My first festival by Heather Welsh
Summer festival season is now in full swing and with the weather coming up trumps for festival goers this year - every back-packed, wellie-booted music lover that makes it out to the fields of Glastonbury, V-fest or Bestival is remembering why festivals in the UK are actually bloomin’ brilliant. With this in mind, Heather Welsh recalls her first ever festival experience and shares her tips for the dos and don’ts she’s learnt along the way.
Leeds Festival was pretty much a rite of passage for every teenager in my town – and it was with the excitement of an intrepid explorer that I left my parent’s house packed up with a tent and a big smile on my face the first weekend I made it to the fest.
Once inside the gates, the race to find the biggest, flattest and best pitch began. And for the army of tents my friends and I had to pitch up, this was a top priority. Those in the know usually bring an extra marquee to give a group of pals extra socialising space, pump up an inflatable mattress and even pack away some ear-plugs to ensure a more comfortable night’s sleep. A word of warning - do not pitch up near the dance tent – however tired you get and however good your ear-plugs are, the all night festival raves will keep you from falling into a slumber and leave you angry and tired the next day. And take it from me, DJs don’t do lullabies.
FYI, here’s another; do not pitch up by the toilets. Close access for those midnight loo stops may seem like a good idea, but those portaloos sure do stink up a perfectly fresh field quickly. Steer clear. And whilst we’re talking about hygiene, do bring with you dry shampoo and face wipes – they’re a good way to keep fresh if you want to avoid the communal showers!
The second priority at my first festival was to fill up on grub and cheap beers, gotta fuel the fun after all. So do bring your own alcohol (if you are of a legal age!!) as festival prices are not purse friendly! And also bring bottles of water because, without wanting to sound like your mum, keeping hydrated in the sun and when drinking alcohol is important if you want to avoid nasty headaches! Do bring snacks with you - fruit, nuts and cereal bars will help keep your energy up and start your day the right way – again, festival food isn’t usually the cheapest and can be notoriously greasy!
And finally, do look at the schedule for the different stages, comedy performances, film screenings and the like before you go. Make a note of who you’d like to see, even print out a schedule, as festivals often sell programmes for a hefty price, and it would be a shame if you miss out on a knock out set by the next big thing! And you never know, the next festival you go to it could be you up there!
