Of course, it’s good to be prepared with the essentials. But ultimately festivals are about having fun. Here is a list of festival accessories that you might like to have on hand simply for the pleasure of using them.
Kits to make kandi: Exchanging bead bracelets is a hallmark of electronic music, but thanks to the Taylor Swift Eras tour, more music genres are coming together. Any account will work, but I highly recommend it. Magic elastic stretch ($20): Cheap things fall apart too easily.
Flow accessories: There are tons of toys that some dancers like to use. I am partial to Fiberflies Pixel Whip ($85)but Flowtoys PodPoi ($135) are another popular option. You can even get levitating wands and illuminated canes. They are a lot of fun to dance with (and will entertain other attendees).
An instant camera: Most of us have a perfectly capable camera in our pocket. But I like to bring my Instax when I attend festivals. You’ll gain physical, tangible memories, and it can also be fun to photograph strangers (with their permission).
Small gifts: tiny ducklings. Buds for your hair. soft animals. Festivals usually have a culture of gift giving. It’s not expected, but it can be nice to have something to hand out to people you know. Consider bringing some trinkets; You might even make a new friend or seven.
a night light: If you are at a campsite, moving in the dark can be dangerous. And sometimes you just want to grab a snack from the cooler without shining a flashlight. I like this night light because it provides a soft glow, enough to see but not so bright that it wakes up everyone nearby.
a camping towel: Sometimes it rains outside. Sometimes you accidentally spill an entire Beatbox in your store. Whatever the case, a camping towel comes in handy. They are super absorbent and dry quickly.
Funny clothes: When it comes to festival clothing, you can be as bold or practical as you want. Don’t sacrifice comfort in the name of fashion! But if you’re looking for fun clothes to wear, I recommend you take a look. IHeartRaves and Rave wonderland. These are EDM adjacent, but will work for everything from Bonnaroo to Burning Man to EDC. Merchandise from your favorite artists is probably a good starting point as well. And when in doubt, you can always customize it: consider a top-hat or a Pashmina style shawl to make your outfit a little more adventurous.
a handkerchief: We have a lot of feelings about the importance of a small all-purpose cloth. Music festivals are often dusty and dirty. A bandana serves as a face covering, absorbs sweat, a quick place to sit, and an easy way to clean up spilled drinks. Keep a few in your bag and you’ll be better prepared.