Festival Survival Guide 2016

Festivals can be life-changing experiences.

Kick back for a few magical days, enjoy some of the finest acts on the planet in a picturesque setting and forget about the toils and troubles of the real world.

However, forget one or two essential items and this utopian bliss can swiftly turn into a living nightmare! Worse, if Mother Nature has her wicked way and turns the festival site into something resembling The Somme you could even be packing your mud-encrusted bags up and heading home early.

But fret ye not! We’ve compiled a handy guide to the essential items you need to survive the festival season.

Check this list before you leave your house!

SLEEPING

A good sized tent It’s a fallacy that ‘two man tents’ are big enough for two fully grown men or women with backpacks, drinks and other festival essentials. So unless you want to be chewing your tent-mate’s elbows every night, buy a tent that’s plenty big enough.

Tent pegs and poles Before you set off make sure you’ve got enough pegs to erect a nice taught abode for the weekend - the last thing you need is a pathetic sagging tent during a lashing downpour! Double check that you’ve got all your poles too!

Gazebos If you’re allowed to bring them onsite gazebos are a godsend! Not only a great place to chillaxe with friends, they provide shelter from the rain and, if you’re very lucky, shade from the sun.

Torch Great if you need to find something at night in your tent, torches are also an essential for negotiating the matrix of intertwined tent guide ropes during night-time toilet runs.

Camping Chair Whether it’s thanks to rain or dew, the ground around your tent can often be a soggy quagmire. Unless you’re happy sloshing around in mud, a chair of some sort (a stool, blow-up sofa or camping chair) to rest your weary legs is a must.

Air Bed Most people take simple foam camping mats but these do little to cushion that pointed rock you’ve expertly positioned your tent on. Take an air bed - your festival experience will never be the same again.

Warm Sleeping Bag It can get surprisingly cold in your tent at night, especially if you’re damp from the day before. Pack a nice thick, warm sleeping bag to keep those chills at bay.

KEEPING CLEAN AND HEALTHY

Toilet Roll Toilet facilities at the vast majority of festivals leave a lot to be desired. Make sure you NEVER leave your tent without at least a handful of toilet roll; you really don’t want to be caught short.

Hand Sanitizer Use hand sanitizer before and after you use the toilet to prevent the spread of germs. The very last thing you need at a festival is a stomach upset!

Wet Wipes With queues for showers snaking for miles often the only option is to have a wet wipes wash. Take at least three packs and use them copiously.

Dry Shampoo Unless you want to rock the ‘hair soaked in chip fat’ look for the entire weekend, treat your greasy mane to a dry shampoo.

Bin Bags An essential item if you want to keep your living area habitable! Great for rubbish, empty beer cans, muddy clothes and they can also double as a ground mat!

A Travel Mirror Mirrors don’t actually exist on festival sites, so take a pocket-sized mirror for all your makeup needs and for keeping an eye on spots and dirt that’s accumulated on your grimy face.

Sun Lotion Packing sun lotion may feel like you’re tempting fate but take some anyway - unless you want to look like a lobster all weekend.

Medication Remember to take all your prescription drugs with you and if you’re a hay fever sufferer pack some antihistamines. Headache tablets are also a must for your hangovers!

CLOTHES

Wellies Arguably the most important item of clothing to take to a festival! In adverse weather conditions stalls on site usually sell out of wellies very quickly so be prepared and take a pair with you!

Suitable Clothing Pack clothes to suit all weather conditions! Even if it’s baking hot during the day it can get icy cold at night so warm clothes are a must. There’s also a chance your clothes will get dirty, wet, burnt or ripped so don’t bring gleaming new or expensive clothes.

Sunglasses Not just a fashion accessory, shades are crucial to avoid squinting all weekend. At Glastonbury revellers at The Pyramid Stage face the sun all day so shades help you to actually see the bands and avoid a sun-induced headache.

Waterproofs Take a waterproof jacket and if you’re especially cautious some waterproof pants. Even on sunny days, carry an emergency ‘cag in a bag’ around with you in case there’s a sudden downpour. Importantly make sure your ‘waterproofs’ are in fact waterproof and not splash proof – there’s a massive difference!

Thick Socks Wellington Boot chafage is one of the most common ailments at muddy festivals. Circumnavigate this problem by wearing extra-long, extra-thick socks.

Decent sized bag At most festivals your tent can be a long arduous walk back from the live arenas. You don’t really want to be trekking back several times a day so take a small backpack or extra large handbag to hold all your daily essentials.

Hats Another multi-purpose festival item, hats hide greasy, straggly hair and also provide a great sunshade.

Umbrella Admittedly, umbrellas are definitely not ideal when you’re in the throng of the live action as they block fellow revellers’ views and run the risk of poking someone’s eyes out. They are extremely handy for milling around the camping area though.

EATING AND DRINKING

Food basics

Food basics are vital to help you keep those all important energy levels up! Cereal, biscuit bars and fruit are all great for a quick snack between meals. There will be plenty of stalls on site serving food but be aware that they can be quite pricey. If the festival allows it onsite, basic camping cooking equipment can be handy to rustle up a quick breakfast to get your day started. Tinned food is usually more practical and safer than fresh meat.

Cool bags Depending on how much grub you’re planning to take to a festival, cool bags will help keep your food fresher for longer. In a baking hot tent, however, cool bags don’t stay too cool for long!

Water If you’re drinking a lot of alcohol, it’s important to stay hydrated with plenty of water throughout the day and night! Make sure you always have some water in your tent and regularly top up at water points throughout the weekend.

Alcohol Festivals have varying rules when it comes to alcohol, but the vast majority do allow you to bring it onto the camping site at least. Cans and plastic containers are generally ok but glass is a definite no – the usual rule is that all alcohol in glass bottles must be decantered or risk being confiscated at the gate. Remember to always check the festival’s rules on alcohol before you leave! Drink wisely too! It’s very easy to get dehydrated when drinking especially if the weather’s hot.

Plastic Cups An oft overlooked item, these are always extremely useful if you’re having a cup of tea or alcoholic beverage around the camping area with friends.

OTHER ESSENTIALS AND TIPS

Money Only draw out what you think you need for the weekend and don’t carry around exorbitant amounts of cash! It’s easy to misplace your wallet or purse, especially after a couple of drinks! Don’t leave money in your tent too, as thefts sadly happen at festivals. Most festivals have cash machines on site but be aware that there are sometimes lengthy queues and withdrawals are often subject to a nominal transaction fee.

Mobile phone Many festivals have charging points but these are usually very high in demand and at peak times it’s possible to be waiting hours. If you have a spare battery, you might be able to eek your phone out for the entire week or alternatively bring along your old battered spare handset and swap SIM cards.

Camera Taking photos with your phone will sap its battery. Fast. If you’ve got a digital camera, take it with you for those all-important daft photos.

Can you think of anything we’ve missed off?! Post them in the comments section below.