You will need a tent and sleeping bag; they will be your sanctuary when you need to escape the 24hr mayhem. Don’t forget tent pegs but don’t bother with a mallet, you can borrow one from the organised couple next door who have their own chemical toilet. Remember, sharing a tent is more fun and you should only have to carry it one way.

If you have friends going then preferably travel together. If you can’t then have a plan for meeting up, preferably before you pitch your tent. Mobile phones are obviously handy for this. If anyone’s been to the festival before then they may know a good place to meet up.

Going with friends is good because you can look out for each other in times of excess. It’s also a great way to get to know those friends of friends that you’re only on nodding terms with. Spend a day blitzed at Glastonbury together and you’ve both got a friend for life.

Don’t insist on sticking to your programme/timetable. Festivals are a time to get away from the control of modern life. Enjoy new sounds and new experiences.

Money . One year I went to Glastonbury with £4.50 and a sausage. I had a great time but I obviously recommend taking plenty of cash with you. Being skint at a festival is more depressing than being skint at home. Keep it safe, spread it around different pockets and NEVER leave it in your tent. Never leave anything of value in your tent.

Don’t take more stuff than you could happily carry for 3 miles. That’s at least how far you’ll probably have to carry it from the car park to where you camp. Wear comfortable shoes as you’ll end up  walking  miles every day, they don’t put those beer tents next to each other.

Take supplies: bog roll, water, fag papers, booze, sun block, whatever. If you don’t take it with you then expect to pay rip-off festival prices. Even water supplies can dry up.

Take a torch. Obvious really.

Don’t take glass. Most festivals (understandably) don’t allow it. Transfer that tequila into a plastic bottle before you go and you can be doing slammers in the sunshine whilst waiting for (insert name of favourite band).

I hope you find this useful. Have a great festival season and one last thing; take clean socks, for everyone’s sake.

Photo credits

1.  by clickykbd

2. by reds on tour

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