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The KarryOn guide to surviving a festival like a pro

It's music; it's booze; it's mates and it's dance moves! Festivals have been around since the dawn of time (we're pretty sure Adam met Eve at one), and they still manage to pull in the crowds.

It’s music; it’s booze; it’s mates and it’s dance moves! Festivals have been around since the dawn of time (we’re pretty sure Adam met Eve at one), and they still manage to pull in the crowds.

But what separates a first-time festival fiend from a pro? It’s a little knowledge, a list of dos and don’ts that they’ve learnt over time and religiously stick by.

We’ve managed to get hold of said list from a festival fanatic who prefers to remain anonymous (a guy with over 35 festivals under his belt) and he’s cool with sharing his wisdom with you guys.

Here’s how to survive a festival like a pro.

 

Do pack a packet or two of wet wipes in your bag

wipes

Spend more of your time partying it up and getting loose instead of waiting for eons in stinky shower queues.

These bad boys, although not the replacement for a hot shower, will go someway in dialling back your odour from high single digits to just below a three or four – noice!

And anyway, you’re at a festival, so just embrace ya stink and have fun!

 

Don’t pack your most expensive clothes

clot

Let’s get this straight: you’re going to come out the other end of most music festivals looking like absolute crap; there’s just no way around it – especially if you’re heading to The Battle of the Oranges Festival in Turin, Italy!

So make sure you leave your best pair of jeans and shoes at home, and instead pack those neglected items that have been hibernating in your closest for the last six months.

You’re welcome!

 

Do tie a brightly coloured ribbon onto your tent pole

tent

Stumbling back to your tent in the dark after a night consuming a little beer or wine, and then not being able to find which tent is yours, is no fun at all.

But that’s a future scenario that won’t happen at all to you. Why? Because you’re a smart cookie, that’s why, and you’ve tied a nice pink bow to your tent pole to help you find it in low-light conditions.

Alternatively, just stay in a shipping container at your next festival and bypass the tent altogether!

 

Don’t leave without packing for the weather

rain

Yes, this means you’ll have book a sit down with the local meteorologist (or you can just look at the weather forecast online – your choice) and pack for what’s coming.

Light rain jackets are always a good inclusion in your festival stash, as is a warm jumper and a couples pares of socks (which can be used as gloves if need be).

Oh, and definitely take a garbage bag or three: they can be turned into wicked ponchos.

 

Do equip yourself with some plastic pockets

lasic

Apart from keeping important documents nice and dry (think bus/train ticket, cute person’s deets, a list of crazy things you need to tick off at the festival, etc), plastic pockets are also great at keeping the festival schedule/timetable in tip-top form throughout the festival.

Trust us, you’ll be praised as being the smartest person alive on day three when everyone else’s festival schedule resembles your grade four book report.

 

Don’t forget to charge your phone and powerbank

phone

If you’re like 99 percent of festival goers, odds are you’re going to get split up from your mates at some point during the festivities. And it’s in situations like this that you’re going to want both yours and your mate’s phone to have some charge.

Do a full charge on both your phone and powerbank before you leave, and tell your mates to do the same too.

Failing that, just make new friends and start a new life!

 

Do take hand sanitiser and toilet paper with you

hand

Thousands of human beings getting sweaty together makes for the perfect breeding ground for germs and bacteria, and although they deserve to have as much as a good time as you, don’t let them rain on your parade.

Defend against the little buggers with the liberal use of hand sanitiser.

And don’t forget to take your own toilet paper – odds are there won’t be a single ply left by the time it’s your turn to use the loo.

How do you survive a music festival like a pro?