18 Things you learn after attending your first festival

Things you learn after attending your first festival.

Music festivals can last anywhere from 1 to 5 days, if you haven’t attended your first festival before check out this post and I will give you handy tips of what to take.

So you’ve just attended your first festival, you feel like you’ve grown as a person and had an experience like no other?

Whether you want to reminisce about the amazing time you’ve just had, or looking for what to expect after attending your first festival, this post will hopefully prepare you, and even happy nodding along.

1: Tents are erratic.

Sitting in your tent in the middle of the day will make you feel like you are suffocating from the heat, yet when the temperature drops in the evening, it will make you feel like you are sleeping in Antarctica naked.
Shorts and T-shirts in the day and jumpers and woolly hats at night really are essential.

2: Baby wipes and dry shampoo are your best friend.

Festivals are jampacked with amazing artist to listen to, people to meet and things to do. Most people genuinely do not have a shower when attending a festival. The queues are long and time-consuming, why would you want to wait in the queue for 45 minutes when you could be discovering your new favourite artist?
Baby wipes for not only keep you clean, but will help mop up any spillages.
Whether it’s raining, smoke, or all the dancing your hair is going to get hot, wet and sweaty. Dry shampoo eliminates your hair looking and feeling greasy because its job is to soak up all of the moisture, plus it smells good too.

3: Take your own toilet roll.

I don’t know what it is with humans in public toilets, but you are almost guaranteed to run out of toilet roll even if you’ve only been on the camp for a few hours.
Knowing you will always have tissue will make going to the toilet a more pleasant experience!

I have also come across a great way to try and combat the waste left over by festivals, this great Festival paper bag, this paper backpack has a great design and comes stocked with the a printed T-Shirt, foldable wheat cup, Wash bag, cornstarch Poncho, biodegradable glitter and of course Loo Roll!

4: There is no fashion code.

You may bump into someone that looks like they’re wearing a designer outfit, but for the majority of people who attend festivals they will wear old clothes that are comfortable. You’ll meet people who wear anything from raincoats, to onesies and facepaint.

5: Everyone that attends wants to have a good time.

It’s quite cool to know that you’re surrounded by people who share one common interest, you are all there for the love of the music.
Everyone is very friendly and it’s a great conversation starter!

6: You can be at the front to watch your favourite artist.

It’s much easier than you think, A polite excuse me and jumping into empty spots when people vacate, will have you reaching the barrier in no time.
As long as you aren’t 8 foot tall and 50 stone, people generally don’t mind you edging your way through the crowd and in front of them, most people are far too polite to do so.

7: People will be highly intoxicated.

For some, being drunk or high on drugs is part of the fun at a festival, people see it as a chance to let go and really enjoy themselves.
Don’t judge people on their choices, just anticipate that you may have some strange conversations about purple cats and you will probably be asked more than once: if you have any, or, want any acid.

8: Smuggling alcohol happens.

It wasn’t until I was attending my first festival that I even realised that it’s against the rules to bring your own alcohol onto the campsite. Unless you’re willing to sell a kidney on the black market or remortgage your house, £12 for a pint of beer is just not feasible.
Bringing your own alcohol can be done, but just be aware that if found with it: staff have the right to confiscate and pour it away.

9: Water is essential.

All the walking, dancing and being in close proximity with lots of people will have your body heat soaring… It’s imperative to keep hydrated by drinking lots of water throughout the weekend. Alcohol and drugs dehydrate your body, even if you are a big partier, having water on you at all times is very sensible and it’s great at cooling you down.

10: Your calves are going to burn.

Walking for miles through fields and jumping up and down along to your favourite artists are going to give your legs one hell of a workout. Be aware that you may wake up with cramp, just walk off the pain you’ll be fine! 🙂

11: Don’t be afraid to say hello to your neighbours.

In Britain especially, we are so used to minding our own business and only talking to people that we know. All rules go out the window at music festivals, saying a simple hello could spark a friendship you may never have had, plus bartering with your neighbours for A cup of tea in return for toilet roll or dry shampoo will make you everyone’s friend!

12: You’ll be forced to choose.

Your favourite act may be playing on one stage whilst your best friends favourite act could be playing on another at the exact same time. You should decide beforehand if you are happy to attend different stages by yourself, or if sticking together means that one of you has to compromise.
Preplan to meet at a particular stage or back at your tent around a certain time to check in with one another to avoid disappointment, and get the most out of your music festival experience.

13: Celebrities are people too!

You may have just seen them perform live, and seeing them dancing along to another artist may put your head in a spin, but for the most part celebrities who attend the festival are there for the same reason as you, to enjoy the music.

14:Don’t be afraid to say hello and asked for a photo.

I know lots of people who attend music festivals regularly and have met so many celebrities.
Personally it’s never happened to me, could be something to do with the blindness thing I guess 😉

15: Take a pack of cards.

It depends on you as an individual, some people leave the tent in the morning and don’t come back until it’s time for bed, whilst others come back for a sit down and rest.
Taking a pack of cards with you will keep you and your friends entertained as an alternative to downtime/rest.

16: it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Wearing a bumbag under your jacket, or padlocking your tent each day is a surefire way of keeping your belongings safe and acting as a deterrent. Humans are not inherently bad, but when sleep deprivation, and intoxication are combined, sometimes finders keepers becomes very appealing.
I personally have never had any issues with my things being broken or stolen, but I know people who have had their phones taken whilst they have been sleeping in their tent…
This isn’t to scare anyone, it’s just a polite way of saying it is better to be safe than sorry!

17: You are going to be exhausted.

A music festival is a mind, body and soul experience. Early starts and late nights, surrounded by people talking, laughing and singing at every hour of the day and night; combined with all the dancing, walking and potential intoxication, your body is going to get a battering.
By the time the festival is over you’ll be glad to have a hot shower and wanting to sleep for three days solid!

18: You’ll be hooked!

Music festivals are amazing and although completely out of the ordinary for most people, escaping the daily grind, sleeping in a field and laughing and dancing with friends and strangers is a great way to let loose.
Unless you’ve had an absolutely terrible experience, you have a disability and it’s just not feasible to sleep in a tent for three nights. Attending a music festival is a buzz and energy like no other. By the time you get home, you’ll be looking online to Book next years adventure!

Am I right? Were you nodding your head along to this list? Or did you find it useful for someone who is planning to attend their first music festival?
Let me know in the comments below, I love hearing from you! 🙂