How to survive a music festival: The five worst scenarios to avoid

Donning the hippy lifestyle as you spend a long weekend immersed in a music festival is a liberating, incredible experience, and one thing that can be said for certain is this: what happens when you get there is entirely unpredictable. Do a festival right and it will be an experience that stays with you for all the right reasons; do it wrong, and the consequences will be real. So to put you in good stead as festival season kicks off, we bring you our top five scenarios to avoid – take heed, festival goers…

1. Low ground is a no-no

Festivals in the UK take place in the blissful British summertime, so of course that means there will be a (very high) likelihood of the not-so-occasional cloudburst. As you battle with neighbouring festival campers to get a space in which to pitch your tent, remember this one very important point: water flows downhill, so to avoid your tent becoming a boggy mess of rainwater, mud and other undesirable liquids, get your tent pitched on higher ground. Whether you manage to get a space atop a hilltop or simply settle for a sloping campsite, one way or another you’ll be glad that you didn’t grab the easy option on the lower ground when the inevitable festival rain makes an appearance. And another heads up, avoid pitching near an obvious pathway; whilst people will meander through your campsite occasionally no matter where you camp, camping on the edge of a path is a surefire way to get drunkards trampling the sides of your tent day in, day out.

2. Your tent is not a safe

Festivals should be a place of ultimate chill, but the unfortunate fact of the matter is that thieves also go to festivals. When you head out for a day of music filled gallivanting, leaving your belongings stashed ‘safely’ behind in your tent can be tempting – especially if your pockets are already stuffed full of cider cans. But bear in mind that anything left behind in your tent is vulnerable to thieves, so prioritise pocket space for items such as your phone, camera, money and any other high value possessions over less valuable ones. To provide yourself with additional space if needed, take a small backpack – featuring a zip, to ensure that pickpockets are not able to slip their hand inside – which can be slung over your shoulders wherever you go. Be aware that items of clothing, torches and even air beds can be targeted by thieves whilst you are away from your tent, but there really isn’t much you can do to protect these. Whatever you do, don’t lock your tent: this makes opportunists think there is something worth stealing inside!

3. Wellies can be your worst enemy

Sure festivals are associated with mud – and for good reason – but from time to time the miraculous happens: the sun comes out, the mud dries up, and the ground becomes walkable sans sliding around. Whilst wellies are an essential item to pack for any festival, they are not the only footwear you need to pack. Should the weather turn gloriously sunny, be it through sandals, boots or loafers, your feet will thank you for freeing them from their welly clad, sweaty, blister-inducing prison.

4. Forgetting that batteries have a lifespan

As you explore a festival, you will inevitably want to capture and share prominent moments – whether it is by going snap happy, filming your favourite act, or callously calling those unfortunate enough to have missed out on festivals tickets as their favourite band plays live. However, using your phone for such things will drain its battery fast, leaving you stranded should you lose your festival entourage amidst a swelling crowd. To save yourself from a lonely time you have two options: either use your phone sparingly and switch it off when you’re not using it to call friends, or invest in a portable phone charger that can be used throughout the festival. We recommend the latter, as the former is easier said than done!

5. Self-inflicted amnesia

Whilst it is inevitable that most people will enjoy a fair few beverages as they partake in the big festival chill, a music festival only lasts for a couple of days. This means that you have no time to waste – and by waste, we mean being wasted. Spending your day face down in your tent – or worse, clinging to a less than sanitary portaloo with a booming hangover – is not what you paid a couple of hundred pounds for. Drinking plenty of water alongside alcohol is essential, especially if the sunshine decides to grace the weekend, in which case you need to be even more careful about keeping hydrated. See the acts that you planned to, sample all that the festival has to offer, and leave the grounds when it is over with a strong case of post-festival blues – not a strong case of regret for having forgotten or missed out on experiences as a result of being too intoxicated.