Festival season is quickly approaching. This time of year is my absolute favorite because it involves the anticipation of seeing my favorite artists just before it gets too hot to have a good time. I have gone to the Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans every year since I was around two years old, so I think I’ve got the festival going down to a science. Here is my guide to making sure that your festival experiences are sure to be an amazing time.
Step One: Check the Lineup.
Some festivals offer a barrage of options for everyone’s musical preference with something new for every day. The bigger the name of the performer, the bigger the crowd. Plan accordingly.
I do not recommend camping out at a stage for the whole day because you can miss out on artists you’ve never heard of that turn out to be fantastic. One of the best performances I have ever seen was Pell. I was passing through the stage he was playing at to get to another artist’s set, and I stopped dead in my tracks for one of the coolest festival sets I have ever seen. While you may be going to a festival to see a big name, they are most likely closing out the day, so check out the other artists beforehand to see if you find something you might like so you can better plan your day.
Step Two: Plan a comfortable outfit.
While of course, it’s always fun to plan an outfit to post on social media, your outfit can make or break your experience at the festival. Sure, it’s fun to wear extravagant outfits for the world to see, but I can assure you it’s not fun in the Louisiana heat. It’s hot, humid and wet.
Plan to wear a lot of sunscreen or have some sort of shade. Carry that sunscreen with you because you’re going to have to reapply. Depending on the location of the festival, you could either be slopping around in the mud or baking alive in the grass. In general, wear something breezy, not heavy. If you make the wrong fashion decision, you can recover with festival vendors’ wearable art or festival merchandise.
Some staples for my family and Iare outdoor hiking shoes or sandals, brimmed hats and sunglasses. Rain boots are unnecessary unless it is raining, and I promise it will rain at least one day. Do not wear new shoes. You will get dirty, sweaty, and gross, it’s just a part of the culture. Wear some broken-in shoes as blisters on day one of a festival will only get worse as the days go on.
Step Three: Pack accordingly.
Each festival has its own rules and guidelines, but most have similar rules regarding what you can and cannot bring to the festival. Snacks and water bottles are great and can give you a boost of energy in the middle of the day when you’ve been outside since you woke up..
Tarps and blankets are the best ways to maintain a semblance of cleanliness. I highly encourage them if you’re sitting at the back of a stage, not so much when you get closer to the stage as festival goers like to be close to the artists they’ve paid to see.
Backpacks are preferable to bags as having something strapped to your back prevents losing something because you set it down somewhere.
If you’re looking to make lots of friends at a festival, bring a hand fan and hair ties. In packed crowds, any form of air circulation is good circulation, and no one likes to be hot. With that being said, you do not want to be carrying around anything you do not need. You don’t need to bring a card game or book. You should bring a portable charger if you’re notorious for being on your phone, but service in a packed setting may not be perfect. You’ll have plenty to do at the festival, but more on that later.
Medical attention is available at most festivals, so if there is something wrong, seek assistance. Bring a couple of bandaids for blisters or small cuts, but anything beyond that is a medical tent issue.
Step Four: Attend the festival.
First and foremost, you can expect to have the time of your life. There is no better feeling than being well-prepared for a festival that you’ve been excited for. Between the music, the food and the activities, you’ll have your hands full.
The music is the main fixture of a festival. If you’re “festing” in New Orleans, you’re going to be exposed to New Orleans’ greatest. You might find out that you really like Gospel music. You may find out you really like what you’ve heard in terms of the Blues you’ve heard. Stages like Congo Square at Jazz Fest feature black artists and stands as a cultural monolith. When I tell you that you will hear something from every genre that could exist, I mean it.
The food is objectively one of the best parts of festival season in Louisiana. You can chow down on a Roast Beef Po’Boy, alligator on a stick, or -my personal favorite- Crawfish Strudel. They have a wide range of food items they offer, but they also have the basics like hamburgers, chicken tenders and snowballs. For drinks, they have everything from freshly squeezed lemonade to coffee to beer to herbal teas. You have no excuse to be dehydrated. On that note, hydration is key. Opt for drinking lots of water in between your “fun drinks”. There is something for everyone. I have yet to find something I did not like.
In terms of activities, you could easily get lost in vendors. With rotating vendors and those that come back year after year, there’s plenty to look at. Jazz Fest has fixtures on the blend of cultures that make New Orleans unique, and offer tastes of the places we overlook.
Step Five: Make the most out of your day (and other miscellaneous tips).
In groups, plan meeting spots for when you leave in case you get separated. On your way out of the festival, you may encounter street parties that are open to the public. Join in. You’ll have so much fun socializing and dancing. Figure out parking or transportation before the festival, or you might end up parking on someone’s lawn for $20-80 depending on the availability.
Above all: be present. Pictures and videos are not important and are frowned upon. A memory of an experience is a lot more valuable long term than a picture. There are professionals there to be able to capture the moment if you need it. Festival season is the best time of year, so enjoy it while it lasts.
