Festival Ready: 3 Essential Things to Remember When Prepping for Your First Outdoor Music Festival.

On the weekend of June 21st to 23rd, 2024, I had the opportunity to go to my first ever outdoor music festival. Going into it, I was hoping to get in touch more with my new found hippie side and I am happy to say I found more than that. Without a doubt, it was the most liberating and euphoric experience I've had in my journey of self discovery. If you are seeking a similar experience an outdoor music festival is a good idea. If you are considering this, here are 3 things to keep in mind to have the best, most fulfilling experience.

1) Bring something to give away

One of the best ways to make your first festival a memorable experience is to have something to give others. It's an easy and fun way to connect with people naturally, make new friends, and create a persona for yourself. My Auntie's friend was a good example of this for me at my first festival (North Country Fair) this last weekend. He brought a collection of glow in the dark, mini ducks to hand out. In jest, we nicknamed him rubber duckie and he rolled with it. By the end of the festival, he was known to everyone by that name. He also accumulated quite the collection of trinkets by the end of the weekend.

When I was sad and having a bad time, he took me for a walk to hand out rubber duckies and it made all the difference. It helped me get out of my own head and help others have a good time to. It gave me the chance to contribute to the welcoming environment of the festival. To talk to all sorts of different people that I would've been too shy to approach otherwise. A few hours after our turn around the grounds, some little girls recognized me and came up to give me a hug. 

2) Bring lots of options for clothes

When it comes to camping, it is better to be over prepared than under prepared. Especially when it comes to clothes. There are two reasons for this; one being to express yourself. At a music festival out in the wilderness, you will want a variety of colors, patterns, and accessories. Items that you wouldn't necessarily wear out in your day to day life. You may discover something new about yourself and have the perfect item to express that, but you left it at home. Or you may be inspired by someone else's expression of self and be stuck in the same scenario of "OH!! I should have brought that". Had I not brought my wolf ears and tail, as well as a mask I had laying about, I definitely would've been filled with regret.

Not only do you want to bring clothes to look good but also to be prepared for any type of weather, which is my second reason. Have items in your bag that will protect you in the sun, keep you warm in the brisk night air, and dry if the rain clouds role in. A good example for layers would be a faux fur coat.

3) Be aware of your emotions (especially if you’re doing drugs)

Before:

Whether it will be your first music festival or not, there will be a lot of emotions before you even arrive. There will be the stress of making sure everything is packed and in order before you go. There will be excitement and especially nerves if it is your very first time and you don't know what to expect. It would be wise, before arriving, to set an intention for the type of experience you want to have. This should include making a plan on what kind of drugs you want to partake of and how much during a certain span of time. It is best to set this plan/intention while you are sober and still have control of your emotions.

During

Throughout your experience, check in with yourself frequently. Are you enjoying yourself? Are you cranky? Feeling more like a social butterfly? Overthinking and feeling insecure? Feeling uncomfortable? Give yourself the space you need to process your emotions and take care of your own needs. This is especially important when considering other people's experience. Like you, everyone is coming to have a good time and escape their mundane, day to day life. Take responsibility for your own needs and be prepared so you do not infringe on other people's good time. If you find that you are not in a good mental state, don't feel obligated to stick around. Take the time you need to rest. Bring an activity that will help ground you. Whether that looks like writing in a journal, coloring or sketching, or reading. Most importantly, don't participate in drug use if you aren't in a good state of mind already. And if you end up on a bad trip, remember that you are not your emotions and it will soon pass. 

After

It is also important to keep in mind that after the festival is over, your emotions will still be volatile. Again, especially if you participate in drug use. In the week following the festival, be gentle with yourself as you re-acclimate to your day to day life. Waves of emotion will come and go. Sometimes, at the most inconvenient times. On my way to work the day after coming back from my first festival, a wave of resistance, longing and sadness hit me hard. Resistance to having to take on my regular responsibilities and accompanying expectations again. Resistance to let go of and longing for the euphoric, liberating feeling I had at the festival. When overwhelmed with such emotions, it is important to remind yourself two things. One: that the culture, community, and expectations at events like the festival are very different from real life. And two: that you will experience those feelings again. This is what I reminded myself to calm my emotions as I got ready for my shift.

If you want to minimize whatever big emotions may come up, take some time within the first 24 to 48 hours of your arrival to reflect. If you took lots of pictures, make a collage or video compilation. If you have a journal, write down your experience. Write about the feelings you experienced and the memories you made. The things you learned about yourself and about life. And if you didn't have the best time, write about that to. Was it an experience that didn't align with what you value? Is there anything you can do next time to make your experience even better? When you are ready, take a moment to let it go.