Camping at A Music Festival
Camping isn’t for everyone. Trust me, I would know. The first time I went camping, it was basically an accident. I booked a group tour to Southern Africa. Part of my trip was spent in the African bush, and therefore, camping in a tent, but I never read the fine print before booking it (my bad). I thought we would stay in hostels most nights. Instead, it was 9 straight days of camping. There were an odd number of girls on the tour, so guess who had her own tent? Yep, me, the urbanite from NYC. I learned how to pitch that bad boy after a few futile attempts. And after a day or so, I realized it’s really not that hard.
Anyway, I digress.
Camping at a music festival is a lot like camping in the African savannah or at the top of a mountain in the Rockies. And in saying “a lot like it” I mean absolutely nothing like it.
If you plan on going to a music festival this summer that involves camping, or you’re repulsed and/or terrified by the idea, read on for what to expect, tips on how to make it a great experience, and a list of some things I personally think you can’t forget to take with you.
If after reading this, you’re willing to give it a try, I promise you won’t regret it! Just take me with you? :)
WHAT TO EXPECT
1) You are living in a mini utopia
Picture a place where people are free to eat, drink and be merry. Once you get to the campsite, there aren’t any cars buzzing about, just people on foot. There is lots of food, coffee, alcohol — any and every one of life’s indulgences right at your fingertips. Not the luxuries of a 5-star hotel, but the simplest pleasures life can offer. People are far friendlier here. They will offer you snacks and alcohol, and likely invite you to play drinking games with them under the sunshine — even if you’re a complete stranger.
For those of you who don’t like the idea of camping — you’re selling yourself short on an amazing experience. If you can learn to get over your unnecessary urge to look perfect for a few days, you’ll realize the charm of festival camping. Besides, they do have showers, people. Granted, I paid $10 every time I wanted to shower, but they were some of the best showers I’ve ever had. Really. You appreciate a shower so much more when it becomes a coveted experience.
2) You will be covered in a mix of dirt, glitter & sweat
There will be bugs at your campsite. Close your tents, and you won’t have to worry about too many while you’re sleeping. You will sweat so hard from dancing all day, and you will probably have black boogers in your nose from kicking up so much dirt while you groove to the music.
Is it gross? Yes. Does it matter? No.
Embrace the festival experience for what it is — a weekend to let go, to live outside the confines of daily life, and to stop worrying about what other people think of you. Everyone gets dirty at Bonnaroo, at Firefly and at any other camping music festival that you can possibly think of going to.
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With my friends inside our tent at Firefly festival![/caption]
3) The campsite is where the magic happens
Yes, it’s all about the music. But at a festival campsite, the party goes on well into the dimly lit hours of sunrise. If you want it to. Yet even if you don’t, the campsite is where you can actually hear other people talk without the thumping sounds of every stage pulsating music through your ear drums, forcing you to talk 3 decibels above normal. It’s where friendships are formed, as you weave in and out of lawn chairs to meet friends of friends and even some strangers who wander from one campsite to another. At first, they may be looking for a bottle opener to borrow, but they leave as a new friend with a great story to tell.
HOW TO MAKE IT GREAT
1) Drive if You Can
It’s wayyyyy easier to bring everything you need in a vehicle. Try not to fly to a music festival unless you absolutely have to. I just got back from Bonnaroo (and flew there…lol). I couldn’t justify a 14-hour drive versus a 2.5-hour flight because that’s a lot of unnecessary PTO to ask for. But, we didn’t all fly to Bonnaroo. Thankfully, we had amazing friends in Tennessee who let us ship our tent to their apartment and drove us down to the festival from Nashville. Really — they’re lifesavers.
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Bonnaroo.com[/caption]
2) Or At Least Carpool
Sometimes, you may not live within driving distance. That’s cool. If you do fly to a music festival, though, you should know some people who are driving, like we did. It’s not only cheaper than taking an Uber or coordinating with the festival’s shuttle program from the nearest airport, but it also offers you the flexibility to buy food and alcohol on the way to the venue. We did a Target run and liquor run en route, and it was one of our smarter decisions of the weekend.
3) Try Group Camping
No matter what festival you plan to attend, I would check to see their group camping options. At Bonnaroo, some groups are completely open to adding whoever wants to join them. In some cases it’s literal strangers getting together, chipping in ~$50 for food and supplies. Camping like this means you’ll have an automatic group of friends at the festival. Reddit has a group tent at Bonnaroo, and so do many other organizations/communities.
I camped out with a group of kids from Tennessee. They sort of knew each other from college or high school. Yet, to me, they were all complete strangers. (Save for one awesome guy named Travis who knew my friend pretty well, was our “in” with the group, and who I’d met once before.) It didn’t even matter because, after 4 days, we were like a little family. And guess how Travis knew my friend? From a different music festival. You really do meet the best people at these things.
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Camp ChattaROOga crew at Bonnaroo[/caption]
4) Have Zero Expectations
I said this before, that it’s really a weekend to let go and stop worrying. But once you are truly able to do so, that’s when a music festival becomes life changing. And it’s much easier to do at a campsite because you don’t have to worry about how you’re going home or where to charge your cell phone. You don’t need it, really. Once you get into the groove of camping at a festival, you’ll realize that going with the flow to embrace the journey is the best way to make the most of your experience. Hyping a band up to be the best thing ever will only let you set yourself up for disappointment when their sound system doesn’t work so well or they don’t include your favorite song on their setlist.
ITEMS YOU NEED
- A Sleeping Bag
- A Towel
- A Pillow
- Seriously. Your body is already going to hate you for sleeping on the floor for 4 days straight. An airplane neck pillow is just not going to cut it. Find a way to bring an actual pillow with you. Your neck will thank you.
- A Hair Brush
- Baby Wipes
- This may sound like a weird one, but sometimes the first thing you want to do in the morning is wash your face. Too bad you have to walk to the showers and wait on a line until you’re clean. Have baby wipes on hand for moments like this.
- Lawn Chair(s)
- Lotion
- Extra Toilet Paper
Not “Necessary” but Great to Have Around:
- A Deck of Cards
- Kings is a great way to pass the time.
- A Portable Speaker
- Glitter and Body Paint
- Yoga Mat
- To put under your sleeping bag for more comfortable sleep. Or, at Bonnaroo, you can go to early morning yoga classes. Win win.
- A Blanket
- Fans
- PB&J
- It’s easy to make and is a great breakfast/late night snack all in one.
- Jugs of Water
- Stay hydrated!! And you can keep refilling them at the water stations to keep by your tent. Anything for laziness after a long day of dancing.
