Festival Survival Guide: The Downloadable Checklist Every Festival Goer Needs

Festival season is fast approaching, finally! Whether you’re heading to a big one like Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, or Download, or perhaps something smaller like Truck Festival or End of the Road, being prepared is the best way to ensure you have the best time possible. It might not be very rock and roll, but there’s nothing better than a good list when you’re packing for a festival! That’s why we’ve put together this ultimate festival survival guide, with everything you need to bring so you can focus on the fun stuff.

TLDR: The key to a great festival experience is packing lighter but smarter. Before you leave, check and double-check you have the absolute must-haves such as tickets, money, and ID. Pack for all weather; bring a waterproof jacket, wellies, and items for cold nights such as a jumper/hoodie, warm hat, and warm socks. Also, bring a cap/sunhat to prevent sunstroke. Also, make sure you have some additional essentials such as spare toilet roll, hand sanitiser, bin bags, dry clothes and sun cream.

Contents 

What do you need for a festival?

Festival tips 

Get festival ready with Attitude Clothing

What do you need for a festival?

Even the most seasoned campers and festival-goers can get overwhelmed when packing for a festival. Depending on where and when you’re going, you might need five nights’ worth of stuff! All this, plus the camping gear, and you could soon get carried away, lugging around way more than you need. 

The Attitude Clothing team has attended plenty of festivals over the years and has learnt that packing lighter but smarter is best. 

Check, check, and check again

The following items are absolute must-haves before you set off. Check, double check, and check again before you leave!

• Tickets – you won’t get far without them!
• Money – while most festivals will accept card, it’s best to take cash just in case.
• ID – you could be asked for ID for various reasons, especially at the bar.

Festival camping essentials 

To make your next festival stress-free, use our Interactive Festival Survival Checklist! This tool is designed to help you track your essentials in real-time, ensuring nothing gets left behind in the pre-festival rush.

How to Use the Checklist

1. Tick as You Pack: Click the checkboxes as you place items in your bag. The Progress Bar at the top will update automatically.
2. Auto-Save: Don’t worry about closing the tab; your progress is saved to your browser automatically.
3. Print for Backup: Use the “Download & Print” button to get a physical copy to keep in your tent.
4. Reset: Planning for your next trip? Hit “Reset Progress” to start fresh

Top tip: Research your festival campsite before you go so you know where you want to pitch up. Some festivals have family fields, quiet fields, and fields with more of a party vibe, so do some research and decide where you want to be. 

Festival clothing and footwear

Aside from the cool festival ‘fits you’ll be sporting, don’t forget to pack these essentials!

• Warm hat – the UK still gets chilly at night, even in summer, so take a warm hat to keep toasty
• Jumper/hoodie – as above!
• Waterproof jacket 
• Wellies 
• Cap/sunhat – being outside in hot weather leaves you susceptible to overheating and sunstroke. Wear a hat to keep the sun off your head and minimise your risk. 
• Warm socks – another night time essential

Festival tips

Aside from the typical checklists, we wanted to share some of our best tips and festival hacks to help you get the most out of your experience. 

Take spare toilet roll with you. Portaloos used by thousands of people can run out quickly, so carrying some in your backpack is always a good idea. 

Avoid camping near walkways. It’s louder and smellier, and if it rains, the walkways are the first place to get muddy. It’s also a higher flood risk. 

Make your camp stand out with a flag or bunting to make it easier to find. 

Don’t padlock your tent. This might feel like strange advice, but padlocking your tent will only make it more attractive to potential thieves. It’s best to keep valuables with you at all times in a bum bag. 

Take a few bin bags for any clothes that get wet, damp and muddy. Not only will it protect your clean clothes, it will stop your whole bag from smelling damp.

Save a set of dry, comfortable clothes for the journey home. If you’ve driven to the festival, consider leaving them in your car so you’re not tempted to wear them over the weekend. 

Always carry hand sanitiser. Festivals are far from the most sanitary places on earth, so try and keep your hands clean to avoid picking up festival flu.

Download festival apps – they usually have the line-up timings and stage splits, so you won’t miss a thing. They are usually the best way to get up-to-date information on any festival news and changes. 

Always wear sun cream even if the sun isn’t shining. Being outdoors for long periods still leaves you exposed to UV rays, so lather it on before you head out for the day. Know how you are getting there and back and ensure everyone in your group has the correct information in case you get separated. It’s a good idea to set a meeting point, too.

Remember to leave no trace

There’s a common misconception that leftover festival tents are collected by charities, but this isn’t always the case. While many festivals do have donation points, most tents end up going to waste. 

Leaving no trace is one of the number one rules for camping. Always take your tent home with you and clear up all your litter before you leave. 

Get festival ready with Attitude Clothing

Now you’ve got all the essentials covered, it’s time for the fun stuff! Our festival collection is the best place to find alternative festival wear all in one place. You’ll find everything from clothing, footwear and accessories to hair products and beauty to get you feeling fabulous and festival-ready from top to toe.