Talk to me about Festivals!

[LollipopViolet]

OK, I'm 20 and never been to ANY kind of festival at all. My favourite band is Iron Maiden, and they're headlining Sonisphere in July. Me, 2 female friends and 1 of their brothers, are going.

My mate is getting the tickets for us, but I'm clueless. It's in Knebworth, that's all I know, and tbh, I'd really appreciate if you or your DC's could come and talk to me about it.

I'm talking basics, what to take, how we're going to eat, do I need PJ's or am I sleeping in grimy clothes all weekend? Everything.

Festivals 101 you could call it.

[30andLurking]

OKay, you need a tent (or share one), and small padlocks for each door/window it has. If you can make your tent distinctive with paint/chalk/flag then do so, there'll be 1000s of the damn things.
You need a sleeping bag, and sleeping mat/lilo. If you're travelling to the site by car and stuff isnt' too much of an issue a pillow is lovely.
Clothes-wise take things that look okay layered over each other - dress over jeans/leggings/hoody over cool top etc as the temperature can be anything from freezing to boiling. For sleeping I'd ideally take soemthing like cropped trackie bottoms - cosy and decent, but not so long they'll drag in mud/wet grass/skanky loo floors. Ear plugs as it'll be noisy.
Take wet wipes of both the face and bottom kind! And spray on deodorant and dry shampoo, and you might be able to survive without too many visits to scary festival showers. Anti bac hand gel is good if you're a clean freak.
Accept that your make up will never really come off, and that smudgy smoky eyes are a good thing.
Take more cash than you expect, and a small safe bag for keeping it on your person - ideally something you can dance/mosh wearing, such as a cross-body shoulder bag with a zip, that you can also put a hoody etc in.
Food at festivals is generally pretty good from the vans, but expensive. Things that don't need cooking like cereal bars, orange juice cartons, fruit etc v. good to have in your tent. If you're allowed booze in the campsite then take it (wine in boxes, premixed/beer cans etc, no glass) to save money as you get ready each evening. Drink plenty of water during the day so you don't ruin yourself too early.
If any of you have a solar phone charger they can be genius - I have one called a powermonkey, so you can charge your phones up in the mornings.
Check the weather forecast and if there's even the slightest chance of rain take wellies, a pac'mac or cagoule, and waterproof trousers so you can keep partying through no matter how muddy it gets. Otherwise trainers/flat boots best for yomping around site.
Take nothing you really love or can't replace.
Dance like nobody's looking.
Have fun!

[mogie]

I don't mean to counter what you've said - most of it was fantastic.

Just a word of warning re bringing padlocks for your tent. I wouldn't at all, potential thieves will simply slah your tent open if it looks like there is something valuable in there, which is what you're saying when you padlock it.

Some festivals don't allow spray on deodrant/dry shampoo as people chuck them on fires, so be aware of that. When I went to Reading last year, I didn't actually use my dry shampoo as my hair was so knotty by the second day I would have never been abe to shake it out! That said, they didn't actally check our bags for aerosols.

On the last night of the festival, be aware that people who are drunk/stoned/haven't slept in 72 hours make massive bonfires and chuck EVERYTHING on it, including tents etc. These are scary and dangerous, esepcially if they chuck bottles and aresols on the flames which can explode and seriously hurt you.

Whether it's rain forcast or not, take a windbreaker! Reading was freezing and windy last year, and though it didn't rain my mac was my best friend.

Overall, have a good time! It was the best weekend of my life and the people we happened to camp next to have ended up some of my closest friends, and made wicked campfires to keep us warm So jealous!

Ps forget showers, not worth it and makes your hair wet therefore cold. Seexyyyyy

[bethjeff]

Be aware that at most festivals there are 'quiet' fields as well... so it's not all hellraising and fire if you go a bit farther from the main stages.
It means that you might be able to actually SLEEP off the night before without someone tumbling onto your tent in a stupor.

I learned that the hard way... I like my sleep I do lol.