Attending a festival will likely leave you with a lifetime of memories but for many it can be a stressful build up, planning what to take, how to get there and worrying about where you’re going to poo. Whether you’ve been to dozens of festivals or you’re considering going to one for the first time, we’ve broken down what you need to think about before going and have created a Junglist Networks Festival Essentials Packing List just for you.
Pre-Festival Planning
- Do Your Research
Chat to anyone you know who has been before to get some tips on camping spots and things to avoid or look out for at the festival. If you don’t know anyone who’s been there before there will be plenty of forums and many festivals now have apps you can download and chat to other festival goers in the run up to the festival.
- Make a note of the Lineup & Schedule
You might be one of those carefree spirits who will wander through the festival and go where the wind takes you in which case, great, you can skip this bit. Some people want to plan every minute of their time there. Our tip is to make a note of a few of the ‘must see’ artists, their performance times and locations and spend the rest of the time just taking in the atmosphere and relaxing.
- Study the Map
Study the festival grounds layout, including stages, camping and facilities such as locations of toilets. If you’re going with friends, you may get separated (there’s always one who wanders off). Agree a meeting point or different meeting points for different zones if its over a large area, that way you can quickly find each other again if you can’t get a signal on your phone.
- Check the rules!
Take a look at the festivals website, they all have different rules, from when you can arrive, how many times you can enter and leave the site, what you can and can’t bring in with you and what will get you chucked out.
- Spending
If it’s a cashless festival, you may need to register and charge up a card, wristband or app in advance, if not, take plenty of cash and your bank card.
Tickets and Accommodation
- Tickets
This is going to sound obvious but you’ll need to get your tickets early. Some festivals sell out within hours or require pre-registration so if you have your heart set on a particular one, follow it on social media, sign up for their newsletter and be ready for when the tickets become available.
If you have an e-ticket, you might want to print it and keep it on you in case there are any issues with your phone on the day of arrival.
- Accommodation:
Some festivals are day visitors only whilst others offer a suite of overnight options from your standard tent pitch to glamping or campervans. If you (or those going with you) can stand the thought of roughing it, book nearby hotels or airbnb’s well in advance.
Make sure you consider how you’ll get to and from your hotel or rental if you have to leave your car at the festival as taxis or local busses might not be an option.
Travel
Many festivals now offer coaches either from major cities or to and from the nearest train station which can be a simple and hassle free way to arrive. Look out for these on the festival website or trips operated by local independent companies.
If you’re driving, you’ll likely need to have paid for a parking pass and will need to know which car park you’re booked in, it can be a long walk to the entrance and you’ll have to carry what you’ve brought with you.
Our tips for drivers:
Large festival car parks can get muddy when everyone is leaving if it has been raining, if you don’t have a 4×4, bring some bits of wood to put under the wheels of your car in case you get stuck.
Car parks look very different when you arrive to when you leave and the 3 empty fields you walked through on the way in could be filled with cars on the way out. It’s easy to lose track of which field you’re parked in let alone what part of the field. Use Google maps to save the spot where you parked and look out for signs and key landmarks and make a note of them.
4. Getting In & Finding A Spot
You may want to bring a trolley or sledge to pull your stuff along to avoid having to make multiple trips to the car and back. This depends on how much you’ve packed and how much you can carry. If you are going to bring a trolley, make sure it has good ground clearance and suitable pneumatic tyres or you might not make it from your car to the entrance.
If the site says no bottles, don’t be too surprised if they get confiscated from you unless you hide them well…. Any banned items will be taken, we’ve even had cans of deodorant confiscated before….(see check the rules above)
If possible, arrive early to avoid long lines and get a good spot for camping. A good spot can help make your experience better. Tips for a good spot.
- Not too close to a main thoroughfare. You don’t want hundreds of festival goers walking past your tent all day and night but too far from a path makes navigating to your tent as it gets dark a real challenge.
- Not too close to the toilets – enough said.
- Enough space for you and your friends to make a little zone without being too packed in.
- The closer to the festival stages the better, reducing walking time.
- On higher ground if possible, if it rains, you’ll thank us.
- On flat ground, check the pitch for any rocks or rubble
- Have a quick scan to see who your neighbours are, you can’t always avoid pitching up next to a bunch of idiots or vice versa but its worth avoiding them if you can.
Put a marker down, maybe a flag or some bright coloured tape on your tent to help it stand out when you’re scanning the area.
5. During the Festival
- Stay Hydrated: Drink water regularly, especially in hot weather.
- Eat Regularly: Keep your energy levels up with balanced meals and snacks.
- Pace Yourself: Balance your time between activities and rest.
- Sun Protection: Apply sunscreen frequently and wear a hat and sunglasses.
- Stay Connected: Keep your phone charged and have a meeting point with friends in case you get separated.
- Respect Others: Be mindful of personal space, noise levels, and cleanliness.
- Stay Safe: Be aware of your surroundings, avoid risky behaviors, and know where the medical and security tents are located.
6. After the Festival
Clean up after yourself and leave no trace; dispose of your rubbish properly and leave the site as you found it. Not only does the cost of clearing up make festivals more expensive but you’d never forgive yourself if a baby hedgehog choked to death on those bits you left lying around.
Ensure you pack up all your items before leaving, in the aftermath of a heavy weekend of booze and limited sleep, its easy to leave behind something important. Run through your checklist before you go.
Build in time post festival to rest and recover if you can.
We’ve assumed you’ll want to be reasonably prepared and aren’t planning on rocking up with a toothbrush, a spare pair of socks and a heroic dose of psychedelics in your backpack, in which case you might not need the checklist below that we’ve prepared for you.
Key Items
- Ticket – e-tickets and physical
- Car Parking passes if applicable
- ID – May be required for entry
- Site map
- Money / Bank card
- Phone
- Rucksack / Backpack
- Waist bag / cross body bag / bum bag
Food & Drink*
- Water
- Breakfast/granola bars / Healthy snack
- Beer, ciders, wine
- Plastic cups or mugs
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Reusable coffee cup
- Any special dietary requirements
Camping Stuff (if needed)
- Sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Airbed or ground mat
- Waterproof Tent
- Padlock
Toiletries
- Toilet roll
- Wet wipes
- Hand sanitiser
- Deodorant
- Body spray/perfume
- Shampoo / Dry shampoo
- Toothbrush & Toothpaste
- Towel
- Hairbrush
- Moisturiser
- Lipstick / Lip balm
- Feminine Hygiene products (if required)
Electronics
- Phone charger / portable charger
- Torch (and spare batteries)
Clothing
- Boots, shoes, flip flops, wellies
- Underwear & plenty of spare socks
- Cap / Bucket Hat
- Laundry bags
- Comfortable Clothes: Light & breathable for day, warm layers for night.
- Jnglst T-Shirt & Hoodie
- Rain Gear: Poncho or waterproof jacket.
- Sunglasses
Health
- Personal Medication
- Sunscreen
- First Aid Kit
- Paracetamol
- Bug spray
- Ear plugs
Extras
- Camp bed
- Camping chair
- Blanket for sitting on
- Bin bags/plastic bags
- Cigarettes & Lighter / Papers if needed
*we’ve assumed you won’t be cooking yourself
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