Summer 2017 Festival Check List*

In the UK, summer time equals festival time and I’m super excited! Although my days of big festivals are on hold due to having Little Miss, we do try and visit every single festival our town has to offer, from the seaside festival to the food and beer festival, nothing says summer like walking around in the sun munching street food while LM goes on mediocre rides.

However if you’re heading out to the big ones this year, Leeds & Reading, Glastonbury Festival or V, packing is essential, no matter what the forecast weather says. If you’re leaving things to the last minute I’ve put together an extensive festival checklist to ensure you have all the important things.

Clothes
You need to be prepared for all weather and have enough that should you end up soaked to the skin or layered in mud you can change (I made this mistake one year at Leeds). I recommend a few basic tops, a sweater or two, shorts and leggings to go under if the weather is cold. A light weight waterproof jacket is vital, something that will keep you dry but will also dry fast once the rain has past. A sunhat, nothing worse than sunstroke especially if you’re not near a dark room and comfy bed, and I should know. Along with that, sunglasses! Two pairs of shoes. Why two? My ex put his shoes outside our tent as they were caked with mud, got up the next day and someone had stole them! You better make one pair a pair of wellies.

Camping Equipment
Most festivals provide you with a field to camp in, and where you camp depends on your ticket. Make sure you bring your tent, sleeping bags, a pillow and any extra blankets you might need to keep you warm. A picnic blanket is also good for sitting on outside the tent. I swear by a camping stove as food at festivals can be really expensive (one year I was so broke I lived on mash potato as it was cheaper than getting it with pie or sausages). You can cook anything on those so bring your tins of beans and mac & cheese. You could also bring a kettle that can be heated on a stove and that gives you the option of pot noodles. At night it’ll be pretty dark so ensure you have a few torches with spare batteries and ear plugs could be great for blocking out the noise. Finally take bin bags for all your rubbish.

Toiletries
A lot of people go to festivals and don’t give a crap about personal hygiene. I am not one of these people! Along with the essentials my staples are sun cream, dry shampoo, lip balm, wet wipes and toilet roll since those portable loos never seem to have any. I also bring my toothbrush, tooth paste and mouth wash. Even though I never have a full shower I do bring a towel so I can at least wash in the sink.

Your Day Bag
As in the bag you take with you during the day. An umbrella is advisable especially if it’s too hot for a waterproof jacket. Check out the designer range from Fulton Umbrellas, they’ll help you really stand out from the crowd. They’re also great for shade as you can use them as a parasol. A reusable water bottle is great as you can fill it up for free, but if you want to drink alcohol make sure you have your ID as festivals are cracking down on under age drinking. Also carry your sun cream so you can reapply during the day. A portable phone charger if your battery life isn’t great but you still want capture key moments throughout your day. Snapchat is big at festivals.

Packing for a festival can be confusing, you don’t want to bring too much or not enough, hopefully this guide can help you get ready for any festival you attend this summer. Stay safe!