Dolly Does Festivals

Sweat, glitter, blood, tears, wet crotch… yep, they’re all familiar elements for many festival go-ers. As some of us prepare, with a big dollop of excitement, for a summer sprinkled with festivals I thought I’d share how I ensure my gang and I have a blast at festivals.

Travel: Make sure you have your travel sorted: whether you’re driving to the venue or getting public transport, make sure you know your route and have booked parking and transport once you have your festival ticket. Lots of festivals link up with coach companies to lay on buses and this can be a wonderful way to travel and get the party started before the festival! Pack as much as you can the night before arrival and departure so you do not get stranded – Uber can be expensive!

Plan Ahead: Once you get to the festival, there are so many distractions and wonderful people that you can end up over-excited and missing main events. Check out the set times and make a list in order of acts you want to see from “Absolutely cannot miss” down to “Wouldn’t mind seeing“. Plot them across the festival and have your non-negotiables (I will never forgive myself for sleeping through an Inner City set and an intimate audience with Zandra Rhodes!) As long as you have your non-negotiables then you can go with a flow, meet new folk and hang out in between.

​Packing: Before I leave home, I pack with anal retention! If it’s a three day festival then I need six outfits: one per day and one per night. Travel in comfy clothes that you will be able to erect your tent in. As space can sometimes be at a premium and your clothes may be packed tightly, I organise my looks from underwear and sunglasses to jewellery and everything in between and bag each look up. Then I label the bag with when it is for, ie, SATURDAY DAY or SUNDAY NIGHT. I know it sounds like a faff but it means I can get ready in a short amount of time in cramped spaces as I have everything organised and ready to go. Historically, I have always saved the BIG looks with wow factors for the evening, but at festivals the lighting can be dim in the evening so I have changed this up. We use our WOW looks during the day when everyone can see us! Don’t hide those fabulous threads away at night!

We use our WOW looks during the day when everyone can see us! Don’t hide those fabulous threads away at night!

DOLLY

Camping: Try to get to the site early enough to get a decent pitch: not too near toilets, food stalls or major intersections. If you’re camping in a group, make a small circle but don’t leave big gaps as you’ll wake up with other tents squeezed in there. Remember, you shouldn’t be spending long periods of time in the tent or at the pitch so don’t overthink it. Make friends with your neighbours as they will look out for your tent and belongings. Sleep with your valuables in the bottom of your sleeping bag. PLEASE. Make sure you pack warm layers for night time, even in summer it can get hella cold. We make sure we bring reusable water bottles so we can fill up when we go into the main arena. Take snacks so you can have brekkie at the tent and don’t have to spend £20 before the day has started. If you have room, a single gas ring and kettle is great for tea and you’ll make lots of friends. Just check the campsite cooking rules for your festival. Take everything home afterwards. Honestly the scenes after some festivals (Boomtown!) have looked like a post apocalyptic nightmare. Such terrible waste: tents, beds, chairs all left behind.

Bum Bag/Fanny Pack Essentials: Mobile phone, charger, sun screen, refillable water bottle, antibac, tissues (for the loo) and condoms. I would say cash but as many festivals are going cashless, check the sitch before you leave. A little cash is never a bad thing.

Additional Considerations: If you have allergies or are on any medication, please make sure someone with you knows. Pace yourself, have a disco nap in the day (just set your alarm so you don’t sleep through with the hypnotic sound of the main act in the distance!) Go easy on alcohol so you get to enjoy the festival. Make friends with security staff, most are lovely and will be helpful if you need them. Spare chargers are a must for your mobile phone but don’t rely on a good mobile service: plan a rendez-vous point that you can meet at every two hours if you all get separated. If you take substances that make you feel unwell, please tell someone, likewise if someone in your group does, get to the first aid tent ASAP.

​Now if that sounds overwhelming, take a deep breath and read it again.
Festivals are one of my favourite sources of fun. I’ve met some wonderful friends at festivals and also friends that are just friends for that one festival. Go forth, enjoy and make 2022 a festival season to remember!

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