivals are not the place to break in a new pair of shoes.
You will spend hours walking between stages, food stalls and campsites, often across uneven ground. Choose comfort over fashion whenever possible. Nobody wants to spend the weekend limping between performances because their trendy trainers turned out to be instruments of torture.
If rain is expected, wellies remain one of the greatest inventions in human history.
Learn the art of packing wisely
Many first-time festival-goers make one crucial mistake: bringing absolutely everything they own.
The reality is that you’ll be carrying your belongings across a field that always seems much larger than it looked online. Pack the essentials and leave unnecessary items at home.
Your future self will thank you when you’re not dragging three bags, a camping chair and a giant inflatable flamingo across half a county.
Stay hydrated
Between dancing, walking and singing along to every chorus, it’s easy to forget to drink enough water.
Hydration is one of the simplest ways to keep your energy levels up throughout the weekend. Besides, nobody wants to miss a headline set because they spent the afternoon feeling exhausted.
Water may not be as exciting as other festival beverages, but it performs a valuable service.
Don’t rely entirely on your phone
Festival batteries seem to drain twice as fast as normal batteries. Scientists have yet to explain this phenomenon.
Bring a portable charger and agree on meeting points with your friends in case your phone dies. Trying to locate someone in a crowd of thousands without a backup plan is an adventure few people enjoy.
The giant burger stand and the colourful flagpole often become surprisingly important landmarks.
Explore beyond the main stage
It’s tempting to spend the entire weekend waiting for the biggest acts, but some of the best festival memories come from discovering artists you’ve never heard before.
Wander into smaller tents, check out early afternoon performances and give unfamiliar bands a chance. You might just find your new favourite artist before everyone else does.
Plus, you’ll have excellent bragging rights later.
Master campsite etiquette
Your campsite neighbours can become your best friends or your worst enemies.
Be friendly, share supplies when possible and avoid playing loud music outside your tent at six o’clock in the morning. Not everyone appreciates being woken by an enthusiastic rendition of a dance anthem after three hours of sleep.
A little courtesy goes a long way.
Prepare for festival food prices
Festival food is delicious, but your wallet may have a different opinion.
It’s a good idea to budget for meals before you arrive. While treating yourself is part of the experience, it’s wise to remember that buying gourmet burgers, loaded chips and artisan doughnuts several times a day can quickly become an expensive hobby.
That said, resisting the smell of fresh pizza after a long day is practically impossible.
Embrace the unexpected
No festival ever goes exactly according to plan.
You might get caught in a rainstorm, lose a tent peg, take a wrong turn or discover a brilliant band by accident. Often, these unexpected moments become the stories you remember most.
The key is to stay flexible and enjoy the experience, even when things get a little chaotic.
Take care of yourself
Festivals are marathons, not sprints.
Get some sleep when you can, eat properly and give yourself occasional breaks from the crowds. It’s much easier to enjoy the final day when you’re not running entirely on caffeine and determination.
Your favourite artists sound much better when you’re awake enough to appreciate them.
Music festivals are about far more than just the line-up. They’re about unforgettable performances, meeting new people, making memories and occasionally finding yourself ankle-deep in mud while singing along to a song you love.
With a bit of preparation, a sense of humour and a willingness to embrace the unexpected, you’ll be ready for whatever festival season throws at you.
Just remember one final rule: always know where your tent is. Trust us on that one.
