Top festival tips to prepare for this summer

With festival season well underway, thousands of Brits will be returning to fields across the country to dance, celebrate and watch their favourite bands. Following the success of Glastonbury’s return, we wanted to find out how we should be preparing for music festivals and what the best ways are to get the most out of your weekend in the fields. 

To identify what we should be mindful of when packing and prepping, we surveyed 1,000 adults on what they like and dislike the most about festivals. 

Brits biggest pet peeves of the festival season 

Our research revealed that almost half (42%) of Brits find the toilets the biggest aversion of festivals followed by losing people in the crowd and drunk punters. 
 

Commenting on the findings, Samantha Richards, festival gazebo expert at Gazeboshop said:
 
“Whether you’re attending a festival or trading at one, navigating the quirks that make festivals so special can be tricky. Having to say goodbye to flushable toilets and warm showers for four days is quite the challenge but the experience of watching your favourite band or making new friends in such a communal welcoming space is incomparable.” 

To help you prepare for your next festival, we spoke to regular festival goer Fran Cray, Account Executive at Full Fat, to get her top tips on how to survive festival season. 

Discussing how she keeps fresh at a festival, she said:

“I always carry body spray or perfume which ensures you can dance all night long knowing you are going to be smelling fresh even if covered in sweat. I always wear light clothing so I don’t trap all my body heat and lots of layers so you can get warm or strip off the further into the crowds you head.

“For my hair, I always bring a back up dry-shampoo to keep my hair looking fresh. Hot tip, bring a can of hairspray to give yourself a slick look. This can also help to get your hair out of your face and off the back of your neck to allow your body to be cooler.”

Festival tips every festival-goer needs to know 

1) Toilet tips 

Our biggest pet peeve of festival season and unfortunately the element that’s really out of our control. Whether it’s a long drop, plastic portaloo or composting toilet, they will be used by thousands of people every day and won’t exactly stay in tip top condition. 

Fran recommends you pack loo roll, biodegradable wet wipes and hand sanitisers and practise your ‘wee crouch’ at home in advance.

Toilet paper is known to run out pretty quickly at festivals and you don’t want to get caught out in your time of need. Rather than bringing a whole roll with you, packets of pocket tissues are super handy as they take up less space. 

Fran adds, “if you can pay a little extra for VIP then do it. Those toilets and facilities pack a punch in proper flushable toilets, hot showers, straightener plug-ins (yes I know!), make-up stations and more loo roll than you will ever need – not to mention the shorter queues!”

Additionally, keep a pocket-sized tube of hand sanitizer in your bum bag or pocket to use after toilet visits. Many loos will already have some but your own supply is guaranteed to keep you bacteria-free post visit. 

2) Invest in a portable charger 

Whether you’re snapping photos of your friends, filming your favourite sets or trying to regroup, it’s likely you’ll be using your phone a lot. Unfortunately, tents don’t have power sockets and despite most festivals having multiple charging tents, it’s unlikely you’ll want to queue. Investing in a portable charger is a great way to keep your phones’ battery topped up over the course of the weekend.  

If you’ve found yourself separated from your group, Fran recommends trying to avoid calling them over the phone as your friends won’t be able to hear you over the loud music. Another hack is to message rather than using Whatsapp as there are plenty of WiFi dead spots at festivals. 

As a backup, you should always arrange a ‘lost’ meeting spot for your group to reunite should anyone go astray and be unable to contact you. 

3) Wet wipes 

Four days in a field, with minimal access to showers and running water may sound like your worst nightmare, however everyone is in the same boat. Biodegradable wet wipes will become your best friend, helping you freshen up in the mornings and can help save you in some sticky portaloos. 
 

4) Reusable water bottle

Staying hydrated is an integral part of any festival experience. It helps you to fend off them deadly hangovers and minimises the risk of sun stroke.

Many festivals have water taps positioned around the site meaning you can fill up throughout the day and especially before bed at night. This will also save you from having to fork out on expensive water at food stands and bars. 

5) Be strategic with where you pitch your tent 

You’ve managed the walk from the car to the campsite, but are now faced with the challenge of where to set up camp. If you get on site early, you’re guaranteed to find a decent spot to pitch your tent and set up your folding chair. No matter where you are though it’s best to avoid the bottom of any hills. 

If there’s any heavy rainfall then the bottom of hills and any super flat land is likely to flood, putting your tent and belongings at risk of a soaking. Also it’s best to stay clear of walkways to avoid any potential damage to your tent and make sure you don’t pitch downwind of the toilets – but don’t camp too far away from them either in case of an emergency. 

Lastly, find a landmark or pack a flag to help you remember where you’ve pitched your tent and its relation to the festival site. Go for something that will be familiar to you, no matter what state you’re in! 

6) Festival packing dos and don’ts 

Knowing what to pack is no easy task, especially when you have to consider bringing a tent, gazebo and bedding. 

Fran recommends you pack an extra couple of outfits in case the weather turns typically British or if you accidentally fall over in the mud. 

She also suggests taking another pair of shoes just in case they somehow get soaking wet. Wellies or walking boots are ideal! 

Although you don’t want to pack your bag full of food, snacks such as breakfast bars and crisps are great because they can be stored at any temperature. There’s usually a wide variety of cuisines to try onsite and cooking at festivals with limited equipment can be time-consuming meaning there’s less time to watch your favourite acts.

A festival gazebo is also a great addition to your kit, especially if you’re going in a group. Stretch tents offer shelter from the elements and a communal space to hang out between acts.