Heading off to your first festival, not sure what you need to bring with you? After attending multiple camping festivals, here is our guide on what to pack for your next festival experience!
Going on a Van trip after the festival? Check out Our 10 Essentials for Your Next Campervan Adventure
Contents:
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1. Outfits
Tomorrowland is a place that brings together people from around the world who share a love for music. Your outfits are your way to express yourself in one of the most safe and loving environments. Use this as a way to transport you to the world of the festival.
With this being the case, choosing what to wear to the festival can be overwhelming. To get inspiration, you can start with browsing festival outfits on Etsy or see what others have worn and put together on Social Media through Instagram or Pinterest. Some festival essentials you will need are sunglasses, comfortable shoes (possibly waterproof shoes depending on the weather) and something to make you stand out from the crowd!
2. Microfibre towel
If you are camping at Tomorrowland, they have public showers available for use. A Microfibre towel is a must as it is packs down small and compact as well as dries quickly. We have been using this same Microfibre towel for all our holidays and other camping trips and it has been an absolute lifesaver with how compact it is.
3. Camping Supplies
Depending where and what type of festival you are at, this is one of the biggest difference between what you will need to past for this section. Some areas of Tomorrowland you pay for the camping to be set up for you such as Camp2Camp and Easy Tent.
However areas such as Magnificent Greens Areas allow you to save on the cost of the festival by bringing your own tenting equipment and supplies.
In the mornings as you wake and prepare for the day, your camp site is made so much more comfortable if you bring along just a couple of small camping essentials. We would recommend bringing some folding camp chairs and possibly a picnic rug to allow you to relax before spending a big day on your feet.
4. Water jug
There are plenty of water points within Tomorrowland to say hydrated. You cannot bring any liquids in but an empty bottle that can be filled up once on site is perfectly fine. This is advisable as if you buy a bottle of water in Tomorrowland, they take the lids off the bottles for security reasons.
We would recommend having a collapsible water jug which can easily be filled up and then using a water bottle such as the 1L Ocean Bottle to be able to fill up from.
5. Inflatable pillow
If you choose the pre set up camping option at Tomorrowland it will include most of your bedding such as a mattress and a sleeping bag however we recommend also getting an inflatable pillow. These pack down small and can make the difference between a bad nights sleep and one full of Z’s.
An inflatable pillow also comes in handy for your journey to and from the festival to allow you to enjoy the train or bus journey with some added comfort.
6. Earplugs
The music set up at Tomorrowland is amazing! Although it is also very loud! Standing up at the back of the hill at MainStage you will be surprised how much of the punch the speakers pack. If you love live music, we cannot recommend enough to get a set of Loop earplugs sooner rather than later. Tinnitus is a real risk. A good set of Loop earplugs does not stifle music like you would expect from some foam earplugs. They maintain clarity whilst protecting your ears.
Even when you leave the festival to head back to get a good nights sleep some festival goers enjoy a party long into the night in at the camp ground. A set of earplugs for sleep is also recommended to allow yourself to get a good nights sleep!
7. Fan
As this is a summer festival it can get very hot, especially if you are standing in the middle of a crowd. The person with a fan becomes an unsung hero in the crowd very quickly. There are two options when it comes to fan you can choose from a folding fan (which we personally prefer as it takes up less space) or a handheld fan which will require charging or batteries for the duration of the festival.
8. Bum bag / Phone case
Unfortunately, Tomorrowland’s large crowds also attract the attention of the wrong crowds. Pickpockets are known to operate throughout Tomorrowland so a couple of small steps can go a long.
A bum bag with all your stuff in it rather than your pockets greatly helps. Also, getting a phone case with strap so that you know where it is at all times is a great tool.
9. Hydralyte / Berocca
When heading to a festival or any events where you will be having several late nights, probably not consuming the best fuel for your body, its definitely worth take some Berocca with you to help you get some vitamins and minerals into your body. If you know that you will also prossibly forget to stay hydrated you should definitely also take some Hydralyte with you to have each day.
10. Eye mask
Tomorrowland and most festivals happen during the summer time where it gets dark late at night and light again very early. To help you with a good nights sleep, eye mask is advisable. An eye mask will hopefully allow you to sleep through the morning sunshine so you’re well rested for each day of the festival.
11. Battery pack
These are not completely necessary to have with you the whole time as Tomorrowland is one of the few festivals that I have been to that have a Battery swap system. You pay a fee and a deposit to get a battery pack at Tomorrowland, and once its empty, you return it one of the many locations to get a full one back. You can either keep these as a souvenir at the end of the Festival or return it for your deposit back, however not all festivals have this system.
We always use the Anker Power Bank when travelling and it is a great little power bank that lasts for multiple charges.
12. Camera Equipment
This is obviously not an essential however we love to document and remember our experiences. Since our Gopro is so durable and small its great to be pack for all sorts of outings. We have also been using the Gopro to video and screen grab images from it which end up being beautiful candid shots.
We also always travel with our Instax Mini Polaroid though it is big and takes up a bit of room we love adding to our ongoing album as we never spent time looking back at the photos on our phone its nice to have these in print.
13. Mini First Aid Kit
As festivals can sometimes get out of hand and there is the potential of blisters or small cuts and scrapes its always a good idea that you bring a Mini First Aid Kit. Even if it just a really small one, you never know when it might come in use. Once inside the festival itself you will also have access to the medical team if you need it however its worth being prepared.
14. Raincoat / Poncho
Though festivals are planned for over the summer months depending where the festival is there is still a potential for rain. It is advisable to bring a Packable Raincoat as you never know what the weather will bring. It is also handy to have as an extra protective layer for those cooler nights as it doesn’t take up that much space.
15. Wet Wipes
I think people associate wet wipes with babies and changing their nappies however at a festival wet wipes come in super handy! At Tomorrowland there are great facilities when it comes to showers however its always handy to have to give yourself a quick wipe down after. Perhaps you need to get all the glitter and makeup or face paint off at the end of the day then you’ll definitely appreciate having wet wipes handy!
16. Portable Speakers
This is not a festival essential however if you are heading with a group or you just really want to listen to some music to get you pumped for the acts of the day then you can take some portable speakers. The perfect speakers for a festival is something small and that doesn’t take up a lot of space in your luggage such as JBL Go or Wonderboom.
17. Suncream
When youre spending the whole day out in the sunshine for an entire weekend make sure that you are prepared and bring along some suncream. This is a handy essential to carry with you in your bumbag and also have some back at your camping area to be able to top it up.
18. Solar Lamp
Depending what time of year your festival is and where in the world it is it is handy to have with you a solar lamp with you in your camping set up. This allows you that bit of luxury when getting back to your tent in the late hours of the night without being stuck trying to use your phone torch to provide you with light.
19. Kitchen Equipment
This isn’t completely necessary for Tomorrowland as there are a large range of food and drink stalls at the venue however if you’re trying to save on bringing some of your own food then having a camping cutlery set and possibly a camp kettle then you will be able to make endless meals without having to spend too much on food from the festival.
20. Glitter
Can you even go to a festival if you don’t take any face glitter! When it comes to choosing the best glitter for a festival always look into brands that sell biodegradable glitter so that you know all the glitter that comes off you in the day isn’t effecting the environment at the festival. Face glitter is a great way to be able to express yourself at a festival but also remember to take something to help the glitter stick and have something handy to be able to wash the glitter away!
