Summertime brings a lot of different festivals celebrating just about anything you can think of. Surviving any summer festival can be a breeze when you take steps to prepare before heading out.
Getting prepared by checking out the festival’s websites for general rules, possible fees, times of events and what is allowed at the festival is a great start. Here are some helpful tips to having a smooth, enjoyable time at any type of festival.
Pack light and prepare the night before. Most festivals start early in the morning. Being in a hurry leads to disaster—items can easily slip your mind as you get anxious to hit the road so that you miss heavy traffic. While preparing, only pack the essentials and your back will thank you at the end of the day. Pack water to help keep yourself hydrated along with some snacks. This will help save some money by avoiding high-priced food that will still leave you feeling hungry.
Applying sunscreen before you leave is important, but make sure to also bring it with you. If the weather is expected to be super hot, you will want to reapply the sunscreen often as you will sweat if off. Sunglasses and a hat can help protect you from the sun as well. If the weather calls for rain, bring some Ziploc bags to keep your belongings in to keep them from becoming soaked. Lastly, it’s going to be a long day so remember to pack your phone charger.
Don’t forget to stop by the bank and get some cash, because some vendors might only accept cash. Although a lot of festivals now have ATMs in range, you’ll be stuck paying high fees. Plus, who wants to spend precious time running to get cash? If you want to be thrifty and avoid overspending, leave your credit cards at home and only allow yourself to bring a set amount of cash with you.
Some festivals require a longer drive to get to your destination. It’s smart to bring along an extra set of clothes to change into after the long day. It will be more comfortable to drive home in fresh, clean pair of clothing instead of your sweat-drenched clothes. As a bonus, if it happens to rain during the festival you will have dry clothing you can fall back on.
Another thing to consider is that vendors are notorious for giving away free items. Think before you start grabbing. Only take what you actually will find useful in the future. It will be less to carry around all day and less to put away when you get home.
Most importantly, don’t stress! Make the most of the festival by having fun. Try staying away from social media outlets for the day and focus on taking in as much as you can at the festival. If you are going with friends, pick a designated area to meet if you happen to get separated. This way, you won’t have to worry about bad cell service, uncharged batteries or other misfortunes.
Here are a couple of summer festivals that you don’t want to miss:
Vans Warped Tour
This festival features around 100 bands per tour stop. BMX and skate demos can also be watched throughout the day. The band lineups change every day, so make sure you get to the festival early to see your favorite acts. This one-day music festival will be making three stops around the area this week.
July 16
Riverbend Music Center
Cincinnati, Ohio
Doors: 11 a.m.
July 17
Blossom Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Doors: 11 a.m.
July 18
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Auburn Hills, Mich.
Doors: 11 a.m.
http://vanswarpedtour.com/
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair
The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is a great place for any art lover. Discover both local and traveling artists that flock to the area. The festival also features street performers, art zones that allow anyone to become an artist, demonstrations to let artists show off their talents in action, and live music and street paintings.
July 16 – 19
Downtown Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Wednesday-Friday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
http://www.artfair.org/
The Great Lakes Medieval Faire and Marketplace
If you want to get away from your chaotic life for the weekend, take a step into the past at the Great Lakes Medieval Faire. The medieval festival has a variety of unique demonstrations including hand-blown glass art, jewelers threading fine gold wire around exquisite crystals and jewels, clothiers, soap makers and much more. Enjoy archery and axe throwing along with other games. The festival is filled with a variety of food fit for any king or queen.
Open every Saturday and Sunday through August 17
Rock Creek, Ohio
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Want to learn about more Ohio festivals happening throughout the rest of the summer? Visit http://ohiofestivals.net
Check out next week’s Pulse for an inside look at working during the music festival. Pulse Editor Amanda Matthews will be working for The Maine July 17-18 in Cuyahoga and Auburn Hills. She has been a member of The Maine Street Team for over three years. She will be sharing her experience of being a part of the team and what is was like working at the Vans Warped Tour.
The Arizona-based rock band will be making a return to the tour five years after their first appearance at the music festival. If you are heading out to the Van’s Warped Tour, The Maine is definitely an act you don’t want to miss.
