The Ultimate Girl’s Guide To Packing For a Music Festival
After attending my very first music festival not too long ago, I realized how hectic it can get to try to pack for one of these things. So, I did some thinking to come up with the ultimate girl’s guide to packing for a music festival in an easy and organized manner.
What should I bring to a music festival? While packing for a music festival, you should bring everything that you would need for a normal vacation as far as personal hygiene items and electronics. Your outfits and makeup for each day should be packed as well, with some additional items that will depend on whether or not you will be camping.
Music festivals have been a popular epidemic for several years, with thousands of people traveling to a certain location to hear live music, dance, and party. When it comes to traveling for one of these events, the packing part of it can get tricky.
As women especially, we always feel the need to bring everything that we own with us during our travels. To make this process a lot easier, I put together this helpful guide so that nothing is left out on your next music festival trip. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know from beginning to end about packing for a music festival.
How To Prepare For a Music Festival
Attending your first music festival is definitely an exciting milestone. There are so many different types of music festivals all over the world that are enjoyed by millions of people. These kinds of events have a very loyal fan base, and for good reason too.
When you are preparing to go to a music festival, there are some additional factors that should be considered, apart from just going on a normal vacation. In this section, we will be covering all of the bases that are required in order to effectively prepare for your music festival adventures.
Take a look at the list below for a quick run-through on everything you need to do in order to prepare for a music festival.
How To Prepare For a Music Festival:
- Look into the festival/location
- Research the weather for your travel dates
- Make a list of things you need
- Determine all of your accommodations (flights, hotels, campsites, etc.)
- Make a schedule
- Find tips and ideas for packing/outfits
- Get advice from other music festival fans on social media
First and foremost, you will need to look into the festival that you have chosen as well as the location where it will be held. This is a very important step and will help you to get acquainted with the area you will be traveling to.
In addition to just becoming familiar with the area, you should be aware of what the weather will be during your time of travel. If there is a small chance of rain, you can account for that in your packing list. On the other hand, if the temperatures will be hot the entire time, you can pack accordingly for that as well.
Knowing exactly what to expect as far as the weather will help you to plan your outfits and the additional supplies that you will need throughout the duration of your trip. Make a detailed list of everything that you need from beginning to end.
In order to make an effective packing list without missing any steps, you should think about every stage of your travel, from the time you step on the flight to when you come back home. If you are stuck on your packing list, keep reading to the next section for some helpful tips.
Once you have gotten a better idea of what you need for your trip, you will be able to determine all of your accommodations. This would be the time to find your plane tickets and your hotel room, or find out where you will be camping if you choose to go that route instead.
While attending a music festival, especially for the first time, it helps a lot to have a set and organized schedule that will let you know exactly what you are doing throughout the whole trip. This way, you will be able to map out all of your activities without forgetting anything along the way.
Now that all of the stressful planning is out of the way, the fun part of music festival preparations will begin. You can find tips online for putting together a festival outfit, and you can even make some of your own pieces for a more custom look.
Along with outfit and travel tips, you can find a lot of helpful advice from people who frequent music festivals. You can start or join a conversation on social media with the community by researching hashtags or relevant search queries.
When you are trying something new for the first time, it is always beneficial to have your questions answered by someone who knows what they are talking about. Luckily for you, the music festival community is very welcoming and can offer you a lot of assistance when you ask them to.
What To Pack For a Music Festival
Now that you have learned the process that you can go through in order to prepare for a music festival in general, you might have noticed that one small detail was left out of the last section: the packing list.
This part of the process can get very confusing, especially if you have no experience in the world of music festivals. On the other hand, you might regularly attend these events but you have the desire to pack lighter or get more organized.
Either way, this section will help you out with all of your music festival packing needs. Take a look at the lists down below, along with the explanations of everything that you need to have a successful trip.
Personal Hygiene Items:
- Travel sized lotion
- Travel sized razor
- Travel sized deodorant
- Travel sized soaps/shampoos
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Caffeine pills/energy drinks
- Sunscreen
- Over the counter pain relievers
- Stomach medication
- Vitamin supplements
- Hair brush
- Hair clips/rubber bands
- Tampons/pads (if needed)
The first things that you need to pack for your music festival adventure are personal hygiene items. You wouldn’t go on a normal vacation without bringing some soap and a toothbrush, and a music festival trip is no different.
As with any kind of trip, it is best to find some travel sized items to bring with you in order to save room in your bags. The travel sized bottles that you should look for while you are shopping for your trip include lotion, deodorant, shower soaps, and shampoos.
Additionally, you will want to find a travel sized razor and a small toothbrush with toothpaste. Most travel sized toothbrushes will come in their own protective cases, which is helpful to keep them clean while you are moving around.
Next, you will need something to keep you awake throughout all of the partying that goes into attending a music festival. This can be achieved by packing a few caffeine pills or energy drinks that will last you throughout your entire stay.
Since music festivals usually take place outdoors around the spring and summer months, you won’t want to forget to bring your sunscreen. This can also be found in a travel sized container, or you can opt for the full sized spray can to ensure that you don’t run out before you leave.
The last thing that you would want to do is be outside with the sun shining on you all day, with no protection for your skin. Not only will you get an ugly sunburn, but you can also put yourself at risk for larger issues in the future if you do so frequently.
When you are away from home at a music festival, you should make sure that you have a few things with you in case you get sick or something goes wrong. First of all, you should always bring some kind of over the counter pain reliever such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
Music festivals are notorious for playing loud music all throughout the festival grounds, and this can get tiring after some time, especially when you are standing around in the sun. With this recipe for headaches, it never hurts to come prepared with some pain relievers for headaches, cramps, or other ailments.
If you are feeling nauseous from your flight or from dancing too much during the festival, it would help to have some kind of medication for your stomach, such as Tums or another over the counter tablet for relief in this aspect.
Whether you are at a music festival or not, it is always beneficial to take your vitamin supplements in order to stay healthy. When you are around so many people for an extended period of time, you have a higher risk of becoming sick.
However, if you use vitamins as a protection for your body before you even come in contact with any germs, you will have a much better festival experience. The best vitamins that you can bring to a festival are vitamin C and magnesium.
You will also need your hair brush as well as some kind of rubber bands or hair clips. If you are planning a special style for your hair, you should bring everything that you need for that look as well.
When it comes to traveling far away from home, you never know when your period might decide to show up. It is always good to be prepared with some extra tampons or pads, and even if you know you won’t need them, someone else will!
Clothing And Shoes:
- Wallking shoes/sneakers
- Flip flops
- Nice sandals
- Rain boots
- Socks
- Shorts
- Leggings
- Hats
- Tank tops
- Light layers
- T-shirt (for sleeping)
- Swimming suit
- Sunglasses
- Underwear
- Bras/sports bras
- Rain coat
- Backpack
- Jewelry
- Crossbody bag
- Reusable water bottle
- Garbage bag (for dirty clothes)
The bulk of your festival packing list will consist of your clothing. These types of events are known for detailed and colorful outfits, so you will need to come prepared with what you are wearing.
One of the most important things on the list is a good pair of walking shoes or comfortable sneakers. When you are putting together your outfit ensembles, you should always keep comfort in mind, since you will be on your feet for most of the day and night.
Flip flops or slide sandals will help when you are sleeping or when you shower, especially if you are camping at the festival. The nice sandals will come into play when you want to put together a nice outfit, for example if you will be going out to a nearby restaurant during one of the festival days.
The other clothing items on the list are pretty self explanatory, it it just helpful to go through all of them one by one to make sure that you do not forget any pieces of your outfits.
Aside from the actual clothing and shoes that you will be wearing, you should have some kind of crossbody bag or even a fanny pack that can be used to carry all of your personal items.
A reusable water bottle is always a necessity for any music festival experience. Although it does not really qualify as a clothing item, you can find an attachment to hook the bottle onto your belt loop or bag.
You should always have your water bottle with you, frequently drinking it and refilling it as needed. With being outside, you never want to get dehydrated or suffer any kind of medical episode.
Finally, you should bring an empty garbage bag to hold all of your dirty clothes throughout the duration of the festival. Instead of throwing them into the corner of your hotel room or tent and potentially losing or damaging some of the pieces, you can keep them all in one place that will be easy to transport when it is all over.
Electronics:
- Camera and charger
- Smartphone (in a case)
- Phone charger/portable charger
The electronics that you will need for a successful music festival trip, of course, include a camera and a charger. When you are experiencing something new like this, you will thank yourself for capturing all of your memories in a series of photographs.
Your smartphone can also be used for a camera if you wish to do so, but you should make sure that it is covered with a protective case. In the event that you drop it, you won’t want to have a shattered phone and broken camera.
In correlation with your smartphone, you will need to bring your phone charger. It helps a lot to have a portable charger, whether you are camping on the festival grounds or you just need some extra battery juice while you are walking around.
Other Important Items:
- ID card
- Festival ticket (bracelets)
The other important items that are necessities for music festival travel include your ID card and festival ticket. As with any situation, you will need to have your drivers license or government issued ID on your person at all times.
The festival ticket, which will come in the form of a bracelet, should be strapped onto your wrist securely and not taken off until the event has ended.
What To Bring For An International Music Festival Trip
As mentioned previously, music festivals are not limited to just the United States. In fact, there are international music festivals almost everywhere around the world. If the music festival that you are planning to visit happens to be in another country, there are a few extra items that you should bring along with you.
In addition to all of the items that were outlined in the packing list section above, you will need to add some things to your list. Take a look at the organized items below to get an idea of what these necessities are.
International Music Festival Packing List:
- Passport
- Passport holder
- Plane tickets
- Train tickets
- Hotel information
- Proof of purchase/receipts
- Emergency contact
- Copies of important documents
- International adapter
Before you can even get on a plane to another country, you will need to have a physical passport document. This should be with you at all times for identification, and kept in a safe and concealed place.
A passport holder will help you to keep all of your documents organized, and can also keep some other important papers in there as well.
Your plane tickets must be kept secure so that you can get back home after the festival has ended. If you lose your plane tickets, you won’t be able to board the plane. You will be responsible for making sure that you hold onto these important documents that will help you get from place to place.
In addition to your plane tickets, you will need to have information on the hotel you are staying at, whether you have written down the address on paper or you kept online booking receipts for proof of purchase.
For anything that you have paid for throughout your trip, you should keep receipts and confirmations in case anything goes wrong.
Emergency contact information should be written down clearly somewhere on your person. In the event that you need some kind of medical attention, the people who are helping you will know who to call.
Copies of all of these important documents should be made and kept in a secure location, in case you lose them. It also helps to send these images to your email for safer keeping.
While traveling in other countries, you will notice that the power outlets are different from what your electronic chargers fit into. As a result, you will need to bring an international adapter to ensure that your phone and camera keep their power.
Makeup For Music Festival Trips
When you are planning on attending a music festival, makeup is one of the key components to any great outfit. With this in mind, I came up with a list of makeup products that are ideal for festival travel.
The items on the list below are a general guideline for the types of makeup you will need, and it will be up to you to choose your favorite brands.
Makeup:
- Waterproof, long-wear foundation
- Concealer
- Blush/bronzer
- Skin primer
- Hair ties
- Makeup sponge
- Mascara
- Makeup brushes (for blush/bronzer)
- Makeup setting spray
For obvious reasons, you will need waterproof and long-wear foundation to last you through the whole day and night. Concealer, blush, bronzer, and skin primer will help you to achieve a bright and flawless look that will last.
A makeup sponge is needed to apply the makeup easily, and can be disposed of when you are done. The other miscellaneous makeup items to bring include mascara, brushes, hair ties, and makeup setting spray.
What Do I Need For Festival Camping?
As mentioned in the previous sections, you can choose to go camping at a music festival instead of staying in a hotel. This is a great way to stay close to the festival grounds and be a part of the action throughout the whole duration of your trip.
Along with the necessities that were outlined before, you will need to add some of the extra items that are listed down below.
Festival Camping Essentials List:
- Tent
- Shade
- Rope
- Stakes
- Mallet
- Tarps
- Tapestries
- Sleeping mat
- Cooler
- Hot plate
- Reusable dishes (plates, silverware, etc.)
- Chairs and portable table
- Flashlight/lantern
- Head lamp
- Garbage bags
- Wet wipes
- Dry shampoo
When you are camping at a festival, or anywhere for that matter, you will obviously need a place to sleep. This will include a tent and all of the necessary equipment to set it up, from ropes, stakes, and tarps to mallets.
To sleep, you will need a sleeping mat and any other items that you require for comfort, such as your favorite blanket and a soft pillow. Shades and tapestries can be hung around your bed or tent to provide some extra shade or privacy if you have roommates.
Coolers and hot plates can be used to store and cook food right from your tent, instead of having to go out to a restaurant or settle for pre packaged snacks. Reusable dishes are the way to go for eating in your tent, for the easiest clean up and most environmentally friendly solution.
It is helpful to have chairs to sit in around your campsite, and you can even bring a portable table for all of your friends to sit around. In the night time, you should have some kind of flashlight or lantern to keep light in your tent, as well as a headlamp for when you have to go to the bathroom away from the campsite.
Garbage bags are helpful for everything you need to throw away while camping. It is important to keep all festival grounds as clean as possible, meaning no littering!
The last items on the list apply to personal hygiene. When you are camping, you most likely will not have access to a shower. As a result, you should have some wet tips on hand as well as dry shampoo for your hair.
While this is not the most desirable option when it comes to keeping yourself clean, it will work for the time being.
To tie this up, we will be going over a few additional tips for festival camping that will help you to get the best experience. Along with following all outlined procedures, take a look at the list below for some more ideas.
Tips For Festival Camping:
- Set up your campsite before you party
- Get familiar with your surroundings
- Make sure everything works before you settle
- Hang a flag/identification item on your tent
As soon as you arrive to the campsite, you should set up your tent and secure all of your things before you go out and party. Otherwise, you will have a lot of trouble setting it up in the dark when you are tired and possibly drunk.
Get familiar with your surroundings before you leave the campsite to avoid getting lost. It helps to test all of your items to make sure that your equipment works while it is still light outside, in case you need to make other arrangements.
Finally, you should make some kind of flag or identification item to hang on the outside of your tent so that you can easily locate it when you come back.
As you can see, there are a lot of factors and components that go into packing for a music festival, but the right tips and tricks can help you get organized for the best possible experience.
The next time you are planning to go on a festival adventure, take advantage of the helpful advice that was offered in this ultimate guide for female festival packing.
