On Harm Reduction
Photograph: The Bunk Police
Regardless of your personal habits, drug use can be prevalent at festivals. It’s important to know the location of medical tents, to pay attention to your surroundings, and to look out for your fellow festival attendees the way you’d want them to look out for you.
I highly recommend getting trained in administering naloxone (Narcan). It prevents opioid overdose, and it’s easy to obtain training and the medicine itself for cheap. I took mine through EndOverdose online. It took half an hour and cost $5. I liken it to knowing CPR or choking rescue; you hope you never have to use it, but it’s really good to have the knowledge just in case.
I also recommend looking into drug testing kits. You can obtain these from The Bunk Police and DanceSafe. Fentanyl testing strips are affordable, and it takes little time to test any substances that may be around. Some festivals have vendor tents that will test substances with amnesty. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
Finally, I recommend signing up for alerts from BunkBot when applicable. It’s an emergency alert system that texts folks if dangerous substances are found. It adds another layer of harm reduction and helps you be extra alert when needed.
Stick Together
Since phone service can be spotty at festivals, and not everybody has a smartwatch, the buddy system is invaluable. My group sticks together when possible, and if someone has to separate, they make sure someone in the system knows where they’re going. We also designate a meetup spot, both inside the festival grounds and outside of the gates, in case of emergencies. Pay attention to your surroundings, and don’t be afraid to contact festival volunteers or employees if you need assistance.
Unfortunately, pickpocketing does happen. Make sure to set up stolen device protection on your compatible iPhone or Android phone. You might also want to set up a few Bluetooth trackers for your wallet, bag, or other necessities. Most major festivals have a dedicated lost-and-found program. Review the details of it before you arrive so you’re familiar if need be.
Just for Fun
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Of course, it’s good to be prepared with the essentials. But ultimately, festivals are about having fun. Here’s a list of festival accessories you might like to have on hand purely for the joy of them.
Kandi-making kits for $20: Trading beaded bracelets is a hallmark of electronic music, but thanks to the Taylor Swift Eras tour, more music genres are joining in. Any beads will work, but I highly recommend Stretch Magic elastic ($17)—the cheap stuff falls apart way too easily.
Flow props: There are tons of toys that some dancers like to use. I’m partial to the Fiberflies Pixel Whip ($85), but the Flowtoys PodPoi ($135) are another popular choice. You can even get levitating wands and light-up staffs. These are super fun to dance with (and they’ll entertain your fellow attendees).
Little gifts: Tiny ducks. Sprouts for your hair. Squishy animals. Festivals often have a culture of gift-giving. It’s not expected, but it can be nice to have something to pass out to the folks you meet. Consider bringing some trinkets with you—you might even make a new friend or seven.
A night-light for $19: If you’re at a camping fest, moving around in the dark can be treacherous. And sometimes you just want to grab a snack from the cooler without shining a flashlight around. I like this nightlight because it provides a gentle glow—enough to see with but not so bright that I wake up everyone in the vicinity.
A camping towel for $16: Sometimes it rains outside. Sometimes you accidentally spill an entire Beatbox in your tent. Whatever the case may be, a camping towel is handy. They’re super absorbent, and they dry quickly.
Fun clothes: When it comes to festival clothing, you can be as bold or as practical as you’d like. Don’t sacrifice comfort in the name of fashion! But if you’re looking for fun clothes to wear, I recommend checking out IHeartRaves and Rave Wonderland. These are EDM-adjacent, but they’ll work for everything from Bonnaroo to Burning Man to EDC. Your favorite artists’ merch is probably a good starting point, too. And when in doubt, you can always accessorize—consider a bucket hat or a Pashmina-style shawl to make your outfit a little more adventurous.
A bandana for $14: We have a lot of feelings about the importance of a small, multipurpose cloth. Music festivals are often dusty and dirty. A bandana works as a face covering, a sweat absorber, a quick place to sit, and an easy way to wipe up spilled drinks. Stash a few in your bag and you’ll be better prepared.
I tested this gear by attending many, many music festivals over the course of several years. (This year, the roster has or will include Wakaan, Secret Dreams, Infrasound, Infrasound Equinox, Force Fields, and a show at the Caverns; I’ve also attended heavy hitters like Lost Lands and Electric Forest in the past.) I’ve used everything in this guide dozens of times. It’s what I pack every time I attend, and I’m always testing new gear to evaluate whether or not it’s worth the space it takes up (or the mental energy it requires).
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