Your summer festival survival guide
An exciting line-up of live acts is scheduled at festivals around the country this summer. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy the fun safely.
As summer fast approaches, so do the endless stream of festivals and outdoor concerts.
And sometimes the difference between a fun-filled experience and one you’d rather forget is a little preparation.
If you’re new to the scene, keep these handy festival survival hints up your sleeve help ensure a memorable experience – for all the right reasons.
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Festival survival 101: Sunscreen is your new BFF
Every Australian knows sun safety is the key to a fun day out, but just as time flies when you’re having fun, so does the strength of your sunscreen.
Cancer Council Australia chief executive Tanya Buchanan says a broadspectrum sunscreen should be re-applied every two hours when outdoors as it can easily be wiped off or lost through sweat.
“Broadspectrum sunscreens offer protection from both UVA and UVB rays, the two types of harmful UV radiation emitted by the sun,” Tanya says.
“UVB is the primary cause of sunburn, but both UVA and UVB contribute to increased skin cancer risk.”
Listen, you’re going to need earplugs
To fully enjoy the festival, you need to be able to hear it. Enter earplugs.
While it may seem counterintuitive, Rebekah Gilchrist from Red Frogs says people underestimate how loud festivals and the surrounding noise can be.
“If you’re in there for 6-8 hours it can be quite intense, remember to take breaks for your ears to rest,” Rebekah says.
It’s cool to dress smart
Festivals can entail all different kinds of weather, so while your outfit may be your biggest priority on the day, consider how it will protect you from the elements.
“We recommend clothing that covers as much skin as possible…it’s also a good idea to check that your sunnies meet the Australian standard to offer the best protection,” Tanya says.
Most festival venues entail lots of grass and mud, so now is not the time to pull out the stilettos.
Opt for a flat and comfortable shoe that you can easily move in.
Platform sneakers are the best cheat to being comfortable and while still adding some height.
“I would recommend closed shoes for many reasons,” Rebekah says.
“There may be a lot of mud around, and people will likely stand on your feet if you’re in the mosh pit.”
Pro tip: Protect your shoes by spraying them down with a water-resistant fabric protector – this will ensure they are usable after the festival.
Even the best laid plans…
While festivals are a time for relaxation and celebration, they can also result in serious injuries and emergencies when not careful.
Make note of the emergency exits and gathering areas, which should be signposted or outlined on a map.
Rebekah says the most common problem faced by festivalgoers is getting lost.
“The thing we encounter the most is that people are separated from their friends and start to panic,” she says.
“This can be avoided by having a meeting point at the festival if someone gets lost.”
Rebekah says this festival survival tip is especially handy for when you don’t have phone reception, so be sure to establish a meeting point at the start of the day.
Stay nourished and drink up (water, that is)
With the multitude of distractions at festivals, it’s easy to forget when you last ate.
A good festival survival tip is to schedule food and drink breaks throughout the day so your energy levels stay high and you keep hydrated.
“Dehydration is the biggest risk for any festivalgoer,” Rebekah says.
“Take plenty of water with you, but beware of the bottle restrictions in venues as you may need to purchase drinks inside.”
While it may be tempting to splurge on junk food, it’s important that you maintain a healthy balance.
“For every alcoholic drink, we suggest you sub in a clear beer and have a big cup of water,” says Rebekah.
“Snacks are also great to carry around, so you don’t need to spend money at over-priced vendors.”
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Written by Tia Harmer.
