Festival Survival Guide

We had a fabulous time at Latitude Festival last weekend, but there is so much to consider when you are going to a festival, I thought you would appreciate my top tips.

Glastonbury, Camp Bestival, Reading, CarFest, Wilderness, Download, Leeds, Creamfields, Isle of Wight…. there are soooo many to choose from these days, each offering something slightly different.

I absolutely adore a good festival - that bohemian, carefree way of life filled with great music and dancing is totally in my blood, and I make it a mission to attend at least two a year. My ideal is to go to one family orientated event (Wilderness, Camp Bestival, Latitude) where I can initiate the brood (festivals are just fantastic for kids) and then go to one in an adults-only party, so that I can stay up a bit later and see everything I want to see.

We felt very privileged to get to Latitude this year, and after the last 18 months or so it felt like a particularly special event. After we had got over the initial shock of being in a crowd of people. we relaxed into what turned out to be an electric atmosphere of pure joy, just to be all together in a field again celebrating life - can you tell I’m a fan?! Here come my top tips…..

MARK YOUR PITCH

Whether you are luxuriating in a camper van or pitching a tent, a rookie error that I have made on numerous occasions is ‘losing’ my temporary home, particularly on the first evening back, when the fields are still filling up with new arrivals and look totally different to how they were earlier.

Take photos as you walk to the festival (it can take at least 30 minutes from your pitch to actually get in) so you know which way you came and invest in a kite-style tent marker which will help your home to be more recognisable as you will be surprised how many thousands of similar ones there are.

TAKE PROVISIONS

Festival food can be delicious - but is expensive and queues can be looooong. You are going to want to take it easy especially in the mornings so I would advise taking breakfast provisions with you as a minimum. I also recommend taking lots of water, snack bars to snaffle during the day, some electrolyte tablets for rehydration, (I like nuun), painkillers and vitamins to bolster you as you burn the candle at both ends. I took Altrient Vitamin C sachets which is by far the best Vitamin C I have ever taken and also has incredible beauty benefits. You can currently get 10% off this with code MIRANDA10 (only on the link above). Also, some cans or cartons of pre-made coffee can be a lifesaver!

BE SMART WITH YOUR SLEEP

Health warning! Do not bother trying to get an early night! It’s far better to go with ‘if you can’t beat them join them’ and stay up and party with the other revellers and sleep in in the mornings like everyone else. Otherwise you stand the chances of being rudely awoken by someone tripping over your tent whilst singing at the top of their lungs at 3am. Ear plugs are definitely essential, I like the silicone ones that seal your ear but they don’t block out everything.

REMEMBER - THIS IS THE UK!

Even if the forecast is scorching, this is Britain, and you are perfectly likely to encounter all weathers over the weekend. Pack for all 4 seasons, you will be so glad you did! Take sun cream and light layers for good weather so you can strip your outfit down or build it up throughout the day. Definitely take wellies and full waterproofs just in case their is downpour as once you’re wet it’s miserable. Denim is not a good idea if there is a chance of rain as it just gets soggy and heavy (I like brightly coloured sports leggings as a quick-drying and flamboyant alternative).

I love talolo boots for Festival Welly chic.

Talolo Boots

Also, even if you are having the best weather ever, don’t underestimate how cold it gets at night. Take your warmest hoodies, bedsocks, extra blankets - and my favourite secret weapon against the cold - hand warmers that you can shove in your pockets or even in your boots. Once you catch a chill it can take so long to warm up which is just not fun.

COMFORTABLE SHOES ARE A PRIORITY

Festivals are exhausting! You will do a huge amount of walking - just going between the campsite and the event can be exhausting - so pack your sturdiest, comfiest shoes. Apart from the essential wellies and flip flops if you are planning to use the showers, make sure there will be no rubbing with any other pair. I saved my most glamorous ones for photo shoots by the tent and packed extra socks and plasters just in case.

OTHER ESSENTIALS

Don’t forget to take loo roll into the event with you just in case, if it’s raining, sometimes a simple bin bag can be your best friend to provide a dry-bottomed seat. I always take at least two hats, one waterproof and one cowboy-style one for warm weather. Not only do they protect you from the elements but they will artfully hide all manner of hair sins. Dry shampoo, wet wipes and hand sanitiser are all also useful.

DON’T SWEAT IT

There is just so much to see and do at a festival, you are absolutely never going to get around everything. The sooner you accept that and just go with the flow, the sooner you will start enjoying yourself. Pick a couple of things each day that you really want to experience and then just relax and enjoy.

IT’S A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT

You will get tired, and the noise and people can be overstimulating. Play the long game, especially if you are with children and take leisurely breaks back at base camp to regroup and rest.

EMBRACE THE BUM BAG

It’s been a fashion faux pas for years, but during a festival the humble bum bag makes a comeback and you will see them everywhere. The beauty is you are hands free for all that dancing you plan to do. Don’t bother resisting, they are actually so useful. I have one that I keep specifically for festival season and I love it. Alternatives are a lightweight cross-body, or a small backpack if you plan on doing longer days. A sweatband-style wrist wallet can also be handy.

GET FESTIVE!

The rule of festival fashion is that more is most definitely more! Dressing to impress is all part of the fun, so take some time beforehand to enter into the spirit of it and plan some outfits.

If you are going in a group consider a common theme. Some ideas include going as your favourite band, cartoon characters, 80’s fancy dress or matching coloured-wigs. Just expect to get stopped for lots of photographs.

You can enhance your outfit and buy lots of accessories while you are there, but why not save money by getting a little creative at home beforehand - this is particularly great if you are going with children. Tie dye your clothes, embellish a plain pair of Wellington Boots, invest in face gems, biodegradable glitter, neon face paint, feathers and hair braids. If you are stuck for inspiration just do an internet search for so many ideas.

With your outfits, always layer and think of colour, print and embellishment, the louder and more colourful the better. Floaty dresses with chinky boots, sequinned everything, crochet waistcoats print, sheer dresses layered over swimwear, underwear as outerwear, lame suits, nothing is off limits. Clash your prints, leave your inhibitions at home and embrace that hedonistic festival spirit and have fun!