The Ultimate Festival Checklist

As we enter the month of June, it is safe to say that festival season is well and truly upon us!

As someone who has graced their fair share of festivals over the years, I think I can safely say I have somewhat nailed the festival checklist. With a long line of great Irish festivals coming up, I felt it was a good time to share my ultimate festival checklist with you.

So, whether it’s your first time going to a festival, or you are an avid festie-goer and just need someone else to manage your checklist for you, keep reading!

Camping Essentials

Tent and equipment (obvs!) – Make sure all of the pegs are there, otherwise it could be a recipe for disaster.
Sleeping bag
Duvet and pillow
Bin bag – Using a big black bin bag on the ground before pitching your tent will stop the ground floor of the tent getting soaked if the weather takes an unfortunate turn.
Yoga Mat – These are great for an extra bit of comfort for sleeping on. If you have a blow-up mattress, even better!
Foldable camping chair – Don’t expect someone to have an extra one. Always bring your own!
A trolley – These are super handy for lugging in all of your gear and can cut down the amount of trips you need to do in and out of the venue. You can get ones in ALDI at the minute for only €15 – no guarantees on how long it will last though.
Cooler box – Having a good quality cooler is a game changer. Fill it up with ice when you’re on the way and getting sufficiently closer to the festival. Chuck in all your snacks and drinks to keep ’em cool all weekend long. Festivals often have shops selling ice inside if you need a top-up over the weekend, too.
Stubby Holder – Perfect for keeping your cans cool, and makes them easier to hold when they come straight out of the cooler!
Bags – Think about what sort of bag you’re going to use. A lot of people tend to opt for suitcases, but more often than not, the terrain is usually quite uneven and bumpy – meaning your suitcase could end up losing a wheel along the way!

Clothing

Cosy/woolen jumper or fleece – It gets cold in the evenings!
Sturdy boots – Either hiking boots or Doc Martens
Wellies – I usually leave these in the car, and will only take them into the festival it gets particularly wet and sludgy.
Thick socks – These are a must. I bring multiple pairs of super thick socks. No matter how comfy you think your shoes are, I can guarantee you your feet will be in bits by day 3!
Raingear – If you have a good lightweight rain jacket and have the space, bring it. If not, there will usually be rain ponchos for sale inside.
Extra socks, underwear, and warm jumpers – If things get very wet and you don’t have extras, it will make for a very damp and cold weekend.
Hats – You never know what you will get with the Irish weather. As a result, I bring a cap or bucket hat for when the sun comes out, and a beanie for the often colder, and wetter, evenings.
Sunglasses – Fashionable ones are fun, but bring a practical pair too. I would bring cheap ones as the chances of them breaking or getting lost are higher than usual. For the love of God, leave the RayBans at home!

Bits n Bobs

Drinks – Make sure to double-check what the limit is on drinks that can be taken inside.
Food – You can bring in as much food as you like. Hooray! It’s always a good idea to take something like fruit, nuts, and cereal bars. Have something that you can easily snack on, but that will also give you some sustenance.
Water – Bringing a big bottle means you can always have water at the camp. Having a 3L one is usually best, and will only have to be refilled once or twice at the water stations.
Electrolytes – These are a necessity. There are usually water points scattered around, but bringing some electrolytes is the best way to keep you hydrated – especially if the sun decides to come out!
Paracetamol – Just incase you wake up with a pounding headache that won’t go away.
Travel size bits – Sometimes I find it easier to just buy travel-size deodorant, dry shampoo, and moisturiser. If you have plenty of space, by all means take your own, but travel size can be super handy for festivals!
Toothbrush & Toothpaste – Travel-size toothpaste is also handy to have. Oh, and mouthwash! It’s perfect for making you feel refreshed in the morning.
Hairbrush and hair ties – No explanation needed.
Sunscreen – Do not go without! Being outside all day without sunscreen is a terrible idea, even when it’s overcast.
Hand sanitiser – I wouldn’t dare go to a festival without one…or three. I get one that I can clip onto my bag so it’s always on hand. Especially useful on day 3 when no one has refilled the ones at the portaloos. Gross.
Bug spay – Just incase the midges make an appearance.
Plastic bags – To put your wet shoes into inside your tent. I manage to forget to bring one most years, and always live to regret it.
Towel – Either to dry yourself off if it pours from the heavens, or if you’re going to use some of the facilities like showers, hot tubs, or saunas. Something to note from experience is the showers don’t usually have shower gel or shampoo, so it might be worth bringing your own – just incase!
Torch – To leave in your tent so you can actually see in the dark. A phone light can do the job, but sometimes when you’re sitting in your tent it’s better to have an actual lamp. These are also for sale in ALDI at the moment and you can hang them up inside your tent.
Phone charger and battery pack – Battery packs are a game-changer, so don’t forget yours! If you don’t have one, you could also bring your phone charger and go out to the car park in the morning to charge it up for a while in your car. Most festivals do have charging facilities on site too, though.
Plasters – Bring a full packet. There is nothing worse than getting blisters after day 1. A sure-fire way to ruin your weekend and get in the way of your groovin.
Camera – Nothing says festival like a digital or polaroid camera. Don’t forget to pack yours!
Glitter – Obviously?

Well, there you have it. This will be my own personal checklist for festivals this year, and hopefully it will make your festival planning a little bit easier.

You can let us know in the comments what your festival necessities are, and if we forgot anything important.