Attending outdoor music festivals is always a great way to enjoy live music, mingle with friends, and discover new artists. And if you’re a music lover in Australia, you know we host popular music festivals covering various genres. From Bluesfest in Cavanbah/Byron Bay to EDM-focused Pitch Music and Arts Festival in Djab Wurrung and Jardwardjali Country/Mafeking, local festivals cater for all tastes. If you’re pumped and ready to attend outdoor festivals like these, you’ll want to be prepared to ensure the best festival experience possible. You can start with the helpful tips in my post ‘4 Festive Tips for Enjoying Melbourne’s Carols by Candlelight,’ like getting your tickets as early as possible and bringing a camera to capture memories. Festivals run much longer than the carols though, so you’ll want to bring some items that will ensure maximum comfort and enjoyment all day. Here are four essentials you’ll need for Australia’s outdoor festival scene:
A backpack
Attending outdoor festivals requires lots of movement, from walking to different stages and food stalls and dancing to your favourite act’s songs and performances. However, your experience can be bogged down if you constantly need to worry about the things you’re bringing and how to protect them from the elements. That makes a backpack the the ideal bag choice.
You also don’t want to lug around one that’s too heavy, so opt for something light that can carry all your essentials. Sports backpacks are a great option as they use a minimalist design for people with active lifestyles who require portability. Oakley a great brand for this, as it also offers casual backpacks suitable for different occasions, including outdoor festivals. Take the Switchback Hydration Pack: it’s got internal pockets to keep your things safe, padded straps and back panels for long hours of wear—and even a small pouch and straw you can fill with water, so you don’t need to buy overpriced bottles at your next festival.
A power bank
Your phone running out of battery is one of the worst things to deal with at an outdoor music festival. You won’t be able to communicate with your friends or take pictures and videos of your favourite artists. To avoid this situation, consider bringing a portable charger or power bank.
Get one that’s compact so that it won’t be bulky in your bag or pocket. Since power banks come in different capacities, you’ll want to do your research on this essential as well. One brand you can add to your list is Anker. Its power banks can handle multiple full charging cycles and also support fast charging, so you won’t have to wait long for your phone to be fully charged. The Nano Power Bank (30W), in particular, has a USB cable attached, so you don’t need to bring a separate wire and detangle it whenever you need a quick charge throughout the event.
Earplugs
Festivals rely on countless (and massive!) speakers to help sound carry to the farthest reaches of the audience, including main speakers on the big stage, supplemental speakers at the back, and even subwoofers. No matter how hardcore you think you are, the volume they produce may also be too loud for your ears. It can cause conditions like tinnitus (a constant ringing in your ears) and may lead to permanent hearing damage and loss.
Since that can ultimately affect how much you’ll enjoy current and upcoming music festivals, it’s best to bring some earplugs. ABC finds you can get cheaper ones made of foam but notes these may significantly muffle what you hear. I prefer plugs made of flexible silicone that reduce the volume of what you hear without blocking anything out altogether. Some brands even design earplugs specifically for concerts, so be sure to do your research before bringing a pair along to your next festival.
Personal care items
Festivals are often full-day events. Since you’ll spend many hours—and maybe even days—there, having personal hygiene items with you is essential. That’s especially true since, depending on the organiser, the festival may only offer a limited number of handwashing stations and portable toilets at the venue. That said, be sure to pack facial tissue, wet wipes, deodorant, and hand sanitiser. You can use these to freshen up when it gets too hot or humid so you stay comfortable for the festival’s duration.
If you need it, add your personal medications to the list. Bring along more than you need and consider all scenarios. You might not take them daily, but antihistamines can stop you sneezing during an outdoor festival while headache pills can be lifesavers after hours of loud music. Some events may not allow pass-outs, so you’ll want to be prepared for worst-case scenarios.
Visiting the best outdoor festival experience starts with bringing these essentials. With these, you will have a safe, comfortable, and fun experience with your fellow festival-goers!
Photo credit: Wendy Wei @ Pexels
