My 5 Essential Tips for Your First Music Festival

Growing up in SoCal, my music festival experience began at a young age, with one of my earliest memories being at a jazz music festival in Pasadena with my family. I don’t remember much, except sitting on the grass and feeling everyone vibe out to the music. That experience stuck with me and shaped my love for music festivals as an adult. 

My love for electronic music led me to Insomniac festivals like Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), Beyond Wonderland, Escape Halloween, and more. Soon after, I found myself at Goldenvoice’s Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, enjoying more genres I loved. Music festivals hold a special place in my heart because they’ve always felt like adventures with good people, great music, and lasting memories.

Attending your first music festival can be both exciting and a bit overwhelming, but keeping these tips in mind will help your experience go more smoothly than first-timers who have no plan.

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1) Try a Local Festival First

For your first music festival, choose one that’s close to home. It’s more convenient in case of emergencies and helps you save on travel and lodging (especially if it’s multi-day). A local festival serves as a great testing ground to see how well you can handle the festival experience. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you’ll feel more confident exploring out-of-state or even international festivals. 

My first festival was Insomniac’s Nocturnal Wonderland in 2012,  a 2-day festival in San Bernardino that was a 30-40 minute drive from my house at the time. I was 18, fresh out of highschool, jobless, and down to party. I had just enough money for the tickets, got a ride from my cousin who also went, and had the time of my life. That’s the beauty of going to a local festival for your first time: less logistics to worry about means more time having fun. 

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2) Go with People You Trust

While many people attend festivals solo, I recommend going with at least one friend or a group for your first time. Just make sure you’re with people you trust, who are reliable, safe, respectful, and bring good energy. The last thing you want is to spend your first festival babysitting someone who can’t handle themselves or dealing with drama that brings down the vibe. Choose your group wisely!

I’ve seen people intentionally left behind by their group, caught in the middle of couples arguing, dealing with someone picking fights with other festival-goers, or stuck at the first-aid tent the whole time (or kicked out) because their friend was too drunk to function. This is not the festival experience you deserve.

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3) Plan Outfits Accordingly

Planning outfits for a festival is always an exciting part of the preparation. Whether you’re going for themed and sexy (like those Mean Girls Halloween costumes) or something cute, comfy, and casual, your outfit is a great way to express yourself. And always check the weather forecast ahead of your festival weekend.

No matter what style you’re going for, I strongly recommend bringing a bandana. At festivals like Coachella and EDC, the wind kicks up a lot of dust and pollen. I’ve seen plenty of people get sick from breathing it in all weekend. Even at other festivals, you’re bound to run into unpleasant smells (body odor, cigarette smoke, etc.) that a bandana helps shield your nose from. And when the heat ramps up, it also works as a sweat absorber. It’s a lightweight, versatile accessory that you’ll be glad you brought!

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4) Carry Only What You Need

Always check the guidelines for what you can and can’t bring in for the specific festival you’re attending. Guidelines are usually found on the festival’s main website. Your phone, wallet, and car keys are the obvious essentials to bring. Other essentials can include ear plugs, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, sunscreen, chapstick, (unopened) gum, feminine hygiene products, and a portable charger. 

Whatever appropriate essentials you decide to bring, make sure it’s in a bag that can’t be easily accessed or opened. Unfortunately, there are cases of people stealing phones (it happened to me at a festival a few years ago) and other important belongings. The less you can bring, the better!

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5) Have a Game Plan

A game plan doesn’t need to be strict. Think of it as a flexible guideline, especially useful when you’re going with a group. It can include things like setting up a meetup spot in case you get separated, choosing which artists to see and knowing their set times (downloading the festival app can help), locating restrooms and first-aid tents, planning when to buy merch, and remembering where you parked. Having a game plan adds structure to your experience. Most importantly, it helps you enjoy the festival while feeling prepared for anything. 

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