10 Tips for Staying Healthy at Summer Music Festivals
Jake Newby
| 3 min read
Attending musical festivals can make for unforgettable memories, especially when held outside under the bright, summer sun or cool night sky.
We get to see our favorite artists, dance, bond with friends and sometimes meet new ones. They can be a blast, but there is also plenty that can go wrong if you fail to plan.
If you want to know what to bring to a music festival and how to stay safe and healthy during the marathon day, read these tips before showtime.
Before the music festival
Coordinate a ride home ahead of time: Traffic and parking will likely be a pain, so you may not want to drive yourself to the venue, especially if you think you might drink alcohol during the show. See if a friend or family member can pick you up. If they can, give them explicit directions as to which exit to drive toward.
If you are relying on ridesharing, download multiple apps to give yourself options since they’ll likely be backlogged after the show ends.
Create a buddy system: If someone is always looking out for you, you’re less likely to get sick, injured or stuck in a scary situation. You and at least one friend should be in constant communication and within close quarters of each other from start to finish. Organize a central meeting place in case you get separated at some point.
Take COVID-19 precautions: Make sure you are vaccinated and boosted before immersing yourself in a large crowd of people. And as a courtesy to yourself and others, visit a testing site or take an at-home COVID-19 test in the days leading up to the festival to make sure you are virus-free.
Plan to dress appropriately: Stay on top of the latest weather forecast so you’re not wearing too few or too many layers. This includes possibly wearing a hat to protect yourself from the sun, as well as sturdy and comfortable shoes, especially if you’ll be standing on gravel or an uneven surface all day.
Stuff a backpack or bag with items you’ll need: Remember to bring sunblock, phone chargers or portable power banks, any medication you may be taking, reusable water bottles, hand and face wipes and ear plugs or headphones to protect your ears.
Eat before you go: Don’t make the mistake of getting so excited the morning of the festival that you forget to eat. Eating a nutritious meal beforehand will provide your body the nourishment and energy it needs. If you plan to drink alcohol, eating a decent meal first will also balance out your blood alcohol level by processing the alcohol slower.
During the event
Drink safely: Do not accept open containers of alcohol from fellow festival goers and avoid sharing drinks. All alcohol you consume should be purchased directly from vendors at the show who serve them in sealed containers. Consider spacing out your drinks and consume plenty of water before, during and after drinking alcoholic beverages.
Hydrate: Check ahead of time to see if the venue and/or event allows you to bring water. If you can, take advantage of it by bringing your own stainless steel or reusable water bottle. And drink lots and lots of water, especially if the temperature and humidity are high.
Reapply sunscreen and find shade when possible: While dancing around and enjoying yourself, you may not realize the damage the sun is doing. Wear sunblock to the event and reapply it every few hours. You should also seek out shady spots at the venue where you can go to cool off here and there.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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