With social distancing becoming less of a concern, there will be plenty of festivals organised in the UK this year, from big outdoor celebrations to intimate gatherings and everything in between. Needless to say, festival-goers are looking forward to attending them. If you are relatively new to the scene, don’t worry you have come to the right page! In this article, we will share with you everything you need to know about attending festivals and also share with you a list of essentials you should pack, in order to make the most of your next festival adventure.
Common types of festivals organised in the UK
Out of all types of festivals, music festivals are one of the most popular. These festivals most often involve back-to-back live music performances. They cater to crowds that enjoy various music genres, including but not limited to Electronic Music, Pop, Hip Hop, R&B, EDM, New Music, Dance, DJ, Metal, Classic Rock, Country and Folk, and Indie. Apart from music festivals, there are also various comedy, arts, theatre, family-friendly, film and food festivals you can enjoy, depending on your personal interests.
Festival Timings
The dates and starting times of festivals vary, but they usually start around 12 noon each day of the event.
Entry Pass
If you would be camping at the festival site, early entry passes are usually made available around Thursday before the event start date, to make it easier for you to set up your tent early. You may also choose from the day ticket options available at most weekend festivals for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, which will allow you entry for those specific days.
Travel
Some festivals allow advance booking of travel and parking passes that you can purchase along with the festival tickets. Check if they provide shuttle buses or any other mode of transport to and from the festival location. If it’s a larger festival, you should be able to find a coach to take you to the festival site from most major towns and cities across the UK.
What to Bring
Before you leave for your festival, you need to make sure you are fully prepared to stay outdoors. If you forget to bring something important with you, it can be a difficult experience. So, pack all the essentials that you may need for the duration of the festival. Shared below is a list of common essentials to help you prepare a festival packing checklist:
- Your wallet and an ID
- A mobile phone – to stay in touch with your friends and family
- Festival tickets
- Cash – just enough for basic shopping during the festival
- A belt bag to keep your cash, wallets and other valuables safely and easy to reach
- A travel bag to keep all your essentials. A suitcase may not be a good option, since it’s difficult to carry it around on the festival ground
- T-shirts, shorts, pajamas etc. for a hot afternoon
- Warm clothing like sweaters, sweatshirts, and hoodies, for when it gets cold
- Flip flops, boots, trainers or other types of footwear that you find comfortable – keep in mind you will need to stay on your feet for long durations
- A sleeping tent with sufficient space for your sleeping and keeping your backpack
- A sleeping bag
- An inflatable air mattress an air pump
- Other camping essentials
- Trash bags
- Umbrella, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Ear plugs
- An eye mask
- A flashlight or torch
- A portable charger
- Phone charging cables
- A camera or selfie stick to record your favourite moments of the festival
- Portable speakers
- A reusable cup and straw
- Tissues, wet wipes, and hand sanitiser
- Raincoat or poncho – because weather can be unpredictable sometimes
- A portable chair – something lightweight for you to get seated conveniently wherever you want. Sellers like Flipstick offer plenty of options to choose from
- Water bottle – since it’s more convenient to refill your bottle from any tap than to buy packaged drinking water bottles
- A mini first aid kit – might come in handy in the unfortunate event that you or someone at the festival gets injured or meets an accident
- Medications – keep any emergency medications you think may be needed for emergencies, apart from any regular medication that you may be taking
- Painkillers or NSAIDs
- Sanitary pads and/or contraceptives
Even though this may seem like a long list, you should still think of anything else that may be needed to make your life easier when you’re having fun at the festival. It’s also a good idea to check the festival website to learn more about what to expect and anything else that you may need to bring with you.
We hope you found this guide useful in learning more about festivals and what is needed to attend one. So, what are you waiting for? Your next festival adventure could be just around the corner. Get ready to have the time of your life! Check out the links below to find out more about some of my favourite festivals from 2019.