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Photo credit: Krists Luhaers
If you’re reading this, you might be about to head to your first festival! This guide is here to give you the kind of advice a big sibling would, the stuff you wish you’d known beforehand. Festivals are great, but they can be a bit overwhelming at first. We’re here to help you enjoy it more, feel prepared, and get a head start on planning so you can make the most of your summer.
Before you get to the fun part, a little prep goes a long way. These tips will help you pack smarter, stay comfortable, and avoid the most common first-festival mistakes.
Do NOT let a pair of new trainers or shoes be your downfall… you will be walking miles every day. Wear your boots or trainers for at least two weeks before you arrive, or make sure you’re wearing some that you’ve had for a while. Blisters are the quickest way to ruin the vibe for any festival goer!
The walk from the car or shuttle to the campsite is a rite of passage. If your bag is too heavy to carry for twenty minutes, leave half of it behind. Festival goers who overpack usually regret it by the second gate.
Bin bags are the unsung heroes of the UK summer. Use them to line your rucksack against the rain, sit on damp grass, or bag up your muddy wellies on Monday morning. In the reality of the British weather, they are essential festival items.
Your phone battery will vanish. Signal is often patchy in a dense festival crowd, which causes your phone to work overtime to find a connection. Bring enough power to stay in touch with your group for the whole weekend.
Taking the family? Ear defenders are great, they protect little ears from the main stage volume and help kids sleep even when the party is still going on nearby.
You don't need a spa to stay healthy, but you do need a plan!
The reality of festivals often involves skipping a traditional shower. A pack of biodegradable wet wipes is a staple for festival goers. Keep hand sanitiser in your pocket for those trips to the toilets.
It sounds simple, but many people forget. Carrying a reusable bottle is one of the best music festival tips for staying upright and energised. Most sites provide free water refill stations.
Festival food is delicious, but the prices and the queues can be long! Having nuts, protein bars, or other snacks in your bag helps you avoid a "hangry" meltdown in the middle of a festival crowd.
The sun might be out at midday, but the temperature drops significantly at night. Always have a warm layer ready in your tent or tied around your waist.
You are always much happier when you’ve slept. An inflatable mat or air mattress and a pillow from your own bed make a world of difference!
Finding your way around can be a challenge once the sun goes down or the crowds thicken.
Do not rely on the signal. Pick a distinct, permanent spot as your "emergency" meet up. If you lose your group in the festival crowd, you should all know to meet there at a specific time.
Apps often fail when thousands of people try to use them at once. Save a photo of the stage times and the site map to your camera roll so you can access them without any data.
Coming back to a sea of 5,000 identical green tents is a nightmare. A tall, unique flag or battery-powered fairy lights on your tent pole will guide you home in the dark.
The best festival tips often involve the smaller stages. Don't spend the whole time at the front of the biggest stage. Explore the woodlands, the comedy tents, and the late-night acoustic sets.
The most important tip of all: don't pay more than you have to. If you work in the healthcare sector, as a teacher, or for a not-for-profit/charity, you are likely eligible for free and heavily discounted tickets. We work with festivals across the UK to make sure our members get to experience the magic for less.
You can browse the latest festival tickets on Tickets for Good here, and sign up for free today!
Enjoy every second of your first festival experience. The UK festival scene is like nowhere else on earth, and as long as you have your bin bags, your power bank, and your TFG membership, you are ready for anything!