Your step-by-step guide to festivals

Festivals are lots of fun, but they’re also pretty chaotic. Follow some simple steps of this festival checklist to stay out of trouble and make sure your festival is the best(ival).

This can help if:

• you’ve got plans to go to a festival and want to maximise the fun times

• you’re not sure what you should take to a festival

• you want some tips for a friend who’s going to a festival.

Have fun, stay safe, enjoy yourself

Here’s how:

Things to take

• A secure bag with a zip. Festivals become a lot less fun when you have to spend your time searching for a lost iPhone or your house keys.

• Sun protection - Sunscreen (even if it looks cloudy). You can buy a travel-size bottle if you don't want to take a full bottle. A hat and sunnies are also essential gear.

• A water bottle. If they don’t let you take one in, buy one as soon as you arrive and keep it filled. Even if you don’t feel particularly thirsty, keep up your water intake throughout the day.

• A roll of toilet paper or some packs of tissues will be like gold. The toilets will be gross enough; the least you can do is go prepared.

• Some good, solid shoes are essential. But don’t wear any of your favourite shoes, as they’ll probably be a muddy mess by the end of the day.

• Cashola, as there's often an extra charge to pay by card and lots of food trucks don’t take cards at all. Make sure to stash it somewhere safe.

Things to organise

• A meeting place with your mates in case you get lost in the sea of people during the day. Phones are useful, but they don’t have a never-ending battery supply, and sometimes the network gets overloaded!

• Print off a copy of the line-up and make a plan with mates about where you want to go. This will mean you don’t miss out on your favourite acts if your phone battery dies.

• Know where to get medical help. If you’re worried that you or your friend has drunk too much or overdosed on something, it’s really important that you let someone know.

• Know how you’re going to get home. Post-festival transport can get pretty hectic with thousands of people all heading in the same direction. Make a plan for how you will travel so that you can get home safe even if you are separated from your friends.

Things to remember

• If you’re drinking alcohol, remember to eat meals and drink plenty of water

• If someone you know has a bad reaction to festival drugs, you won’t get into legal trouble for telling the medical professionals what they have taken.

• Look after your friends and the people around you. If you see someone in trouble, don’t just ignore it.

• Festivals last all day and night. Try to pace yourself, take time out, and stay hydrated so you don’t miss out on the fun.