YOU’D BE DAFT TO GO TO A FESTIVAL WITHOUT THESE…
Festivals are a fantastic and ubiquitous part of the British summer. They range from gentle, family-friendly weekenders with clowns and splash rides in a local park to raging, thousand-decibel maelstroms in the muddy middle of nowhere.
There’s fun for everyone, as long as you’re well-prepared. A good tent, warm clothes, wellies, bin bags, enough money, dry underwear in a waterproof bag – these are the essentials. But you’d be crackers not to also consider packing the following….
The perimeter fence of the Glastonbury Festival is over 8 miles long – that’s a long slog! Consider you’ll probably be on your feet nearly the whole time. It’s not unusual to walk 20 miles in the course of one day at a large festival, and that’s not taking into account the hours of frenzied dancing to a troupe of Brazilian drummers or the latest hot DJ. Your muscles will be aching and in need of some proper repair. What better way to provide this than with a tasty protein snack?
We’ve all seen them – those lobster-coloured people who’ve spent the whole day in the sun unprotected and are now suffering the consequences. Don’t let this be you!
We’ve already had the hottest June day for 40 years, and more heat is on its way, so take proper care to rub on some natural protection against the harsh rays – and you’ll come out the other end with radiant, bronzed skin and glowing with health.
Festivals have to provide drinking water these days, and there are usually plenty of taps on site, but this isn’t much good if you only have a paper cup!
Invest in a sturdy, robust water-carrier such as this one from PhD, and the only problem you’ll have is unprepared, parched revellers begging you for a drink!
If you’re a carefree cat and a keen cavorter, you’ll no doubt be throwing dance moves from sunrise to sunset and beyond – so you’ll need to eat wisely to keep your energy levels consistent.
Dried fruit is perfect for this, providing a slow, constant release of energy without the spike-and-crash of other sweet treats.
No-one likes a smelly Simon, especially when you’re sharing a tent!
So have some consideration for your fellow festie friends by staying pong-free, and also show some love to yourself by choosing a good-quality deodorant with natural ingredients and no nasties!
Nut butters are a high-calorie, high-protein snack – a jar will fit neatly into your rucksack and give you a much-needed nutritional boost throughout the festival.
Nuts are full of good, heart-healthy fats, and if you choose a low-salt, low-sugar variety, this is just about the best food to carry around with you, and even better when you have something to dip into it, for instance….
Everyone loves a biscuit! They’re perfect for passing around or keeping all to yourself. Choose one made from wholegrains for a slow release of energy to keep you on your toes.
Being outside for a few days in a row can play havoc with your lips. Instead of letting them get chapped and cracked, pack a handy lip balm in your festival bag. It takes up hardly any room, and – who knows – you may meet someone special for a snog behind the stage!
Surely the best way to make friends at a festival is offering round sweet treats to fellow campers.
We have plenty of delectable sweeties made with natural ingredients, including gluten-free and gelatine-free options. What better way to finish the day than with a marshmallow toasted over the campfire?
It’s the morning after the first night of the festival, and several people seem to be dancing already, in a frantic, jerky way – but as you get closer, you see they’re actually jumping around scratching themselves raw. Yes, these are the folks who didn’t pack a good insect repellent and are now covered in bites!
Fortify your skin with anti-mozzie protection and divert those pesky insects into the next tent along!
Festival veterans know how important these are. It’s stunning just how much grime can build up on your body over the course of one weekend in the open air, so pack a handy, large packet of moisturising wipes like these wonderful, soothing ones from Storksak.
So you’ve spent the day learning to juggle on a unicycle, jumping naked into some mud with a bunch of hippies, working up a sweat jumping up and down to a gypsy-ska-punk band from Venezuela, then running to catch a headline set the other side of the site. Boy, there’ll be an absolute stench when you finally call it quits for the day and take off those sweaty socks!
Lessen the trauma of your stinkiness for your fellow tent-dwellers by dripping a few drops of sweet-smelling essential oil around your temporary dwelling. It’ll make everything come up roses, and promote a restful sleep until you get up and do it all again.
After a brilliant festival, you’ll have a head full of wonderful memories but you’ll be sleep-starved, filthy from head to toe and in need of a massive wash and a gigantic pampering session!
Be ready with a few choice items from our huge range of natural soaps, bubble baths and luxury toiletries for when you get home again – soothe those dancing feet, replenish that frazzled hair and calm your festival-fried brain!
Explore more Festival Essentials here....
Peruse more suggestions for an ace festival experience.
Stay safe, stay nourished, stay hydrated and stay cool!