Liberated's Rough Guide to Festivals

Image Courtesy: Brite Blog

With festival season in full-swing we thought it only appropriate to release our guide on how to ensure you have a notoriously good time without looking/smelling like 3-4 days of sleeping in a field, dipping in dams and  sweating under the African sun. 

#1: A Tent: This goes without saying but if you're going to a festival to camp you will need a tent. After forgetting a tent for Synergy Live 2011 stress levels were high, we were lucky to have been saved by well prepared friends.

Image Courtesy: Lock & Henner

#2: Pillow & Sleeping Bag: Unless you are intentionally planning on passing out a few mere meters from your tent and roughing it, we recommend you bring these two along as they'll be keeping you warm through the cooler nights.

#3: Loo Roll: Not the most attractive thing to ask for in an attempt to make conversation with the festival lads/ladies. See #4.

#4: Lighter/Matches: Cigarettes, Smiley burns, those strange deodorant fires, this will come in handy and if forgotten are much more attractive to ask for than the disreputable loo roll.

#5: Water bottle: Staying hydrated is key.

#6: Change of clothes: Beer, mud, water, vomit and other unidentified liquids are a given at festivals. You do not want those on your clothes for 3-4 days. Also remember that Cape Town is guaranteed to bless us with the 4 seasons in 1 surprise so warm clothes should definitely be packed in.

Photo Courtesy: LFE

#7: Camera: I would not even dream to hope that I will remember all the fine details of the festival so I would recommend a camera for all those magical  moments.

#8: Cash Money: ATM's can be a bother at these events with the long lines and such so rather take some cash along for the bar and merchant shops.

#9: Sunscreen: The last thing you want to look like is a lobster, unless you're into that sort of thing - see left. (No judge).

#10: Sunglasses and a hat: Protect yourself from the sun, it can be harsh.

Photo Courtesy: Cape Town Alive

#11: Food: If you can resist the festival food stalls (pizza, hamburgers etc) then preservatives will be the way to go. Think tinned food, a loaf of bread, hot-dogs, biscuits, chips and fruit. It may not be gourmet but it'll keep you for the weekend.

#12: Toiletries: Soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant - the things you would generally use to wash away the scent of a night on the town.



#13: Torch/Headlamp: For those of you who fear the dork factor opt out on the headlamp and grab a torch. These are useful for finding your way to the toilets and back to your tent.

#14: Wet wipes: Originally used for babies these bad-boys can save you from the infamous sweaty pits combined with the lack of motivation to shower.

#15: Booze: This is a given, there's nothing like sipping on a Black Label on a lilo in the dam. Remember plastic bottles and cans only - no glass.

Photo: Danielle Olivier

Well, hopefully you've enjoyed our rough guide to festivals, remember these are the bare minimum requirements to ensure a good time so if you have more space in your travel bag consider taking with Panado, bin bags (for the mess around your tent area), wellies, hair brush (ladies), camping chairs, plastic cups, condoms (for those that like to get down and dirty) and your party crew. 

Have an awesome time. ▲

Check out some up and coming festivals and get your groove on:
Rocking The Daisies: 4-7 October
Synergy Live: 30 Nov - 2 Dec