By: Rachel (@rachofsunshine_)
It’s the best season of the year—what season is that you may ask? It’s festival season! Since this year’s festival season is already upon us, it is time to prepare yourself for all of the madness and adventures that lie ahead. Planning what essentials to pack in advance will ensure your survival for the weekend. I personally keep specific staple items in my backpack that I will be sharing with you in this article and explaining my choices.
Gum
How many times has someone asked you for gum while standing in a crowd at a festival? One too many times, am I right? That’s why it’s important to stay prepared with a pack or two of gum for you and your rave fam and to share with others. Who knows, you might even make a new friend or two the next time a stranger asks you if you can spare a piece of gum.
Sunblock
Let’s face it, summer festivals get hot. When in doubt: always wear sunscreen! It Protects your skin from UV Rays. The depletion of the ozone layer has increased our risk of sun damage from harmful UV rays. It is always a good idea to reapply sunscreen every couple of hours and bring a bottle for your friends to use just in case they forgot theirs. No one wants a painful, cooked lobster-colored sunburn after a long day in the sun at a festival.
Chapstick/Lip gloss
No matter what the temperature is outside, it’s always important that you keep your lips hydrated with chapstick. Lips are often a neglected part of the body that needs sun protection; therefore, I recommend an SPF chapstick.
After all the sweating, eating, and drinking you’ve done during a festival, you will need to touch up your lip color a bit. Any long-wearing gloss is key to bring with you for touch-ups.
Lighter
You may not smoke, but you might light the cigarette of someone who does. You can even make a new friend or two as a result of someone borrowing your lighter. Both the investment in a lighter and the effort required to carry it are minimal.
Earplugs
It is crucial to protect your hearing as much as possible. Hearing loss is extremely common, especially as we age. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, prolonged exposure to loud sounds can damage cells in the inner ear and cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). It can cause tinnitus or a perceived ringing in the ears.
Although they cannot eliminate sound entirely, properly fitted earplugs can effectively reduce sound by 15 to 30 decibels. If you forgot your earplugs at home, you can always go to the med tent or guest services at a festival venue to ask for a pair.
Deodorant
You’ve got to stay fresh at a festival and one of the top ways to do so is making the smart decision of wearing and reapplying deodorant. The people in the crowd next to you will appreciate that you made an executive decision to smell nice, that’s for sure.
Baby Wipes
Have you ever been stuck in a port-a-potty with dirty toilet issue or even worse, no toilet tissue? Fear no more… Just bring a pack of baby wipes! They are also a good tool for hand washing or wiping dust, sweat, and food off when necessary.
Sunglasses
Protecting your eyes while at a festival will not only allow you to see better during the day, but it will protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. The American Optometric Association says you should always don sunglasses during the daylight hours because they protect your eyes against the sun's UV rays, which could otherwise lead to cataracts. Sunglasses also protect against "blue light" from the solar spectrum, which could increase your risk of macular degeneration. Sunglasses can be the cherry on top of accessorizing your outfit, as well.
Hat
So why should you bring a hat to wear at festivals? They will block the harmful UV rays and work to keep your body cooler. By blocking UV rays, sun hats lessen the damage to your skin by those rays. Wrinkles, spots, and discoloration can all be minimized or lessened using sun hats.
Bandana
Bandanas are multifunctional and a great accessory to add to any rave outfit. They can be used as face protection to shield your nose and mouth from dust. You can also wet your bandana to cool off your body temperature when the temperatures become scorching hot.
Reusable Water Bottle
A given rule of summer festivals is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! If your backpack doesn’t have a camelback to store water, you can always bring an empty reusable water bottle. Hydro flasks are the best as they keep your water nice and cold throughout the day despite how hot it may get outside.
It is my hope that this article inspires you to prepare for your next festival in the best way possible. When you’re prepared, you will fully be able to take care of yourself and those around you who may need some help. Being prepared means less stress and more fun. Happy festival season!