What to Pack for Your First Post-COVID Festival Weekend
Post-pandemic life is slowly but surely getting back to normal… the “new normal” anyway. With everyone and everything slowly reviving, concerts and music festivals are getting ready to boot back up at last. If you’ve missed concerts as much as we have, then you’ve already got your festival outfits picked out and cannot wait to dance to live music again. After having lived through a bizarre era made up of quarantines, virtual hang-outs and drive-by birthdays, you might think you’re as ready as ever for a festival weekend. You might want to think again….
One of the silver linings of post-COVID life is our newly found hyper-awareness of germs. As fun and whimsical as music festivals are, there is a darker, not-so-clean side to them. Close contact with sweaty strangers and Porta Potties to name a couple. Luckily, we’ve taken the headache out of figuring out what essentials you need to pack for your first post-COVID festival weekend.
Before you run off to the desert to party with your fellow trippy-hippies, you’ll want to pack these post-pandemic essentials in your festival weekend bag:
1. Hand sanitizer
Chances are the festival will feature a few hand-sanitizing stations throughout, but those tend to empty pretty quickly into the weekend and they aren’t always refilled right away. Save yourself the hassle of having to search for a station that still works and pack your own hand sanitizer to ensure your hands are always clean.
2. Wet wipes
Unless you’re splurging on VIP treatment, you’ll likely have to use the dreaded portable toilets to relieve yourself all festival weekend. These can get pretty scary as the day progresses with toilet paper quickly becoming scarce. Throw some wet wipes in your bag and you won’t have to scrounge for TP when your bladder’s exploding. Trust us on this one.
3. Cashless Payment Method
Post-COVID life has most merchants moving away from accepting cash to contactless payment methods. Make sure you always have your credit or debit card on you to purchase food, drinks, merch or anything else you might want to buy while you’re out there. It’s even easier if you can set up payment on your cell phone. There’s a good chance that cash won’t be accepted at most festivals from now on.
4. Reusable Water Bottle
Festival veterans know the deal already, but it bears mentioning just in case you’re new to multi-day festival life. Save money on buying water all weekend and bring a good reusable water bottle — something that isn’t too heavy, but will keep your water cool all day long under the hot sun. Most festivals have guidelines on their website letting you know what kind of drinkware you're allowed to bring.
5. Snacks
Like water, buying food all weekend long can quickly add up. Check the event guidelines to see what snacks you’re allowed to pack and plan ahead. Try bringing snacks that fill you up and give you energy like nuts, fruits or veggies.
6. Your Own Party Favors
We know music festivals are all about unity and celebrating music together with people from all over the world. That’s why smoking a J with all your friends feels almost ritualistic during festival weekends. Unfortunately, post-pandemic life has us looking at shared smoke sessions in a whole new light. This year, skip the puff, puff, pass circle and pack your own smokeables. Opt for something a little lighter on the lungs like a vaporizer and fight the urge to share.
7. Breathable Face Masks
With all the face masks you’ve probably stocked up on since COVID began, you might think you’re all set. We urge you to think again. Music festival weekends can get exhausting, especially under the hot, summer sun. Put some thought into what face mask you bring. Choose something breathable that could stand up to the heat and humidity. Don’t forget to bring extras.
The way you rock out at music festivals might look a little different from here on out, but the magical experience of dancing to your favorite artists live and in-person with thousands of new friends (albeit socially distanced) remains untainted. Pack these must-have items in your festival weekend bag and you’ll be set to party safely all weekend long. Rage on, friends!
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and the world of fitness.
