So, youâve started planning for your first music festival or rave, but youâre beginning to get cold feet because you donât know what to expect. Thatâs totally normal, weâve all been there! To help you gear up for your first festival, Iâve asked rave veterans for their pearls of wisdom. Here are their top tips and advice so you can worry less and just focus on making amazing memories!
âStay Hydratedâ
You wonât realize how thirsty you are when youâre in the crowd having fun! But it gets hot and youâre going to be dancing your feet off for hours so youâre bound to get dehydrated if you donât drink enough water. Most music festivals offer free water refill stations, so make it a point to stop by one before heading deep into the crowd. Remember to pack a water bottle or a hydration backpack so you can stay hydrated at all times!
âPrep Yourself the Week Before and Afterâ
Getting yourself ready is key to having all the energy you need to dance and being in the right mindset to enjoy yourself. A week before the rave, try to get a good nightâs rest every night, hydrate properly every day, eat well and donât overexert yourself. You can also try to go for long walks in the days leading up to the festival, that way all of the walking once you're at the festival is less tiresome.
Take extra care of yourself when returning to your normal routine. Youâll have survived a weekend of little to no sleep, consider taking a day off work if you can to give your mind and body proper recovery time.
âYou Can Go Soberâ
And no one will care! People sometimes have this misconception that because youâre going to a rave that you have to do drugs or get drunk. But raves are fun without substances, and youâll quickly find out that there are plenty of other sober people around so thereâs zero judgement! Always make good decisions and only do whatâs right for you.
âWear Comfy Shoesâ
Youâre going to a music festival, expect a lot of walking, dancing and people stepping on your feet! When it comes to shoes, always prioritize comfort over style! Tight shoes lead to blisters and bruised toe nails (that eventually fall off!). Learn from our mistakes and only wear reliable shoes!
âDonât Miss Out On Your Favorite Artistsâ
The set times are always announced ahead of the event, save them to your phone and then set them as your lock screen. This way you can keep track of where your favorite artists are playing and you wonât miss any of the sets you want to dance to!
Pro veteran tip: donât be afraid to venture out of your comfort zone and listen to some new artists, you never know what experiences you might encounter!
âWear Earplugsâ
Wearing earplugs to music festivals is what all the cool ravers are doing these days! It doesnât matter whether you like riding the rail or hanging in the back of the crowd, exposure to loud music for long periods of time can put you at risk for hearing loss. Donât risk permanent damage to your hearing, keep your ears safe and enjoy music comfortably!
âUse The Restroomâ
There are two essential restroom breaks that you need to stick to for a smooth rave experience. The first is when you arrive at the event. The last thing you want is to walk into the main stage crowd and then suddenly get the urge! Save yourself the hassle, go as soon as you get there. The second is when you leave the event. Even if you donât feel like you need to go, go. Once you hit the road, thereâs no guarantee youâll find another restroom.
âDonât Hold Back on Dressing Upâ
One of the best things about music festivals, other than the music of course, is being able to dress up and wear things you donât normally wear: glitter, face gems, trippy prints, neon, fluffies...and the list goes on! There are no rules or restrictions, you can experiment and go as wild as you want with your outfits.
Pro veteran tip: we have regular new arrivals for you to discover, tons of unique styles so you can look and feel like a rave goddess!
âDonât Pack Heavy & Check the Restrictionsâ
Travel light and only bring essentials! Plan your outfits and cross-check your packing list with the music festivalâs restricted items so you donât get anything confiscated at the gates. If youâre going to a one-day event, donât pack anything bigger than a fanny pack or small backpack. For a multi-day event, avoid any large pieces of luggage, you may have to walk a distance to the campsite so make sure itâs easy to carry!
âJust Let Go & Donât Overthinkâ
Last but definitely not least: just have fun, let go and donât overthink! Music festivals are a safe space for you to forget the world outside and go crazy. Let yourself be swept up in the moment and be open to new experiences, the best memories often come from the most unexpected things.
Now that youâre ready to take on any rave, check out some of our other posts to get inspo for your outfits and your makeup!
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How To Get The Perfect Rave and Festival Photos
Whether itâs my phone, a GoPro, a digicam or a polaroid camera, I make sure to capture every moment I possibly can that leaves an imprint on my soul and that is constantly happening at festivals so how could I not?
Here are some tips + tricks to getting the perfect rave and festival photos!