blog – Page 3

Insider’s Guide to Bonnaroo Part 2

Bonnaroo is for the PEOPLE!

So we are in the final stretch…preppin, plannin, gettin that last-minute festival gear. I don’t know about you, but I have been wearing my Amazon Prime out, the postman be like – AGAIN!? But I am almost done getting all my gear. What about you?

I created a downloadable/printable PDF Camp Planning Checklist for everyone to help you to get your gear together.

The most important thing you do at ROO is to take care of you, your friends and your neighbors! The past few weeks in Tennessee have not seen much rain and the temps during the day are already in the 90’s and we ain’t even to June yet, so if you don’t spend much time outside without air conditioning – be warned! Heat STROKE (SUNSTROKE) is a real thing in Tennessee and you MUST stay HYDRATED with water – even if you don’t usually drink it. Heatstroke results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures — usually in combination with dehydration — which leads to failure of the body’s temperature control system. So use the buddy system and look out for one another, and remember to drink WATER! If one of your friends or some random stranger is looking too HOT, get them into the shade and give them some chilly well water.

With all this dry, hot weather the FARM is gonna be Hella-dusty and all those dancing feet are going to be kickin it up, so bring bandanas to wet and cover the face to decrease the dust you inhale. If you wear contact lenses, bring extra eye lubrication with you into Center ROO, and be sure to pack your extras and glasses. If you have scratchy eyes on a normal day…the Farm will really give you dry eyes. Also, if you have allergies or need an inhaler for Asthma, BRING it with you! And for any of my fellow Rooers who have any serious allergic reactions, bring the EPPY PEN! There are working farms with lots of pollen, bee, wasps and apparently yellow jackets at the left of Which, so being prepared with your meds and even some Benadryl in your first aid kit is not a bad idea. Don’t underestimate the power of a few safety pins and some duct tape!

One year, my neighbor cut his hand badly on a can, the first day. We had a kit for initial wound treatment, but he ended up having to go to a PLAZA medical tent. We used duct tape and safety pins to make a waterproof bandage. Having a few self-care items will ensure your BEST festival experience.

LESS THAN 20 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be sure to get a printed schedule when you come through the checkpoint and print your own just in case!

The schedule is out and I am getting super stoked!

Always print your own schedule and put in a plastic bag and wear a watch. Just in case your phone dies somewhere in Center Roo and you have no clue. Most of the time when you come through the checkpoint, a C’roo member will hand you your trash and recycle bags and your printed schedule. Sometimes they do…sometimes they don’t or don’t have anymore. Definitely have a plan, and don’t just rely on the app – unless you don’t really care about seeing any specific bands.

Camping Passes are Per Vehicle

As Stated on the Roo site: Every car, truck, SUV, minivan or other standard vehicles will need a Car Camping Pass in order to enter the Tollbooth into Bonnaroo. This pass will cost $59.75 plus fees per car, not per person, so you can save money and reduce your carbon footprint by carpooling.

Note: You cannot get more space than you have vehicles for. e.g. you may not show up with 1 car but 2 car passes and expect to get 2 campsites. You will only get 1 campsite per vehicle – regardless of how many passes you have. We do not allow purchasing extra space as it would result in inefficient use of the campgrounds and many people would end up much further away from Centeroo.

If you are Car Camping in GA, you will be given a spot that is 400 square feet. If you are Car Camping in VIP, you will be given a spot that is 440 square feet. And as many people that can fit in the square footage can camp there.

When you arrive, be sure to mark your site and locate your whereabouts on the map and orientate yourself to the nearest PLAZA and your memorize your POD number. This will be crucial if you ever want to see your car again. Your POD will be your campsite identifier, on the map you should find your POD number and which gate you will be entering and exiting. It is very easy to come out the wrong exit and adding an hour to your walk back to camp.

Plazas = Campground Hubs Of Adventure & Convenience and have all kinds of cool stuff to explore. Plazas are strategically located public places throughout the campgrounds for the community to gather, explore art & activities, as well as access amenities like info, medical or safety staff. No matter where you’re camped, you’ll have a plaza nearby.

All Plazas Include:  fun activities, parties, and art 👨‍🎤, shade 🌴, Free public Wifi📱, showers 🚿, charging stations ⚡️, drinking water💧, Clean Vibes Trading Post redemption centers ♻️, misting stations 💦, medical 🚑, safety stations 🚨, information ℹ️, and portable restrooms 🚽!

You should also think about marking your tent somehow with a flag pole and a flag or some helium balloons with a glow stick or solar lights that will definitely help you find your way when the campgrounds fill up and Roo looks like a cluster of 80,000 people hanging out in a big field.

Definitely check out some of the PLAZA entertainment and other activities too! Plaza Entertainment

If you are looking for LOVE or whatever– be sure to put TINDER on “festival Mode”.

The top things you must EXPERIENCE at ROO:

POSITIVE VIBES and KINDNESS – FREE

The Farris Wheel – under $10

The Silent Disco – FREE

The Water Fountain and Water Slide – FREE and under $10

Yoga-roo – FREE

The Oasis at BACARDÍ Bay – Drinks $12-$15

Sex Therapy Booth – FREE

Nature-Roo Energized by Nature Valley – FREE SNACKS

The Census

Register to Vote – Visit HeadCount.org/registertovote, OR, stop by the HeadCount booth in Planet Roo to register while at Bonnaroo! – FREE and promotes FREEDOM

I’m sure there is more I could write but you will just have to wait till we get there…

If you didn’t read part 1 – Check it out! Insiders Guide to Bonnaroo Part 1 – about gettin there.

Hopefully, these tips will help you to have the BEST festival experience and I hope to see you on the FARM!

Be sure to like my page on FB, Instagram, and subscribe to my YouTube for festival updates, new blogs and more music festival gear tips!

~Wren

Festival Fit: 30 Day Challenge with HASFit

Rounding down to 30 days out Ya’ll!

Who needs to get in shape for Roo?

I’m throwing out a 30 day challenge today to get ready for the BEST time of your life.

My favorite online personal trainers over at Hasfit_official have some great, FREE videos that work!

Today, I did the 30 Minute HIIT Workout for Fat Loss – High-Intensity Workout Exercise – At Home HIIT Workout and I’m not gonna lie – it was really hard but I know I’m going to see some real results in 30 days! You don’t even need equipment or weights; just use water bottles or cans!

HASfit has videos for all fitness levels so for the next 30 days you have no excuse, even if you are a beginner, they have a great place to start with this beginner cardio video.

Everyone pick one and let’s hit it hard for 30 days and get ready to ROO! Check here for their YouTube page

I discovered HASfit when I was searching online for ways to relieve Sciatic nerve pain and the stretches in their video saves me after those long road trips. They also have great videos for every part of your body so check them out on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HASFitness/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hasfit_offi…

Snapchat: @hasfit

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeartSoulFit

They also have new app!

They kicked my ass today…but I will be ready for BFE!

I’ll see you on the FARM!

~Wren

Insiders Guide to Bonnaroo Part 1

Some Tips – for gettin there, gettin in, timing and a few maps

We have all heard the rumors and stories about the 12 to 8 hours people have waited in line in the past to get in the campground, and yes they are true. So you must be prepared with enough gas, food, an empty bladder, cold beverage, patience, and positive attitude so you can RADIATE POSITIVITY while that hot TN sun radiates down on you. It is part of the Bonnaroovian Code .

2018 map

Number 1

Prepare yourself for the wait, the heat, and the search

Depending on which tollbooth you come through you will pass through a checkpoint where you will be greeted by a wonderful member of the C’roo who will scan your bracelets and search your car.

Be sure to get your trash/recycle bags and the program with the map and schedule!

(sometimes they will forget – I had many a year without a schedule so print your own – just in case!)

During the search they will be looking for:

NO Glass

NO Kegs (link to policy)

NO Weapons

NO Drones

NO Fireworks

NO Illegal Substances

NO Bicycles or any other 2-wheeled transportation device

NO Professional cameras (with detachable lenses longer than 2” long)

NO Pets (even really, really tiny ones)

NO Glow sticks

NO Box trucks/trailers (link to policy)

NO Laser pens or similar focused light device

NO Vending (sharing, yes. Selling, no)

NO Tools (stay tuned for what camping tools are permitted)

C’roo 2010

It usually only takes a couple of minutes as they actually look through everything, including opening your bags, coolers and checking out everything in your car. Depending on who you get, some are more thorough than others, some are more positive than others and as long as you don’t have any of the NO items you should be good to roll right through.

Notice GLASS at the top of the list, if you have it, your liquor will get dumped out in front of you. Also, follow Alcohol Policy – Each person may bring in 2 cases of beer, 1.75 liter of hard liquor (no glass), and 2 boxes of wine. Anything over this amount is considered “excessive” and will be confiscated. No kegs are allowed in the campgrounds. Most of the time is it easy breezy…if you have restricted items in your car you will hold up the line – so don’t bring it!

That being said – I have definitely heard the rumors and stories about the girl with a police sticker getting pulled for a thorough search, or just a random car being torn apart by cops as they are going in for whatever probable cause. It happens and you will probably see a few this year. Common examples of probable cause include the sight or smell of contraband in plain view or plain smell or an admission of guilt for a specific crime (like a sticker on your car). The best advice I can give you is to read the NO list, pack wisely, and roll incognito. The best way to avoid the drama is to pay attention to what they are looking for, don’t bring it (or make sure those glow sticks are damn well out of sight), don’t stand out and you should not have any problems going in. If you do get pulled over – know your rights.

You will definitely encounter a larger police presence on the interstates, small towns and in Coffee county as you start to get closer to Manchester. Don’t give them a reason for them to pull you over. Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition– like air in the tires, make sure your lights and signals work. Make sure your tags/registration are all current. And have good windshield wipers, you don’t want to be on Monteagle Mountain in the rain with poor vision.

Number 2

Timing means nothing

I see a lot of posts asking about the best time to get to the farm. The only definitive answer I can give is safe. The timing of your arrival and where you will camp is a crapshoot at best if you purchased GA passes. This map shows the tentative Map for 2019. I have arrived early on Wednesday and been in line when doors open and I ended up in POD 10 as far back as you could be past the East toll, I have driven in late on Thursday and ended up near POD 7. I know friends who got there on Friday and ended up near POD 2. It really depends on the number of cars in front of you and how fast the plazas fill up, as to where you will camp.

The best thing you can do is be prepared to wait to get in and be prepared to walk to Timbuktu every trip back to camp or budget for pedicab rides. Hopefully, you won’t be in BFE, but if you are sure to have had an approved clear bag, or a locker and good walking shoes. One of my friends who has been every year but one always takes something to soak his feet in – which is a lifesaver with ice water from the cooler.

This is what the Roo site says about arrival:

Managing traffic is the closest thing we know to rocket science, trust us. We have three GA entrances – which we call Tollbooths – as well as an exclusive VIP Tollbooth for VIP ticket holders only. In order to get everyone into the festival as quickly as possible, we carefully balance the number of vehicles coming into each Tollbooth. Please take the suggested routes below, and obey all law enforcement directions, as well as electronic message boards that may post an alternative route.

What determines where you camp? The Tollbooth in which you enter, and the time you arrive. Does this mean some people get “better” camping spots than others? Yeah, it does. Life is unfair. But no matter where you camp, you’re close to bathrooms, water, security, and medical staff. And keep in mind that a closer campsite doesn’t mean a better view of the stage. It’s just a shorter walk, and the exercise doesn’t hurt. Furthermore, we know from experience that amazingly great times are had in every corner of the campgrounds. Who knows, you could be camped next door to your new BFF.

The Suggested directions on the ROO site are:

If you’re coming from the east, use I-75 or I-59 to Chattanooga. From Chattanooga take I-24 west.

If you’re coming from the west, use I-40, I-24, or I-65 to Nashville. From Nashville take I-24 east.

My drive is from RVA so from the North – through Virginia to Tennessee, through Knoxville. If you look on Google Maps – From the North, the ROO site directions swing you down through Chattanooga and then up 24. This part of I-24 is where you will have to drive through Monteagle Mountain which is considered one of the most hazardous stretches of interstate highway in the United States. (Johnny Cash wrote a song about it) It is located approximately 40 miles (64 km) west of Chattanooga on I-24 in Monteagle, where the highway crosses the Cumberland Plateau. A great area for camping, rock climbing and repelling in South Cumberland State Park, or Fiery Gizzard Trail (seriously KILLER hike) but the scariest roller coaster ever in a car with 80,000-pound trucks zooming past you at 70 miles an hour.

Personally, I have been scared for my life by the speeding truckers on this swath of road in the past and I like to take the back roads to avoid it altogether. From Knoxville, I go through Sparta to McMinnville to I-55 going very s-l-o-w through Morrison to I-24 and I GPS New Bushy Branch Road which will bring you in on the West tollbooth instead of the main entrance off I-24 where most of the cars are lining up and waiting for the highway tollbooth. Now this is my way and it is not the shortest or most direct route nor does it ensure the best campsite– again a total crapshoot, the East tollbooth will get you in with a shorter wait time, but you still might end up in BFE!

You can also get off I-24 an exit or two after Murfreesboro, Beechgrove and head into Manchester on hwy-41, then you will get directed by cops and signs to the Farm. I do tell you these “back ways in” with a caution: the speed limits are much slower and the police are aggressive about stopping out of towners on the back roads if they have a reason. Do your own homework, have a map and a plan if you decide to take an alternative route. Print out a paper map and write down the directions in case you have some kind of issues with your technology.

When driving all those Bonnaroo or illicit stickers might not be such good idea, or writing on the windows or over packing your car to the point you cannot see out. Try to be incognito and cruise through those small towns with extreme caution. When you are driving into the surrounding counties near Coffee county and Manchester PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO ALL TRAFFIC LAWS, and drive like your FREEDOM depends on it – any probable cause is likely to get you pulled over and get your car torn apart and searched by K9 units. I also suggest you avoid rest stops and stop only at truck stops, fast-food restaurants, gas stations. Rest stops are havens for all kinds of drama and I’ve seen patrols with K9 units walking the parking lots. Be patient, drive with some common sense and don’t blatantly be drinking and/or parting. Those blissful moments on the farm are just a few hours away.

Tennessee’s open container laws are intended to apply to the driver compartment of the vehicle. So, the open container restrictions aren’t applicable to beverages possessed by a passenger or in a closed glove compartment, trunk, or other “nonpassenger area” of the vehicle. However, all you have to do is give the cops a reason. Play it safe and wait to get loose until you get inside.

This IS the biggest event in this area all year (Well – except for the inaugural Exit 111 festival – which will be a whole other world and article), so be mindful because Tennessee is notorious for Speed traps – an area of road in which hidden police detect vehicles exceeding a speed limit, typically by radar. Smyrna, Tennessee, (which you will be coming through if arriving from Nashville) about 24 miles south of Nashville off I-24, has a high rate with 74.31-speed traps per 100,000 residents. Also, Knoxville has more speed traps than any other major Tennessee city. So be aware and don’t be a statistic.

I suggest you use WAZE or a GPS that shows the speed limit and don’t speed. In some of these areas I will be driving along – on WAZE I see the speed limit change but no sign on the road, hence the trap, then you pass a hidden cop. Be SOBER, Be AWAKE and make sure your driver has had some rest or switch up with your crew once you get close if it is a really long drive.

The actual address is 627 Campground Rd, Manchester, Tennessee 37355, but you should follow signs and directions from the staff and police once you start seeing the rest of the traffic.

Number 3

Manchester Walmart

So it started as an emergency situation the first time my crew and I slept in the parking lot of the 24-hour Walmart Supercenter on 2518 Hillsboro Blvd, Manchester, TN 37355. Now it has become a tradition. The last time was 2018 and every indication says it is still ok to stay overnight in this Walmart Supercenter parking lot because it is open 24-hours and there is no local or state ordinance. Last year, it was like a tiny circus atmosphere, but I was so exhausted from my 11-hour drive I completely crashed out for several good hours of sleep before meeting up with my group.

It is a great easy access meeting point if you and several other cars are trying to meet up and go into camp together. That way you can run in and grab any last-minute supplies and coordinate going in together. It can be done, you just need to be friendly with the C’roo and let them know you want to stay inline and camp together. One year we got four cars together, but everyone had to follow close to make it happen.

So there you have it the Part 1 of my ROO insiders guide, just a little advice because: Bonnaroo 2018: Hundreds arrested, cited at a music festival. Hopefully, these tips will help you plan, arrive safely and have the BEST festival experience.

Part 2 will include more about the PODs, center-roo, showers, and some other good festivaling tidbits so stay tuned. Be sure to like my page on FB, Instagram, and subscribe to my YouTube for festival updates, new blogs and more music festival gear tips!

~Wren

“Where you going city boy?”

On your way back if you like chasing waterfalls Fall Creek Falls or rugged hiking and rock climbing definitely check out the Savage Gulf, both are worth the hike. And don’t forget about Mother’s milk: Jack Daniels Distillery is only 35 minutes away if you want to take a tour or have a tasting.

Cheers!

Newbie Camp Setup Guide Part 3 – FOOD

When it comes to my summer festival planning, I also plan my food and bring my own drinks since I always plan to hit a few each Summer. Festival food and beer are not nutritious and can’t sustain me for multiple days – I eat like it is a marathon. I drink that way too…I alternate my alcoholic beverages with a bottle of water or electrolytes throughout the day and drink even more water at night before I go to bed. For me, that is about a gallon a day and I try to never buy bottled water from the venue. So I am definitely prepared by bringing several gallons of water per person for each day and I also plan ahead to BYOA!

Two of my favorite recipes for refreshing and seriously buzz-worthy ways to transport my alcohol into my festival camp in other containers is SPIKED WATERMELON and My high vitamin C content PARTY NECTAR – that I usually put into recycled plastic bottles at the bottom of my cooler (pre-frozen), under the ice. Both recipes are really refreshing, will help keep you hydrated and will help you stumble into the venue.

The spiked watermelon is easy – before you go, cut it in half, cut it into small bite-sized pieces or use a melon baller, soak in your favorite liquor and add to an airtight container that is not glass.

The watermelon shots will do the trick for breakfast by starting your day with complex carbs and sugars mixed with your favorite white liquor, premium tequila, rum, or vodka and at the end, someone gets to drink the “juice”. Also, who said margaritas are not for breakfast or that classic hair of the dog – pre-made bloody Mary’s. I premix my liquor drinks, put them in recycled bottles almost full and put them in the freezer before transferring the bottles to my cooler before I go. I think everyone has some version of Hippie Juice, Jerry Juice or The Hunch Punch, and it will save you a ton of money in the end. And Don’t forget the BOX WINE – leave the box and SLAP the BAG!

Here is the recipe for my high vitamin C content PARTY NECTAR which includes sliced strawberries and lime juice, it is always worth the walk back for a nice cold cup full.

You will need a one-liter container for this recipe ( I use a Nalgene). One hand full of chopped strawberries and the juice of one 1/2 lemon and one lime. This makes one serving.

1 cup Smirnoff Watermelon Vodka

1/3 cup Triple Sec

1/3 cup Malibu Coconut Rum

4 scoops Country Time Pink Lemonade Mix

1/3 cup Water

Add the juice of the 1/2 the lemon, lime, and chopped strawberries. Freeze and enjoy cold from the cooler! All that vitamin C will help keep you healthy and could play well with your system if you partake in certain recreational substances.

Also, when you know you are not going to be eating right you can also add some Gatorade, Pedialyte and some Ensure Nutritional Shakes to your list to help keep you hydrated and energized. Something you can grab on the go for some extra hydration and nutrition. And especially if you are like me and don’t always feel like eating when it is hot and/or after a night of raging.

Camp Kitchen

Unfortunately, open fires are not allowed at any festival so there will be no fire-grilled burgers at your camp, however, with a little prep you can still eat well with no running water or electricity. Food prep for a festival is not like your normal camping trip. There are several challenges of keeping food cold, cooking your food, having a place to prepare your food and these are my suggestions for the BEST festival camp kitchen and a few of my recipes for easy, nutritious snacks that will keep me energized and ready for that late-night set.

First thing I do is I use recycled water bottles and I fill them almost full of drinking water and then I freeze them about a week before I go. I have a small cooler that I double insulated with Reflectix and I put the water bottles in the bottom. Usually, this will keep any perishable food cold for about 3 days and on the last day, there is usually still one cold bottle of drinking water to help with my recovery at the end of the festival. I have found you can really spend a lot of money trying to keep perishable foods cold at a music festival, so I pre-make stuff so I don’t end up with a cooler full of spoiled stuff in the melt-off water.

Second, after my alcohol prep is done, then I pre-make some food that will be quick and easy to grab. I am a big fan of wraps with peanut butter, ok almond butter for you sensitive types. Ham, various veggies, hummus, chips, guacamole, anything I can cram in a wrap. I like to pre-make wraps and sandwiches and keep them in a separate food cooler. If you toast the bread and then make the sandwich, it won’t be soggy. Wrap them up and it is egg salad, chicken salad, ham on rye on the move.

I definitely bring trail mix in little individual baggies, mixed nuts, apples, bananas, bagels, olives, or any little individual packets I can find and I have food instantly when I am impaired. I always take a snack in my in-venue bag. An apple in your bag and a few almonds can really save you if you get super thirsty or start feeling run down. An apple keeps you going because it contains calories and carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals, but don’t just take my word for it you can read more here on Livestrong.com.

Pre-making my food like a pasta salad, other side dishes, or breakfasts saves me time. So along with wraps, sandwiches and individual snacks, two of my favorite side dishes are hummus and pasta salad that I like to pre-make and all will keep well sealed in a plastic container in a cold cooler for a few days. I also cut up carrots, and celery for the hummus and bring along some cherry tomatoes.

Then I make a serious Breakfast Burrito mix that is quick and easy to warm up and really provides all the protein and extra carbs I need for the 10,000+ steps every day.

Click here for a PDF of my pasta salad, hummus and breakfast burrito recipes I love to make and take in my cooler for quick, protein and energy-packed snacks any time I can make it back to my camp.

To warm anything up, I use my Coleman 2-burner camp stove. This two-burner runs on the smaller propane canisters and is perfect for making coffee and cooking eggs and bacon in the morning or frying up some burgers or grilled cheese. Perfect for warming up any pre-made food. It is super easy to operate, easy to clean and the fuel is not that expensive. I actually bought a 4-pack of fuel and it lasted for several years of camping and festivals.

For the rest of my kitchen set-up, I like to bring a couple of those 2.5-gallon jugs with the spouts and a regular gallon or two. I bought a cheap oil pan at the discount store that I use as a dishpan and I have a small 10-piece cookware mess kit. I always fill up my Coleman 5-Gallon Solar Shower and use the hot water to wash dishes or myself.

So there you have it my 3-part series about how I plan and set up my festival camp. Here are the links for Part 1 – Part 2, if you have not read them. I don’t know about you but my schedule is packed and my “festival corner” that stores my gear is almost ready to go. If you are still packin, or looking for a tent, check out the BEST camp gear I found on Amazon and take advantage of 2-day shipping for students and Prime members.

Hopefully, these tips will help you to have the BEST festival experience and I hope to see you out there this Summer!

~Wren

Be sure to like my page on FB, Instagram, and subscribe to my YouTube for festival updates, new blogs and more music festival gear tips!

10 Craziest Summer Music Festivals Around the World

(in order by month)

There are three little birds on my doorstep singing sweet songs…

IT MUST BE FESTIVAL SEASON!

As all the children of the sun start to awaken from the long winter’s nap there is a huge looming question: Where should I go and what can I experience THIS Summer!

If festivals are on your list of travel destinations abroad, I compiled some of the biggest, most popular festivals from around the world for your planning pleasure. You know it would do you some good to get out of your comfort zone and see something you have never seen before, do something you have never done before, go somewhere you have never been before and dance…dance, dance like your microwave is not watching! Summer Festival Logistics Around the World

(I am listing these in order by month so the number does not imply any sort of rating.)

1. Glastonbury, Glastonbury, UK

(June 2019)

June 26 – 30 – The Festival began the day after Jimi Hendrix died, in 1970. Attracting around 175,000 people each year, Glastonbury is the single biggest event in the UK. Most know as a giant mud fest, due to UK’s proclivity for spontaneous downpours. Each year it brings ultra-famous headliners and huge crowds from around the world. This year’s line up is filled with some of 2019 most contemporary artists and will be situated on the same festival complex their veterans know and love.

The Festival Map is below (click for full-size version – past version). During the Festival the Information Points are a veritable fount of knowledge and home of usefulness.

2. Ultra Music Festival, Singapore, Singapore

(June 2019)

June 8 – 9 – One of the largest high production festivals is Ultra Singapore. The impending evolution of the World’s Premier Electronic Music Festival is upon us. With a vast new space for fans to explore, the ULTRA experience this year will be more immersive than ever before.

Historically, many artists choose the Ultra Music Festival to debut their new music because of the vast international audience viewing and listening at home and due to it being the first major festival of the year. Ultra Music Festival features a large variety of electronic music performers. These artists are announced in groups called “phases.” It brings the top EDM DJs from around the world to its numerous stages. You can buy tickets as single-day passes or entry passes for both days of the summer music festival. This music fest franchise offers multiple locations with different artists all over the world including; Miami, South Africa, Korea to name a few.

3. Bonnaroo! Manchester, Tennessee

( June 2019)

June 13 – 16 – Bonnaroo features a diverse lineup of 150+ musicians and other performance artists every year. With 10+ stages and entertainment that goes ALL NIGHT LONG, you will NOT be bored.

You can get a GA ticket for just $47 down at checkout if you use their payment plan. This little party in a cow pasture boasts over 80,000 thousand excited attendees is the one closest to my heart and my home town. Lovingly called ROO by the veterans, this festival offers multiple stages and festival grounds situated on lovely farmland in the middle of Tennessee. Anyone who has attended ROO can tell you its positive vibes are a life-changing experience and this festival draws music lovers new and old from around the globe with its wide range of musical talent and entertainment selections.

4. Awakenings, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

(April/ June/ August 2019)

Multiple Events Learn more – Over 100 artists from around the world make up this line-up. The self-proclaimed “greatest techno festival in the world” in Amsterdam features emerging and famous artists alike. Awakenings is huge and runs over the course of multiple and attracts around 80,000 people over the course of the events.

The long-running Dutch festival is a bit like scouring an A-to-Z list of who’s making it happen in techno right now. Of course, you’ve got the big names who dominate events on this scale. But this year the promoters are also bringing a deeper element to their sprawling event at Spaarnwoude.

See their site for multiple event dates.

5. Tomorrowland, Boom, Belgium

(July 2019)

July 19 – 20, & 26 – 28 – Travelling to Amsterdam is a part of all the special festivities that are being held this year to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Tomorrowland. The first edition of Tomorrowland took place in 2005 and in the meantime, the festival has grown into the most popular and spectacular music festival in the world.

Over 185,000 EDM lovers pilgrimage to Tomorrowland each year. Celebrated as a theme park for adults the festival boasts the most diverse crowds and artist selection during this multi-day event. There are multiple “wonderland” areas at this festival including Dreamville that is for camping and chilling out.

6. Creamfields, Daresbury, UK

(August 2019)

August 22 – 25 – One of the UK’s most popular festivals, Creamfields boost some of the largest EDM crowds in Europe.

For four days, the fields of Cheshire are taken over by music and people. You can find everything from techno to trance blasted from the decks on stage.

Here is their well-done after movie.

August 23 – 25 – Spanning three days Mysteryland is one of the longest-running dance festivals on earth. The main venue is the open-air arena, but in the surrounding areas are forests with a fairytale-esque festival décor with winding paths leading to secret chill zones with cool side events while deep vibrations of drum and bass, techno and house fill the air. Mysteryland is not just about music. The festival also puts on exhibitions from local artists, spoken word events and a tiny cinema. Each you this captivates over 100,000-person-strong crowd.

8. Sziget Festival, Sziget Island, Budapest, Hungary (August 2019)

The Sziget Festival is one of the largest music and cultural festivals in Europe, as more than 1,000 performances take place each year. It’s held in northern Budapest on Óbudai-Sziget, a leafy 108-hectare island on the Danube river. All tickets, which are very reasonably priced, include camping passes. Attendees are welcome to set up their tents all over the island, where ever they like. The festival is very uninhibited and, anything goes.

9. Sea Dance, Budva, Montenegro

(August 2019)

August 30 – Sept 1 – Sea Dance Festival takes place on the beautiful Jaz beach, surrounded by mountains. It’s one of the most scenic festivals on the planet and one of the most coveted tickets boasting luxurious accommodations. Robin Schulz and Ofenbach have been added to Sea Dance Festival 2019!

10. Burning Man, Black Rock Desert, Nevada (Aug/Sept 2019)

August 25 – September 2 – Not for the faint of heart or those without survival skills, this self-sufficiency challenge called Burning Man 2019 takes place in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. Participants join in the effort to co-create Black Rock City, a temporary metropolis dedicated to art and community.

On their website, they say BM is not a festival, but It’s a city wherein almost everything that happens is created entirely by its citizens, who are active participants in the experience. Ahhh so it is an art AND music festival! Definitely check out the Burning Man Ten Principles it is more than a festival, it is a network of people inspired by the values reflected in the united in the pursuit of a more creative and connected existence in the world.

Movie by: True Story

I hope that gets you started as you plan your Summer festival season and stirs some desires to get those passports stamped! Check out my 2019 Festival Guide for my favorite US camping festivals.

Hope to see you out there dancing the night away!

~Wren

Be sure to like my page on FB, Instagram, and subscribe to my YouTube for festival updates, new blogs and more music festival gear tips!

How to Go to a Festival For Free?

Volunteer!

One of my readers on Quora.com, asked me, ” How can you do larger fun activities for cheap? (i.e. music festivals, travel, etc.)”. So here’s my answer; by volunteering your time and energy to help out at festivals and events. There are so many different opportunities to volunteer at most festivals all around the county. If you don’t mind putting in some work before putting on your dancing shoes.

Just to be clear, volunteering means you will be working in exchange for access to the festival grounds at no cost. So yes it is free, but volunteering at most festivals could take you a bit out of your comfort zone if you are not used to being on your feet for long hours or being out in the hot sun all day or talking to thousands of people. Every time I have been on a volunteer team, it has been a hard day of work and a long night of parting and amazing fun.

I have worked and volunteered at several festivals and for me, volunteering is similar to the access of a VIP experience ( which I covered before in this article), except it requires working while having fun rather than just fun. Volunteering allows for a lot of access to things that you might now get to experience as a paid bracelet holder. Mostly you will have a staff or special bracelet that will allow you to go places the general admission wearers can’t go so you can do your job.

All festivals have a need for volunteers to run the ship so to speak and at Bonnaroo, they basically hire you as part of their “C’roo”. Other festivals usually have the same sort of set up, but after all these years ROO has it down to a well-oiled machine, so I am using them as my example in this blog, but again this applies to most festivals in some sort of fashion. There are pre-show and also positions during the show, and after. The C’roo requires a minimum work requirement of 18 hours spread into three, 6-hour shifts and the volunteer must be able to come on-site on June 9th. All PRE-Show Volunteers will be done with their work requirements before the festival begins Thursday afternoon, and the post-show clean up is also available. You can read about the 10 steps to join the C’roo and everything you will need to know here from the Bonnaroo website.

The Roo site has a really cool page about the Bonnaroovian Code that really covers being part of the Bonnaroo community. It covers the 6 things to always keep in mind (on and off the farm (DAILY)). Definitely check out their videos, they will get you in the mood!!!

PREPARE THYSELF

PLAY AS A TEAM

RADIATE POSITIVITY

RESPECT THE FARM (EARTH)

DON’T BE THAT GUY / GAL

STAY TRUE ROO

There are different levels of commitment to some of these volunteer positions, some may require 20 hours, 18 hours, 15 hours of work before, during and after the festival and some positions sponsored by most festivals will require some kind of a deposit. So free is not totally FREE….mostly this is just a safe way for the festival staff to make sure you fulfill your obligations for the volunteer agreement. At ROO there is a non-refundable fee as well as a full ticket price deposit that is refundable with the full shift completion of the work. For the Clean Vibes positions, volunteers are not required to camp in the staff camping, which really is a whole other realm at most festivals, where vendors and staff dwell.

There is an obvious reason there is a deposit because at any given festival day volunteers will rage it hard and then be unable to perform their basic duties. They show up late, miss a shift or just disappear altogether and never report back in. The Clean Vibes staff explanation for the deposit is, “If our volunteers do not fulfill their commitment to us, we have to use their deposit money to help cover the added costs we incur in having to hire labor to assist with the cleanup. Without the deposit, we have no way of being sure that our volunteers will fulfill their commitment, and the site has to be cleaned one way or the other!”

Clean Vibes is a great organization to volunteer for and what they do for the FARM and the 80,000 guests truly is what makes Bonnaroo function and stay enjoyable. They are contracted for festivals all over the country so there are opportunities with them all over. Just imagine how much garbage a festival generates. I grew up in the Mid-Tenn area and I have heard about some of the struggles the festival and the town of Manchester has endured over the years dealing with the waste and post-show cleanup. I’ve also heard the ground scores at the end are like Christmas, and you will never know what items might be left behind.

At Bonnaroo, there are 5 different positions; During Show Trash Talker®, During Show Clean-up Volunteer, During Show Compost Sorting Volunteer, During Show Table Busser Volunteer, Clean Vibes Trading Post Booth Volunteer and Trading Post Booth Volunteer and Post Show Clean-up Volunteer. You can learn more about Clean Vibes and volunteering for Roo here.

Now if sorting through other people’s trash is not your thing, at most festivals, there are many other multiple opportunities through several different organizations where you can volunteer and provide a service in exchange for your entry bracelet. I think that if you are willing to work in exchange for the opportunity to experience a festival then it is a win-win situation, you are doing something that is positive, you will feel good about doing it and you get to see a lot of music for FREE!

Also, most festivals have non-profit partners who represent local non-profits and they are always working to help to raise awareness and promote grassroots causes. For me, this is where I love spending my time as a volunteer. At most festivals all non-profit organizations have to apply for a booth similar to a vendor application, the booths are more informational and are promoting all kinds of different good for the community kinds of things. They usually need local volunteers to help them man their booths, so do your homework and check out some of the grassroots organizations from your local area. I highly recommend seeking out like-minded individuals and volunteering for the causes you believe in…BECAUSE you can make a difference.

Quoting on of my team leaders at Headcount by saying, “My volunteer job pays the most.” #MyVolunteerJobPaysTheMost My favorite non-profit organization to volunteer for is Headcount!

Some of my BEST festival experiences have been volunteering with Headcount. They are an amazing group of people headquartered in New York City and they have teams all over the county who go to shows and festivals to register voters. You may have had one of their ambassadors approach you at some point, or maybe you have seen their booths at a local show or a participation row at a festival? They are EVERYWHERE! You can sign up on their website and look at the shows in your local area where there are volunteer opportunities. There are Team Leaders from all over so you can contact your local team and get involved.

Their mission is: HeadCount is a non-partisan organization that uses the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy. We reach young people and music fans where they already are – at concerts and online – to inform and empower. Our message is not about what party you support or where you land on an issue. It’s that you must speak to be heard.

What’s Your Issue?

At most of the festivals I have volunteered to register voters with Headcount, the emphasis has been on getting active in your local area and to raise awareness about local elections and local issues. It really is non-partisan, not about the who or what party, but about the issues. Just trying to drive in the point that if you want anything to change in politics, it has to start at your local level and by voting in the smaller, less publicized elections. Every vote counts and you know you got to stand up, stand up for your right, don’t give up the fight. Make difference, VOTE!

At Bonnaroo, Lockn and Some of the Dead & Co. shows, Headcount often sponsors a Participation Row that features local non-profits and some great swag and giveaways.

(The link is to their archive) Including guitars signed by the artists given away and silent auctions to benefit all the non-profits who are participating. For me, those have been some of my BEST volunteer experiences and I definitely recommend you check them out or find another non-profit and volunteer.

I’ve also volunteered with Reverb Nation and at a few local festivals like at the Floyd Fest, a completely Volunteer Run Festival in the rolling hillsides of Virginia (it is seriously one of the BEST). They follow the model of several other VOL-RUN events around the country so if any of this sounds good to you, and if you do your homework, you could volunteer all summer long!

“Cheers to that!”
Wren

You can start your research by checking out my 2020 Festival Guide and research the festivals in your area and see the dates and all the links to their official websites for more information.

Stay turned I am also working on an Insiders Guide, also a Newbie part 3 with easy camp recipes and more camp tips so be sure to like my page on FB, Instagram, and subscribe to my YouTube for festival updates, new blogs and more music festival gear tips!

~Wren

“Do Good, Do Well.”

Newbie Camp Setup Guide Part 2

So once you have a shade shelter, a place to sleep that I cover in part one and my tent buying guide – the next thing is your living area, camp kitchen, and food. There are several challenges of keeping food cold, cooking your food, having a place to prepare your food and these are my suggestions for the best festival camp kitchen.

If you hate bugs and don’t like them biting you or in your food, I suggest upon arriving to your site, a back yard bug bomb and some kind of outdoor rug or ground cover. This will send all the spiders, misquotes, fleas and ticks next door. We did this one year at FireFly and it saved us.

Then set up your camp shade, tent and get ready to festival! Definitely the more tapestries and shade cloths you hang will create privacy and help to define your space. The best place to usually find these are at festivals made by festival vendors, but I found a few cool ones on Amazon that are not hand made but still will create shade and look cool.

Under my pop-up canopy, I like to set up a kitchen area sort-of in the middle (in case it rains) with a portable table. There are all kinds of options when it comes to kitchen camp setups, and these can range in price and extravagance. I’ve seen a few of the really fancy ones that require a lot of effort to set up. (Check out my Youtube video: 10 Best Pop Up Canopy Tents 2019)

In my previous post I mentioned my bin, not only is it a dry, clean place to store stuff, but it also becomes a table and some times my only cooking surface. I also like to take this folding table. it has handles, is light and easy to set up. It is six-feet long and is perfect to set up the Coleman stove and have room for a prep area. I usually store my cooler and my bin with my food and cook gear underneath. Add a pop-up hamper for a trash can and the kitchen is open.

First and foremost when I am car camping I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Coleman stove. This two-burner is the same classic stove my Dad used at our camp trips as a kid and the construction and durability of these have not changed over the years. It runs on the smaller propane canisters or you can get an adaptor to connect them to bigger tanks. This little compact stove is perfect for making coffee and cooking eggs and bacon in the morning or frying up some burgers or grilled cheese. It is super easy to operate, to clean and the fuel is not that expensive. I actually bought a 4-pack of fuel and it lasted for several years of camping and festivals.

One thing I have learned from my camping and backpacking trips always has an alternative way to cook your food, just in case. So I like to also like to use my Jetfboil Flash Camping Stove for anything that requires boiling water. It is great when I want a quick cup of coffee or tea – it boils water in 100 seconds saving time and fuel. I usually use it to make hot chocolate, instant coffee, oatmeal, or noodles. It is really perfect for those packaged camp meals. I never leave home without it when I am on a trail or car camping and it is super lightweight. The fuel for these little guys also really lasts.

For the rest of my kitchen set-up, I like to bring a couple of those 2.5-gallon jugs with the spouts and a regular gallon or two. I bought a cheap oil pan at the discount store that I use as a dishpan and I have a small 10-piece cookware mess kit. I always fill up my Coleman 5-Gallon Solar Shower and use the hot water to wash dishes or myself.

For the living area of my camp, I always bring at least one chair. Personally, I find those regular folding chairs really uncomfortable. This is the most comfortable folding chair that I have found that is under $50 and has an ok weight. Not necessarily a backpacking chair, but I really prefer this construction to those polyester/metal frames folding chairs that are so common. The seat is more sturdy and has more support. Then add a folding table, a few Luci lights and these LED lights to set the mood and now we are seriously festival GLAMPING!

Preparing now and starting to gather all the items that you will need to be comfortable just takes a little planning. I created a downloadable/printable PDF Camp Planning Checklist for everyone as you are getting your gear together. Less is more so don’t overpack – I try to fit most of my essential gear into one bin.

Top 10 Must-Have Festival Gear From Amazon:

#1 Jetboil Flash Camping Stove Cooking System

#2 Coleman Classic Propane Stove

#3 Luci Outdoor 2.0 – Inflatable Solar Light

#4 Coleman 5-Gallon Solar Shower

#5 WELLAX Ultralight Air Sleeping Pad

#6 Waterproof Portable Solar Power Bank

#7 BEARZ Waterproof Blanket Pocket Blanket

#8 Hydration Backpack Pack With 2L Water Bladder

#9 ULTRA COOL 1.5 Liter Personal Water Mister Spray Bottle

#10 Gold Bond Chafing Defense Anti-Friction

Stay turned Part 3 will include some of my favorite festival snack ideas, food prep suggestions, and recipes. I am also working on an Insiders Guide so be sure to like my page on FB, Instagram, and subscribe to my YouTube for festival updates, new blogs and more music festival gear tips!

Cheers!

~Wren

Festival Tent Buying Guide

When I shop for camping gear, I think in two veins, one is the lightweight camp gear that I plan to carry long distances on my back, the other is car camping gear where weight does not matter. Mostly, when I go to a festival, I plan to camp near my car so all that lightweight stuff does not matter. Now, If you are like some Roo’ers who camp near or under the arch every year, then you might want to consider weight or just buy a cart!

Buying a tent can be a confusing purchase to make.
When you start researching tents you can find so many brands and so many different sizes and configurations. You will see some that some mention weight in the description and some do not. That is that same divide I spoke of, two veins. The ones that mention the weights are usually much more expensive because they are meant for backpacking and are made from very durable, lightweight, weatherproof materials like Polyester and Polyester taffeta. Tents are also categorized by season. For a festival, a light-weight 3 season tent is not necessary. Instead, I suggest thinking more about the accessibility of the tent and the rain fly.

Tents are typically categorized by the shape, either dome or cabin. Dome tents are just that, half of a dome and usually are pretty low to the ground, the type of tent you stoop or crawl into. Cabin style tents usually have more headroom and you can stand up in them.

One can argue either way for which is the best kind of tent, I think dome tents tend to be more durable in high winds and thunderstorms because they tend to be lower to the ground and have full coverage rain flies. In my experience, I also find dome type tents are much easier to set up.

Cabin style tents also have some advantages like being more like a room in a house rather than a small space to sleep. Often the weight of the tent is not a consideration for these. They often will be made of heavy canvas or other heavier fabrics. Some of the cabin-style tents can also be huge. They can sleep multiple people and have room dividers.

When you are looking a the size of a tent you will see the sizes described as the number of people they sleep: 2-Person, 4-Person Tent, 6-Person Tent with Screen Room, etc. Some people prefer to bring a giant 6- or 8-person tent, while others like their own space and will bring a 1- or 2-person tent. As far as sizing goes, the size does not count gear, so a two-person with gear is just room for one so I’d say go up a size for more room. At most festivals the car camping space is about 20×20, so you might want to consider the size you pick. Personally, I think less tent is better and I focus on having a large space to shade and hang out in rather than put up a huge tent. I also like to put a canopy over my tent.

So why do prices for tents vary so widely?

Mainly it is the weight and construction of the components of the tent.

The various rainproof fabrics are actually quite expensive, so the more tent the more they cost. Be aware that higher-denier fabric canopies and rain flies are more rugged than lower-denier ones, and they weigh more. You may find a 3-season, 2-person tent can cost as much as a 9-person tent made from higher-denier fabric.

The poles are also usually one major difference in the price of tents. A tent’s pole structure helps determines how easy or hard it is to pitch. Most lightweight tents poles made from aluminum or steel or some carbon composite rather than the fiberglass of their heavier counterparts and that technology can add to the cost.

Another thing is just the brand itself, for some tents, they feature the same type fabrics, poles, and construction but with a certain logo, the price can increase quite a bit. I am not knocking some of the more high-end tent brands, but unless you are an extremist who is heading to the Pacific Trail, that extra expense is not necessary for car camping at a festival. I suggest this 2-Person Dome tent I found on Amazon for under $25!

Accessibility of the Tent and the Rain Fly

Once you have decided which season, style, weight and size of the tent you are looking for, I suggest really looking at how the doors and windows work in each tent and the rain fly. A rain fly is a separate waterproof cover designed to fit over the roof of your tent. Most tents come with the rain fly as an accessory and this can really be a crucial aspect of the tent because most likely, all that rain protection will get put to use. Even just the dew in the air will make all your bedding and clothing wet, so always put your rain fly on the tent when you are not in it.

The 5 things I look for are:

Does the rain fly cover the full tent or just partial

How do the doors unzip, will it allow water to get in when I enter or exit

Do the doors have screens so there is airflow

How many windows and do they have screens

In the rain, will it be a hot miserable box or is there ventilation when the rain fly is on

I have actually gone through about 4 tents over the years, some leaked when it rained, others we not engineered correctly and everything got wet when you open the zip doors and there was one that I almost suffocated in because the rain fly did not allow for ventilation, so do your homework if you want to buy something that you will want to use for years to come. My current tent has a porch.

Practice Setting Up Your Tent

Once you purchase your tent, you are going to want to be familiar with setting it up before you are in the hot sun with no shade after sitting in the car line for hours, so be prepared. Do a dry run at home or at a park, any place you can practice setting up. This will also give you a chance to see what other supplies you might need. Like a footprint for the bottom of your tent or a tarp, reflective tent guidelines and extra heavy-duty stakes. Adding a tarp or footprint will help insulate the floor of the tent and also add a layer of water protection.

Be sure to SECURE Your tent

Stake down your tent well, the day you arrive! Even if the forecast is for pleasant weather. Also, it might be a good idea to put your cooler, bin or something heavy in there as added weight. If a surprise thunderstorm stirs up, you don’t want to come back to your camp to find your tent gone like Dorothy’s house in The Wizard of Oz.

Another thing I always do is I buy a can of waterproofing spray and about a month before I go camping, I get my tent out, let it air out, set it up and make sure there are no holes or issues and I treat it with waterproofing spray, inside of the tent and out. It adds just a bit of added water protection and will actually make the fabric repel the water even better in a serious rain pour.

And YES, you need a lock for your tent. You know the temptation for other people’s unsupervised belongings is just too much for some people, so be warned. Brotherly love alike, cameras, phones, and all that pawnable stuff should be locked up if your eyes aren’t on it at any festival.

Tips on Taking Down & Maintenance of Tents

Every time you use the tent, you want to make sure it is completely dry and free of debris before you store it. The worst thing you can do is take your tent down and immediately put it into the carry case it came in without drying it out. The next time you open it up, it will be a moldy smelling mess you won’t want to camp in and that black or white mold can make you sick. I suggest you get so sort of pop-up hamper or breathable bag to put it in until you can lay it somewhere so it can dry completely. This is the crucial step in the longevity of your tent. I really love these pop-up hampers for storing wet tents, clothes and other bedding in the car after a trip.

After a few days of drying, I also add a few dryer sheets to the inside before I zip it up and I then take the time to roll it all back up, put it in the case and get it ready for next trip. I always make sure to store indoors, in a closet or dry place, I once had mice chew through one in a garage.

So hopefully this has answered a few of the questions you have about buying a tent and gives you a few tips.

Please leave or comments in the comments section if you have ideas you would like to add. I’d love to hear everyone’s suggestions on the BEST camp set up ideas, I want this site to be useful and insightful for everyone. This is just what I do and every year and my camp EXPERIENCE gets better and better.

Also check out my Youtube Video: 10 Best Pop Up Canopy Tents 2019.

~Wren

Be sure to like my page on FB, and Instagram for festival updates and new blogs!

Newbie Camp Setup Guide Part 1

Some Useful Advice As You Plan for 4 Days of Pure Unadulterated BLISS!

Hey Everyone! Thanks so much for all the support! I am a web designer and I love going to festivals and one of my friends suggested I should share what I know. That is what this blog is all about, 10 years of going to Bonnaroo (not to mention countless other camping festivals) has taught me a thing or two. Every year while cooped up in the winter, I sit around planning and scheming about my road trips for the summer and Roo is always at the top of my list. I always start now – planning a budget for the gear I need, things I need to replace or just the cool camp gadgets I really want. Some of my non-festivaling friends get tired of hearing about my excitement for the new camp gear I just scored so hopefully here I’ll find an audience. My advice should pertain to any festival…and if you have not been to ROO, well – Tennessee Welcomes you!

One of my readers in Nashville messaged me and said, I needed more useful information on here so this one is all about my camp supply list for my camp set up, my camp philosophy, as well as my gear wish list. I sort-of set this website up as a wish list because I love shopping for and buying new camping gear. I’ve got three levels of camp gear curated to fit any budget. General Admission, VIP and SUPER VIP. This blog is going to focus on the NEWBIE set up on a budget, but hopefully some of you long time Bonnaroovians and other festival enthusiast will see some cool upgrades for your camp too.

Backpacking, car camping, walking ten miles to a beautiful destination, I’m down. Walking a mile and fighting my way to the front of any given tent, I’m counting it down…if this year will be your first festival experience then, buckle up and enjoy! Please leave your comments in the comments section if you have ideas you would like to add. I’d love to hear everyone’s suggestions on the BEST camp set up ideas, I want this site to be useful and insightful for everyone. This is just what I do and every year and my festival camp EXPERIENCE gets better and better.

At most festivals, the campsite sizes will be roughly 20’x20. (You may not buy extra campsites – you will get as many spots as you have cars AND passes.) So if you caravan with one or more cars, and can carefully coordinate going in together, technically you can have 40×40 space or 60 x 60 space. In all of my experiences, the best camps are when we have numerous cars and people camping in a big group, because everyone has something someone forgot to add to the camp!

My camping philosophy is that I like to keep it simple and just carry what I need. After going on a few extended backpacking trips carrying everything on my back, you really gain a new understanding about what you really need every day and the “luxury” items you want to make everything more comfortable. I try to keep everything I bring narrowed down to the trunk of my car and I have a clear, waterproof bin to put all of my supplies in for easy transport and storage.

The top 5 things on my list and in my BIN are:

1. Light – I carry two small flashlights with fresh batteries because it will be dark in most places at night. I also love these solar-powered luci Outdoor, rainproof lights. I have several of them and I charge them in my windshield all day while I am gone, hang them on my pac, you never have to buy batteries and I have never run out of light if these charges all day. These are definitely one of my favorite pieces of gear for camping and hiking…3 of them are plenty of light for cooking, looking at the schedule or other camp activities.

2. Water – I always have a few refillable water bottles with me, (cheap and disposable) more than one in case I lose one.

3. Water – The best thing to have is a water spray bottle – you can make countless friends by sharing cold water with everyone around you that are frying while standing 3 feet from the stage, 30 minutes before the show starts. Like Bacon.

4. Water – A HYDRATION BACKPACK is a must and just put water in it. Every person should drink at least a few liters of water every day. As soon as you put flavored whatever in it, the water will never taste right again, be warned.

5. Shade – You Need SHADE. Shade for your eyes, shade for your head, a hat that covers all the way around and shade for your camp.

Making sure that you have reliable light sources, plenty of water (like several gallons, 1 per day), containers and/or dispensers for the water and you will be well on your way to being prepared. The shade, however, can be an expensive thing. Over the years I have had several screened in shade structures that were not cheap and were a beast to set up, to some simple pop-ups that did not fare well in the thunderstorm and pouring rain so it is hard to give a budget-friendly answer here. Here is my Youtube Video: 10 Best Pop Up Canopy Tents 2019.

Even a simple pop-up like this one can run you around $100 and several years in a row I saw these things get lifted up and tossed about by the high winds or the rain rip through the top panel in a crazy downpour. Some of the more expensive models are more durable and have sandbags and reinforcement tie-downs and I recommend you batten down the hatches the first day, when you put these things up. Pool Noodles!

These three things can help make these more sturdy: 1. Pool Noodles, if you take pool noodles and place them in the rafters of the pop-up, it can prevent water sagging and giving you a nice, cold, unexpected shower.

2. Reflective Tent Rope and Geertop 10 Pack Aluminum Camping Tent Stakes – I feature these on the site because the string is reflective and they really stay in the ground. 3. Industrial Grade Heavy Duty Double-Stitched Canopy Weights or just recycled bags with sand or dirt attached with some duct tape might work if you want to go all “Macgyver.”

Tents and Sleeping

Now everyone knows buying camping gear can be expensive, but I think if you are starting out buying new gear, you should think of it as an ongoing thing because camping gear does not last forever. The way I look at it is at Roo, I’m going to spend the least amount of time there sleeping, so where I sleep can be simple and not take up too much room.

A festival Vet: Alexandra Schleuderer says, ” Less tent the better. You’ll just be in it to sleep. Saving space for a little living area is more important.” So don’t just take my word for it, she agrees less tent is better.

There are all kinds of levels of tents and again any polyester with polyurethane-coated waterproof tent (here’s one for $25) will work for a festival. Save your money for your shade set up. If you plan to mostly car camp, don’t worry about spending the extra money on some light-weight brand tent. Also, a can of Outdoor Water Shield applied to all your gear like tent, chairs, tapestries can help keep things dry during that most inevitable thunderstorm that will most likely roll up during the scheduled time for your favorite band.

I DEFINITELY recommend the shade over your tent or car method and I will mention it again because SHADE is so important and can also help keep things dry during a thunderstorm. As soon as that hot morning sun hits your tent, it will start to heat up and you will not be able to stay in there long. A tarp for the bottom of tent, a tarp for the top of the tent, a tarp or outdoor rug for the floor of your shelter. If you plan for tarps or tapestries on the East and West of your pop-up then you can prolong your sleeping enjoyment.

Then you will need the usual sleeping bags and extra blankets, sheets, pillows – again car camping so you don’t have to buy anything special. Sleeping on the ground at night even in June can still get a bit chilly, especially if there is rain so bring something warm and prepare to keep it dry. I like to keep my bedding a waterproof bag like this one.

I’d say one thing that will make you the most comfortable is an air mattress or at least a good sleeping pad. These can be sort-of like the pop-up prices, you can really break the bank on the air mattress – so I’d say base that on what is your level of comfort? I do love my self inflating Ultralight Air Sleeping Pad and that is usually plenty of padding for me if I sleep on top of my sleeping bag. If you buy something that is not self-inflating don’t forget the air pump (don’t forget batteries or plug adaptor).

Well, hopefully, that will get you started as you start preparing for this little adventure. In part 2, I’m going to talk more about living/parting area set up, cooking and food prep. So definitely lots more to write! Check out my Youtube video: 5 Best Camping Gear and Gadgets You Must Have In 2019.

Also! Check out the video from my friends at Headcount we made last year at LOCKN festival. My friend Whitt features my car set up and has a lot of other great tips for your BEST festival camp.

Check out my blog about volunteering at festivals and going for FREE and be sure to like my page on FB, Instagram, and YouTube for festival updates, new blogs and more music festival gear tips!

Cheers!

~Wren

To VIP or NOT VIP?

That is is the question, is it worth it?

I often see this question on the FB group, so this my take. Is VIP worth it?

Yes and No.

I think it is really a matter of your comfort zone…

So what is the difference for VIP at most festivals?

It really comes down to proximity and access to air-conditioned bathrooms and alcohol.

I’ve had the privilege to have had both experiences and I find general admission and VIP are two very different festival experiences. And personally, I don’t know about you…but part of the whole purpose of a music festival for me, is to be outside and to breathe in that fresh air, soak up that sunshine and enjoy being in the moment. I want to be out roaming around in all the energy, people, the crowd and all those positive vibes. I’m not going there to sit in the air-conditioned rooms. I do that most other days at work. I’m going to be out in it and dancing in that hot dusty air. Being part of the GA crowd and feeling almost united with those around me in bliss and enjoyment is really part of the wonderland atmosphere I love. Those few days of universal oneness and happiness being surrounded by all those good vibrations. I don’t mind being hot and getting dirty because I think that is part of the fun.

For someone who might not be used to the outdoors, VIP might be a better option. Some people can’t stand it, they can’t deal with the lines and the nasty port-a-potties or have never really been in 80’s + degrees scorching sun and most VIP packages tend to provide some of those extra comforts.

Or if you have any special needs VIP can really make a difference in a person’s enjoyment and even desire or ability to go. Most of the time it will guarantee a closer camp spot, but then you won’t get to go on golf cart adventures, but I digress. I think if you have the funds and you want to behave a more comfortable experience then there are definitely reasons to purchase and covet those bracelets.

At most festivals, the air-conditioned bathrooms are sort-of heavenly. Clean, nice, cold…and then omg, I’ve got to make it from What to This and I am going to miss half of that band because I’ve got to go the VIP bathrooms. Usually, the VIP access has all kinds of “special” privileges, which would include the things you experience mostly at home. Air conditioning, couches, toilets you can sit on, free sodas, some kind of snacks and access to some kind of bar that usually has much shorter lines and more top-shelf alcohol selections and food. But, all this comes at a price – it is usually not all that close to where you camp, nor the crowds. It may be in some obscure corner somewhere.

Access to the stage is quite different for VIP, most of the time there are secret entry points and walkways for those special wrist bands that can get you a lot closer to the stage and help you move around avoiding the majority of the crowd. There are usually access points to the right of the stage in the fence with a special monitored entry. In most VIP situations there are a few of these special security controlled sections that are less crowded, they might include seats or chairs or an area with an overview of the stage that also has a private bar. Again, a nice place to hang out if you are not trying to make it to the front of What Stage from the other side of Center Roo and you have to walk all the way over to the VIP barn for the bathrooms or If your trying to keep up with your crew who couldn’t afford it, you won’t be able to share those experiences.

Now if getting close to your favorite Rock Star is one of your priorities, then VIP might also be a good option for you. Most of the VIP packages include some kind of access that could offer one of those once-in-a-life-time fanboy or girl opportunities to come stalker close to one of your favorite rock stars.

So then again to you, it might be worth it and you may be comfortable and able to spend that kind of cash on it. So you know if it is your band and it would be an amazing moment for you…it makes you happy then YES LAWD! It is worth every last penny!

You know that was fun – but is VIP or GA a better festival experience?

I’ve had a blast “mingling with the animals” and also experiencing some of the VIP perks and I don’t think spending the extra money is necessary. It might be different for you and the perks can be nice. But for me, there is no FOMO. I know I will have an amazing time regardless of which bracelet I have on. Part of the fun for me is being a little uncomfortable so all the gross port-a-potties, heat, dirt, bugs and sweat, maybe the rain won’t ruin it for me. But definitely something to consider if the outdoors is not your thing. It just reminds me of good times back in high school camping near the ‘boro, in the rain on some land in the middle of nowhere.

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~Wren