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Choose the right festival.
Festivals are often related to the customs, culture, and spiritual life of each locality or country. Therefore, you need to choose festivals that suit your personality and health condition. Someone who is afraid of noise or introverted will not have the stamina to participate in an outdoor music festival for many hours, and those with pollen allergies should not attend a flower festival. If you cannot drink alcohol, you will find it very difficult to immerse yourself in the world's major wine festivals. And if your health does not allow it, you should avoid the water festival when visiting Thailand...
Check the weather.
Sometimes, you start a trip with lots of small things but forget about the weather. Actually, this is the first important thing to consider when traveling or attending outdoor events. Checking the weather beforehand will help you prepare appropriate clothing and necessary supplies, as well as avoid problems caused by bad weather.
Find accommodation
As you know, festival venues are usually very crowded. Therefore, if you plan to attend a particular festival during the year, you should also book your hotel after you book your flight. In European countries, some festivals are only held periodically, every 5, 10, or even 20 years. Therefore, hotels are often insufficient to accommodate all visitors during the festival. To secure ideal accommodation, you need to prepare several months or even a year in advance.
Comfortable clothing
Since outdoor festivals are often crowded and involve a lot of walking, a good pair of shoes and comfortable, lightweight clothing will be very helpful. For spiritual festivals, you should choose modest, dignified, and respectful attire. However, don't forget to choose a small backpack, enough to hold essential items, and absolutely avoid carrying bulky bags if you truly want to fully enjoy the festival.
Bring sunscreen.
Most festivals are held outdoors and during the day. Even if the weather is great, don't forget to bring a tube of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Additionally, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses are helpful in reducing sun exposure. Even in colder climates, a little sunscreen is still useful.
Bring water and sweets.
One important thing to remember when attending a festival is to carry water in your backpack because you won't always be able to find a place to buy water when you're thirsty. This is especially true when you're at a spiritual festival, where it's difficult to get away to find something to drink. Also, participating in continuous festival activities can exhaust you and lower your blood pressure; if that happens, suck on a candy and sit down to rest – you'll feel better. People often put a few chocolates in their bags.
Go in a group
Most festivals are crowded and congested, so group members can easily get separated. When attending festivals together, don't separate from the group; always stay close. Also, prepare a power bank so you don't lose contact with your friends. If you do get lost, find an open area that's easy to spot, or near landmarks or signs, and wait for others to find you. Alternatively, you can use offline communication apps to contact each other if needed.
Keep an eye on the children.
If you've decided to bring your children to a festival, be sure to choose one that's close to where you live and one that's held on a single day. This ensures your children have enough time to participate in the entire event. Festivals are always crowded, so you'll need to keep a close eye on them as they tend to be very energetic.
Additionally, you should also prepare food, drinks, and any necessary medications for your child to ensure they stay happy and healthy throughout the festival. Finding suitable food and drinks for young children at the festival can be challenging. And don't forget to prepare appropriate clothing for your child for the weather.
Keep personal belongings safe.
When attending a festival, you often get so focused on the activities that you forget to keep an eye on your personal belongings. However, crowded festivals often create opportunities for theft. To have a fulfilling festival experience, always be mindful and secure your important items. Also, remember to keep some loose change aside for easy access.
Remember these taboos.
Each festival and religion usually has its own taboos, so you should research them before participating. In particular, some festivals will not allow filming, photography, or the use of drones. Besides that, dressing respectfully and maintaining quiet, and not littering are also important things to remember when experiencing a festival.
