Packing for Festival Season [2024}: Essentials to Bring!

Love to attend concerts? Want to make the most out of each and every global music festival season but don't know how? Here are all the answers you need to prepare for the experience of a lifetime while snagging the best deals on tickets, of course!

Blaring music deafening out the world, sweaty bodies grooving to awesome beats, and that sore throat from singing your heart out are everything a good concert entails. Agonizingly, the experience lasts only a few hours and leaves you wishing for more. 

What if I told you that you could enjoy back-to-back live music from some of the world's best artists for the entire year? Not only that, but what about the amazing food and company, too? Yes! 2023 is here, and I know you have questions regarding where and when to enjoy festivals worldwide. This blog will hold the answers to all of them, so stay with me!

What Is Festival Season?

If you were to say that joy, adventure, and exhilaration are all synonymous with attending a festival, I would say you're right to say so. Festival season is the time of the year when a country or city hosts the majority of its festivals. 

When all kinds of people from all over the world get together to enjoy music, food, and drinks. Expect a diverse range of dates, cultures, and traditions at the top international festival destinations. Festival season checks off so many "firsts" on one's adventure lists. Exciting, I know!

When Does the Festival Season Start? Popular Periods

There's no specific date for the beginning of the music festival season, as these primarily depend on the location. The venue and native weather play a major part. However, since the majority of festivals are outdoor events, summer, and spring are the most popular festive season months. 

No wonder you find that popular festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza all take place in June, July, and August. But note that the opposite may be true for winter festivals or those in the Southern hemisphere.

How Much Does Attending Events Cost? 

An average 3-day event can cost anywhere between $150 to $700. However, this figure also depends on your package, the festival duration, and the music festival's popularity. 

Another huge factor is when you decide to buy the tickets. Usually, the earlier you buy, the cheaper you get them for! Of course, your costs can add up if you attend multiple events throughout the festival season, as die-hard festival-goers know all too well!

How Long Does the Season Last? 

On average, most popular music festivals only last about 3 to 4 days. However, some festivals can last up to 1-3 weeks! In general, the festival season will run for around 3 to 6 months. Expect to choose from back-to-back music festivals, especially in popular cities and locations. 

How to Snag Music Festival Tickets for Less!

What's better than the best musical festivals? Grabbing tickets for less! Festivals usually have all sorts of ticket options, from VIP to short, affordable passes. Regardless of which you pick, the earlier you book, the higher chance you'll find cheaper tickets. 

You can buy tickets from the official hosting sites themselves. However, some credible online vendors like Tiqets often post awesome deals, enabling you to snag a discount here and there.

Remember that the demand hardly fluctuates for extremely popular events like Coachella. It's difficult to get cheap tickets as well, but it's more important to grab tickets before they sell out.

For other more obscure concerts, finding cheap tickets is relatively easy. We have listed down some ways to ensure your trip cost remains low throughout:

• Plan in advance: You could even grab a cheaper flight and a few extra perks.
• Buy direct: Official festival booking sites often offer packages that include transportation, accommodation, and tickets, which significantly reduce the end cost and hassle.
• Sign up for the newsletter: Often, emails offer special promo codes and discounts. So keep an eye out!
• Volunteer at the festival: Some festivals provide cheaper or free tickets to people who help out or work at the festival. If you feel the extra work won't affect your experience, consider exploring this option.
• Buy second-hand: In rare cases, people pull out from the event at the last minute and then resell their tickets at a lower price. However, this method can be risky due to the possibility of not finding a resale ticket and being scammed. 

The next step is booking a cheap flight! Use a comparison site like Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights available. You won't have to pay more for it than necessary, leaving more money for things to do or food to eat!

How To Prepare for the Ultimate Festival Experience

Personally, I believe festivals are the perfect camping and concert hybrid. You get to attend the bustling concerts of elite artists while often living like a modern-day nomad. But, given this unique lifestyle, how best do you prepare for the perfect festival experience? 

Familiarize Yourself With the Destination

Look up things like the local laws, the weather, the nearest hospitals, and other facilities, which can help ensure your safety in case of any unforeseen events. It's also beneficial to learn about the place's cuisine, culture, and other attractions, so there is no "culture shock." 

Prioritize Location & Transportation

Try to book hotels as near the festival as possible to minimize the cost of transportation. Alternatively, camp the nights at the festival grounds to make the most of your trip. Doing so may involve stepping out of one's comfort zone, but I promise you, it's worth it! 

Memorize or Grab a Schedule and Venue Map

You can use the schedule to keep track of your favorite artists' performances and plan your day accordingly. In contrast, the festival venue map will visually show where venues and activities are taking place. Always grab both beforehand, as some of these festivals are jam-packed, and the venues are huge! 

I like to print out a keychain-sized schedule and map to attach to my keys or bag, eliminating the need to repeatedly check my phone. 

Browse for Activities

Cuisine from all over the world, art installations, souvenir vendors, and game stalls. These are just a few of the activities going on at festivals. Surely, you'd want to check them all out!  

This is what makes these festivals so great. They're not just about music, but there's so much more. Make sure you look up all the festival offers beforehand to make your experience memorable. Alternatively, pack some game boards to play with friends!

Pack Your Festive Outfits and Essentials!

Deciding on everyday outfits is a daunting task in itself, but choosing festival season outfits is at a whole new level. Music festival season gives people a chance to display their most creative looks.

From the smallest to biggest music festivals, almost everyone is dressed in creative, vibrant, and unique clothing that matches the festival's vibe. 

Hence, you must pack accordingly and also pack light, so you don't have to carry heavy bags everywhere!

Here are some festival packing tips to keep in mind: 

• A strong SPF of 30+ with hats or umbrellas to avoid sunburn. 
• Wear comfortable flat shoes rather than heels to prevent blisters. 
• Keep a small fanny pack or cross bag to store your frequent-usage stuff.
• Get a foldable chair for when you have to stand somewhere for a long time.
• Include multi-use wet wipes.

Pro tip: avoid packing valuable objects to minimize the chance of them being stolen or lost in a crowd.

If you're camping, here's a brief list of some camping essentials:

• Tents for sleeping in.
• Tarps for shade and cover during the festivities.
• Flags, ideally unique ones for easy identification.
• Sleeping bags for keeping warm and cozy.
• Pillows and blankets for more centrally-located events.
• Air mattresses and pumps for comfort.
• Mallets for bashing in those tent pegs without ruining your mani.
• Torch and lamps for seeing your way around.

If you're a first-timer and don't know how to set up camp, you should also look up some tutorials.

Pro tip: Use a review site like Tripadvisor to look up the best festivals and accommodations!

Precautions: Enjoy Yourself Safely!

People with sinister intentions never have a better chance to carry out their evil fantasies than at such a huge gathering. Better to be safe than sorry! 

Take Care of Your Drinks and Food! 

If you're old enough to attend a festival, you're probably aware of the dangers of drinking with strangers. Drink spiking is very common at crowded concerts and queues, which is why it's so important to always keep an eye on yours. Always…

Similarly, people can also drug your food. So avoid taking food from strangers. Rather only buy from reputable stands and keep your food within eyesight. 

Share Your Location 

It's wise to always share your live location with your buddies at the festivals. You can also buy airtags or GPS trackers and attach them to yourself and your luggage. All of these are useful in case your phone dies and can also help you locate your bags in case of theft. 

Drink Water, Rest, and Cool Down!

The scourging heat and physical exhaustion put you at risk of a heat stroke, so you must stay hydrated. Also, have quick, high-protein food like granola or protein bars at hand, which can quickly energize you in a slump.

Familiarize Yourself With the Rules and Regulations

Making sure you abide by the festival rules ensures a safe experience for everyone and that you don't get kicked out of the festival, of course! Be considerate and avoid harming others in a crowded spot or queue. 

An Easier Music Festival Season with Pilot Plans!

Planning for the jam-packed festival season may be a big ask, but there are plenty of tools to help you out!