Staying Safe at a Summer Music Festival

Summer festivals are intense and with the heat and the crowds, they can get a little dangerous if you don’t take precautions. Here are some tips to have a safe but fun time.

Apply and reapply

Sunscreen is an obvious requirement. Don’t ruin day two with a sunburn from day one, so carry sunscreen in your bag and reapply throughout the day. Spray bottles can be a convenient addition to your festival bag.

Slow your roll

With all the dancing and imbibing, festivalgoers are at risk for over-exertion. Plan your lineup so you don’t have to run between stages and carry plenty of bottled water. Even better is a Camelbak, which can be worn like a backpack for all-day hydration. Many festivals will have free refill stations.

Have a group

The best way to stay safe is to have a group of buddies watching your back in case you get lost, sustain an injury or have something stolen. Groups can also pool resources like water and sunscreen. If you’ve arrived solo, at least introduce yourself to your neighbors.

Be cautious

While making friends is great, you should also be wary of strangers. Festivals are going to have plenty of drugs and alcohol, so only drink from your own container, support harm reduction programs and keep an eye for security if something is wrong.