Planning on going to a metal festival can be a daunting task. At least, I found it a little daunting several years ago when I travelled overseas to attend a few festivals. Festivals that one can drive to are a totally different story, as the luxury of having one’s vehicle allows you to pack as much as you possibly need and can cram into a vehicle laden with fellow metalheads and coolers full of beer. If you are using a different method of transportation, such as a plane or train into another country, there are several things the unseasoned festival-goer might want to consider. I’m basing this list from my own personal experience, with what I wish I would have taken and what I would take now. I am basing my advice off of someone who will be traveling by plane and bus/train to the festival.
Most festivals have a campground. With some, you have the option of staying in a nearby town in a hotel or hostel, but that’s missing out on half of the experience of a festival.
If you own a lightweight, backpacking style tent, this is ideal. Again, the keyword is light. If you own a heavier tent, it will also work. Just be prepared to carry the extra weight and account for it in your luggage by either taking less other stuff, or paying overweight luggage fees. A wheeled duffel bag or hockey bag makes transportation of a heavier tent much easier.
Unless you plan on being completely wasted for the entire festival, you will probably want something reasonably comfortable to sleep on. A sleeping bag by itself doesn’t provide much cushioning from the ground. Typical air mattresses might be an okay option, but they’re heavy and take up a lot of room. If you take one, make sure you have a foot pump, as you probably won’t have access to electricity. If I ever make the festival trek again, I will be investing in a lightweight, compact, backpacking mattress such as an Exped. It seems like the best option, along with a light, compressible backpacking sleeping bag and sleeping bag liner. You could always use just the liner if it gets too warm to use the full sleeping bag at night. If your mattress needs a small, battery operated pump, such as is compatible with some Expeds, make sure you pack it. Many camping mattresses are self inflating, or can be blown up by mouth.
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| Exped MegaMat. Light weight and about as comfortable as you can get. |
A backpacking stove is another option I would look at, although I can foresee that this could potentially be more hassle than it’s worth, as you can not transport the fuel on an airplane. Depending on which country your festival is in, you could pick up fuel (such as propane canisters) there, or even buy a small stove. Taking backpacking meals may or may not be an option to go with the stove. Due to regulations about transporting food items across borders, this may or may not be a viable option. Buying some food (and potentially a cheap cooler to keep it in) on the way to the festival might be the best option.
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| Hydration tablets. Add to water and cure your hangover. |
Hydration tablets or powder could be a lifesaver at festivals. Along with Advil, or a similar painkiller, and some sunglasses, they could save you from the worst of hangovers. In the heat and sun, they would not be a bad idea, hungover or not. They’re lightweight and come in small containers. All you need is a bottle of water and the majority of festivals seem to have water bottle refill stations. I would hope that the airport security would realize that they’re hydration tablets and let them go unscathed, but I guess you never know.
Sunscreen seems like a given, but is something that would be easy to forget in the midst of remembering to pack everything else. Bringing it from home might be a good idea as reading bottles and trying to figure out their contents when all of the labeling is in a language you do not speak can be interesting. On a similar note, having a cheap rain poncho is also a good idea. Garbage bags with holes cut for your head and arms work in a pinch too. If you have a good, light rain jacket and are responsible enough not to wreck it when enjoying the festivities, bring it along.
Remember to pack enough clothes to last the entire weekend without having to wash anything. You’re probably going to want to plan to bring shirts, bottoms and undergarments for each day as they’re either going to get sweaty, get wet and muddy or have beer spilt on them. Plenty of socks and at least two pairs of footwear would be ideal. A little bit of rain can turn festival grounds into a giant mud pit in a hurry.
One of those travel towels that seems impossibly tiny and dries fast might be an option as well. Personally, I’d probably make room for a reasonable sized towel, or two to allow dry time. Towels come in handy if there’s a swimming area, or when you’d like to take a shower, but seem to be something that people commonly forget.
If you’re someone who wears make-up, bring along a decent sized, but still reasonably compact mirror. It’s much easier to apply make-up, or just make sure you’re looking decent, it a mirror that is larger than the palm of your hand.
A camera is a must have. A mobile phone is a must have for some. But what do you do when the battery dies and you do not have access to electricity to charge the battery? Something I wish I would have known about are devices that use a small solar panel to gather electricity and then use a USB or similar type connection to transfer the power to your battery. While they’re not cheap, they’re not incredibly expensive either and I could find more than one use for one.
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Solar powered battery chargers, available
and compatible with most devices. They
are an excellent idea. |
Figure out ahead of time if the camping area for the festival allows you to bring outside alcohol in and what the restrictions are. It seems that most camping sites will allow you to bring your own alcohol, but it must remain in the camp site and not be allowed in the actual festival area. Fair enough. Personally, I would avoid glass bottles. Mostly because I don’t want to step on broken glass. Most festival websites have this information available.
Speaking of broken glass, a small first aid kit is always a good idea. While there are always first aid areas somewhere, having your own small kit can’t hurt. Even just some band-aids and some kind of antiseptic or disinfectant. Vodka works surprisingly well as a disinfectant. A small bottle of hand sanitizer doesn’t take up much space, could be used as a disinfectant in a pinch and is a good option after touching toilet doors that are inevitably pretty dirty.
A supply of your own toilet paper could be a lifesaver. It seems to always be a hot commodity and in short supply, whether in the campsite or at the festival grounds themselves. It seems to run out a few hours after the gates open. Having your own stash could prevent a lot of embarrassment. If you’re planning on taking a small backpack or bag into the festival, put some toilet paper in it. You’ll thank yourself later.
Proof of age to get into beer gardens and some cash. Some festivals operate on ticket system where you buy your tickets that can be redeemed and used as cash ahead of time. Others use cash for food, liquor and merchandise purchases. Ensure that you have more than you think you’ll spend as ATMs are often in short supply. The best thing to do is to take out cash at a bank before heading to the festival. VISA and Mastercards generally work in most countries. To avoid huge cash advance fees, take out large amounts of currency at once (and hope you don’t lose it).
Locks for your tent are another option worth considering. Use them to lock your zippers together, sealing the door, while you are away from your campsite. While it won’t stop someone from getting into your tent if they really want to gain access, it will prevent coming back to find an unexpected guest passed out in your tent. Just make sure that everyone you want to have access to your tent knows the combination or has a key.
A small, LED light for inside your tent is handy. Bring a second and use it as a flashlight.
While those who camp often or are seasoned festival goers probably already know these simple things, it never hurts to have a list prepared. Sometimes the small things can make all the difference, and going without can make the experience less than comfortable. Do your research, figure out what you can and cannot bring. Be mindful of weight limitations on airlines and what is manageable on busses and trains. Plan ahead and things should work alright. Those are my suggestions.
