Music festivals are an awesome way to spend time jamming with your friends and maybe even exploring a new part of the world.
Festivals come in all shapes and sizes, with the music of all types, ranging from indie rock, classic rock, and world music to hip hop, jazz, Americana, and bluegrass. Be prepared for this year’s lineup of festivals by checking out this go-to festival packing list, including what to wear at music festivals, what NOT to bring, and other FAQs.
What to Pack for Music Festivals--20 Essentials
Neck wallet
When you’re somewhere as crowded as a music festival, there’s no doubt you’ll want to keep your valuables organized and secure. Use this neck wallet to keep your smartphone, cash, credit cards, and passport safe by wearing it conveniently under your clothes so you can enjoy the festival without worrying about losing your stuff.
Comfortable Shoes
Any sort of festival is going to require a lot of standing, walking and dancing! Make sure to wear a super comfortable pair of shoes that you wouldn’t mind ruining so that you can jam out without your feet killing you. These sneakers have awesome reviews and are very colorful – perfect festival gear.
Deodorant Wipes
These are a no-brainer to bring to a festival. Especially if you’re camping out, you likely won’t have access to a shower, and after a day of partying, dancing, and sweating in the hot sun, you’ll be ready to freshen up. These deodorant wipes are perfect for a quick refresh when other options aren’t available.
Packing Cubes
Especially if you’re traveling far from home for a festival, you won’t want to overpack and be stuck dragging around tons of luggage. Stay organized and avoid overpacking by using packing cubes. This set comes in a variety of fun colors and includes cubes in different sizes to suit your needs.
Camelbak Water Bottle
Any outdoor festival can dehydrate you really quickly. Between drinking beers and sweating in the sun, you’ll need to consume LOTS of water. Especially if you’re going to a multi-day music festival, the rule of thumb is one gallon per day per person. Wear this convenient Camelbak water pack around to keep you hydrated throughout the festival.
Cooling Towel
Music festivals are all about having fun, partying, dancing, and inevitably, sweating under the hot sun. Most of the time you’ll be having too much fun to even notice the heat, but for when you do, have a cooling towel handy. They’re perfect to bring to a festival because they’re compact and will easily fit in your bag without adding virtually any weight. When you feel yourself wanting to freshen up, simply wet the towel, wring it out, and you’ll instantly have an ice-cold towel that’s 20-30 degrees cooler than the outside temperature.
Quick Dry Towel
A microfiber towel is one of the most versatile things you can bring to a music festival. You can use it as a picnic blanket or a shower towel and it also works great to wipe away any sweat or dirt that might get on you from being at a festival. They’re super absorbent, fast-drying, compact, and odor-resistant so that you can use it during the entire festival and you won’t have to worry about it taking forever to dry or smelling bad.
Small Phone Charger
Needless to say, outlets can be hard to find at outdoor music festivals, and charging stations are always packed. For those times when you absolutely need to charge your camera or smartphone, this lipstick-sized portable charger will be a total lifesaver.
Windproof Travel Umbrella
So much time at music festivals is spent outside. Be sure to bring an umbrella to keep you dry in case of any unexpected rain showers. A travel umbrella is compact and easy to bring around, but make sure it’s also well-made like this one so it will actually keep you dry.
Tapestry
Some festivals like Bonnaroo and Burning Man involve camping, and others you might just attend during the day. If you plan on staking out a home base for you and your friends, it’s a good idea to lay down a tapestry for a chill spot. This one is trendy, cheap and large enough for all your friends!
Protein Bars
Keep your energy up by bringing low-maintenance, zero-prep snacks like protein bars with you to the festival. Fresh fruit that you can grab and go, like apples, bananas and oranges, are a great option, too. You won’t want to get hangry mid-festival, so stick a few of these in your daypack and you’ll be good to go!
Day Pack
You’ll be glad you brought a daypack with you to stash your water, beverages, snacks, sweatshirt, etc. Finding the right fit is key, especially since there are so many options on the market today. This one by Osprey is awesome because it’s durable, reliable, and comfortable, which will be perfect to have during any festival.
Clear Fanny Pack
Most of the larger music festivals today do not allow backpacks of any kind inside the festival but they do allow CLEAR fanny packs. They are dorky but so worth it!
Tent and Camping Equipment
If you’re going to a festival where you’re going to be camping, like Bonnaroo or Burning man, you’ll need somewhere to sleep. Most festival-goers use tents, which are ideal, although hammocks could work too, depending on the venue. This tent is a great option – it can fit up to two people, and has a wide entrance for easy entry and exit.
Universal Power Adapter
It’s especially important to bring a universal power adapter if you’re attending a festival abroad. If you plan to stay in a hotel or hostel, you’ll need to make sure you have a reliable adapter so you can charge your phone and camera before heading back into the action! This one’s awesome because it works in nearly every country.
Music Festival Travel Insurance
It’s so important to have good travel insurance before attending a festival. Everyone’s needs and trips are different so its good to find a plan that fits you. A great place to buy travel insurance is on TravelInsurance.com where you can compare plans from different top companies and find the one that works best for you.
Waterproof Dry Bags
Anything can happen at a festival, and a first aid kit filled with bandaids, Advil and Neosporin will definitely come in handy at some point. I’ve had blisters, splinters, scrapes, cuts and burns happen at festivals and have used my first aid kit on myself, friends, and strangers more times than I can count.
Costumes
At some music festivals like Voodoo Fest, it’s expected and encouraged for festival-goers to wear costumes. For example, one of the coolest parts of Burning Man is the costumes that people deck themselves out in – they range from Mad-Max-inspired to glow-in-the-dark light suits. If you’re one to dress up in outrageous outfits, stock up on a few entertaining costumes. These LED hand gloves are perfect for the late-night techno at the festival.
Cooler
If festival rules allow it, you will not regret bringing a big cooler with you, especially for multi-day festivals. It’ll keep all your food and beverages nice and cold, and you can pack it with water bottles, easy snacks, and maybe a bottle of aloe vera in case you get a sunburn. This one comes on wheels so you can easily roll it from the parking lot to your spot.
First Aid Kit
Anything can happen at a festival, and a first aid kit filled with bandaids, Advil and Neosporin will definitely come in handy at some point. I’ve had blisters, splinters, scrapes, cuts and burns happen at festivals, and have had to use my first aid kit on myself, friends, and strangers more times than I can count.
Bonus Items for a Music Festival
Blow-up chair
Sunscreen
Belt
Waterbottle belt holder
Cargo Shorts
20 oz water bottle cap
Trust me!
What to wear to a Music Festival
What you wear totally depends on what festival you’ll be attending. Generally speaking, less is usually more. Try to dress in layers, and bring a light jacket for nighttime (especially if you’re camping). During the day, casual festival clothes like jean shorts and tee shirts are a good fit. For the car or plane trip there, wear comfortable clothes that you can re-wear throughout the weekend so that you don’t overpack. Do a quick weather-check before you head out. If you’re totally lost for what to wear, browse through blog posts with pictures of the particular festival you’re going to!
What NOT to bring to a Music Festival
1. Weapons
Festivals are a time for peace and love (Bonnaroo in particular was heavily influenced by Woodstock and other “peace and love” gatherings of the 1960s and 1970s, after all)!
2. Animals or Pets
Sorry, but you’ll have to leave your furry friends at home.
3. Glass
Bring any alcohol in cans instead of glass bottles. Check beverage rules first, though!
4. Generator
Most music festivals don’t allow you to bring a generator. If you need energy at your campsite, bring portable chargers or battery-powered devices only.
5. Drone
Drones can be dangerous and annoying to other concert-goers. Bring your selfie-stick instead if you want to get pictures from a higher angle.
6. Fireworks, explosives, or aerial flares
No need to risk a forest fire.
7. Valuables
Don’t bring any valuables! If you absolutely must, keep them locked and out of view in your vehicle.
8. Firearms of any kind
This includes BB guns, air rifles and paintball guns.
9. Hand-held lasers
Leave these at home. All other lasers must be registered.
10. Wood chips, loose feathers, tubs of confetti
They’re bad for the environment.
FAQs about Music Festivals
1. If I’m camping and the festival is during the summer months, how do I stay cool in my tent?
Bring some ice packs or chilly pads and keep them in your cooler. When you’re getting ready for bed, cool down by setting one on your forehead. You can also bring portable fans to use in your tent.
2. At multi-day festivals, what am I supposed to do with my trash?
At most festivals that involve camping, staff will give you a trash bag when you go in that they will collect at the end of the festival. At Bonnaroo last year, they even gave festival-goers a raffle ticket for every bag of trash they turned in! If you can, try and spend a little time picking up trash to keep the Earth clean!
3. How much money should I bring with me?
It depends on how long you’re going for and what kind of music festival it is, but if you’re staying for a few days you should plan on bringing around $100-300 in cash. Make sure you bring enough money to purchase any souvenirs if you wish to.
4. How can I make the most of my music festival experience?
Make the most of it by losing yourself in the music and taking lots of pictures!
5. Are music festivals safe?
Yes. In general, the main dangers at music festivals are those you can easily avoid – that is to say, if you don’t overindulge and you take standard sun and safety precautions, you shouldn’t have any issues. Don’t carry excessive cash, keep any valuables close and hidden, wear sunscreen and stay hydrated, and pay attention to your surroundings. You’ll have a fantastic time, and enjoy memories of your experience for years to come!
For more tips at music festivals, theme parks and conventions, please subscribe to our podcast!
