Six Ways to make the Best Festival Campsite

Psytrance Festivals are an all-encompassing experience, from the first step through the gates to the very last set. Part of what makes festivals so immersive is staying on-site, nestled amongst the other festival-goers. While some of the gear may be the same, festival camping is an entirely different experience from camping outdoors. If you aren’t properly prepared or have never camped at a festival before, this list of tips will help keep your magical music experience from turning into a sunburned, mud-caked, bug infested nightmare.

Don’t buy the cheapest and smallest tent on the shelf

Many first-time festival go-ers will get the smallest, cheapest tent, thinking they just need to fit themselves and a few outfits. Buying a small tent will just make you feel cramped and claustrophobic, with no room to share the space with others or to get ready. However, buying too large of a tent will be a burden to carry across the fields and set up, and it may be more difficult to find space to put it. “Even though you might be concerned about getting the tent muddy or spilling booze on it, buying a cheap tent will leave you cold and wet, potentially with the tent collapsing mid-festival. Taking a middle-ground tent is your best chance of having a comfortable stay but not being devastated by wrecking an expensive tent,” says Timothy Gilliard, a writer at Essayroo and Assignment Writing.

Pro Tip: When picking out the right tent, calculate the best size by adding the amount of people sleeping in the tent, then adding half that amount for room and round up. For example, if it’s just you, go for the two person tent. If you’re going with four people, go for a six person tent.

Make your tent identifiably unique

Chances are, you aren’t the only person who went to the town’s biggest department store or outdoor shop and picked out the perfect festival tent, meaning there may be hundreds of the same tents to wander through at the end of the night. Make your tent stand out in the sea of khaki tents by customizing it with glow sticks, flags, battery powered lights, or whatever unique decor you can think of. Get creative, as many festival go-ers will be doing the same.

Plan for a good night’s sleep

One of the biggest mistakes you can make at a festival is not sleeping on the first night. In the excitement of arriving and seeing the grounds, it can be tempting to stay up until the sunrise. Enjoy yourself, dance and meet new people, but try to get into your sleeping bag by a decent hour in order to enjoy the rest of the festival. Bring a sleep mask, earplugs, and a comfortable pillow.

Hope for the best, plan for the worst

While most festival go-ers are there for a good time, just like you, unfortunately there can still be pickpockets at these events. Plan ahead to keep your items safe by getting a fanny pack or bum-bag with multiple zip compartments that you can keep on you at all times. “This is great for jewelry, money, small electronics, and valuables. If you are bringing larger valuables with you, invest in a theft-proof rucksack you can wear on your back during the day,” says Damian Grey, a festival blogger at BoomEssays and Writing Services.

Bring portable chargers

Keep your phone and camera charged all weekend long by bringing a portable charger (pre-charged!) with you in order to take photos and videos that will remind you of the festival for a lifetime.

Prepare for rain and mud

With thousands of feet stomping and dancing on the field, there is bound to be some mud, especially if it rains. Bring a lightweight poncho to keep your outfits dry, while taking up minimal space in your bag. While you’re at it, tuck in a few spare grocery bags, ziplocks, or dry bags to separate muddy and wet clothes from clean ones – you’ll thank yourself later.

It’s easy to forget the essentials with the anticipation and excitement of a big festival in the air. But don’t let early excitement keep you from an amazing experience – make a list, prepare in advance, and pack ahead in order to have a worry-free weekend. Bring snacks, hangover solutions, and solid camping gear to have the best festival experience possible.

Beatrix Potter is a journalist and writer at BigAssignments and OXEssays writing services. Beatrix loves dancing to psytrance music and has been going to festivals for over 10 years. Aside from her love of music, Beatrix is also a writer and tutor on the Eliteassignmenthelp website.