The ultimate festival essentials packing list to kickstart your weekend
Having the right festival essentials will make any weekend event better — Photo courtesy of Rumpl
As we head into festival season, whether you’re planning to visit a music, food, or art event, you’ll need to know what festival essentials to pack. Your focus should be on having fun and connecting with others; that’s why doing the prep work ahead of time and fine-tuning your packing list is so important.
Being prepared will afford you comfort and ease of mind so you won’t find yourself wishing you had packed certain items. Although it largely depends on what type of festival you’re attending, here’s a list of clothing, personal necessities, and camp gear suggestions to get you started.
Festival clothing and accessories
Waterproof jackets
Water-resistant gear is essential for any festival packing list — Photo courtesy of Duluth Trading
Waterproof jackets are a must-pack item. For men, Duluth Trading’s AKHG Free Clime Soft Shell Hooded Jacket is water-resistant and windproof, with a hood and visor to protect you from the elements. For women, stay dry with Duluth’s Stormwall Rain Jacket, which offers breathability and multiple zippered pockets for stashing festival essentials. It’s lighter than most gear jackets, making it a great layering piece.
Versatile dress
Maxi dresses with pockets are game-changers at any festival — Photo courtesy of Trovata
Maxi dresses are perfect for daytime and night. We love Trovata’s Sylvie Bisou Daisy dress for its comfortable cotton fabric and feminine tiered skirt design.
Leggings
For dancing or lounging around, leggings are a festival necessity — Photo courtesy of Adonola
Leggings are invaluable travel pieces, no matter where you’re heading. You can wear them sightseeing, lounging, or working out. Adanola’s Ultimate Leggings come in fun colors and fit like a dream. They’re super soft and stretch for figure-flattering comfort, perfect for interactive activities, fun workshops, and dancing. If you’d prefer ones with pockets for cash and credit cards, try these with zip pockets.
Pants with benefits
Pants with UPF protection are necessary for outdoor events — Photo courtesy of Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi’s Men’s Subo Pant, also available in a women’s version, offers UPF 50+ protection, is water-resistant, and has an adjustable drawcord. For something sturdier, check out Duer’s performance denim, which comes in warm and cold weather fabrics. Plus, they feature antimicrobial properties so you can stay fresh and dry.
Hip pack
A good hip or crossbody bag keeps all your festival essentials handy — Photo courtesy of Cotopaxi
Carry all your daytime festival essentials in Cotopaxi’s Kapai 1.5L Hip Pack Del Dia. Small and compact, it’s excellent as a hip pack or a crossbody. Made from repurposed materials in many colors, the bag has a roomy main compartment for storing cash, cards, keys, and festival essentials.
Tote bag
Keote totes are indispensable festival gear — Photo courtesy of Keote
I highly recommend the Keote keychain tote for toting more substantial items such as snacks, sunscreen, or a water bottle. It’s pragmatic because it packs down into the size of a small wallet yet holds all the festival essentials. It’s handy at home, too: I often use it when visiting farmers markets and grocery stores.
Comfortable shoes
A pair of comfortable sneakers with arch support is a festival necessity. Skechers Slip-Ins make standing in long lines and navigating vendor booths seamless. Their proprietary memory foam insole offers all-day support, and they slip on and off easily. The various colors and styles complement any outfit.
Sandals
A pair of sandals with good traction is a necessity — Photo courtesy of Teva
Remember to pack a pair of sandals for hanging out around camp. Teva’s Hurricane sandals, available for both men and women, offer excellent traction and grip support. They’re also great for hiking and window-shopping in town.
Sunglasses
Bring a pair of trendy, eco-friendly, polarized sunglasses like Quince’s Riley. These sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful rays and elevate your outfit.
Festival camping essentials
Insect repellent and relief
Insect sting relief is a festival necessity when you’re camping — Photo courtesy of Jean Chen Smith
Insect repellent and insect-sting relief treatment are invaluable festival essentials, especially because you’ll spend most of your time outdoors. The Bug Bite Thing suction tool is chemical-free and alleviates the discomfort of bug bites. Bonus: Keep it around to remove ticks (if needed).
Sunscreen
Make sure you bring Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50. It’s non-greasy, absorbent, and water-resistant to safeguard your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
All-purpose moisturizer
Shea butter products come in handy for chapped lips and hands — Photo courtesy of Farmhouse Fresh
Farmhouse Fresh’s Marshmallow Melt is an all-purpose shea butter for dry skin, chapped lips, and calluses. It’s creamy, smooth, and lightly scented with tonka beans and sandalwood.
Cleansing wipes
Olay Cleansing Melts are one of my favorite travel hacks. They’re flat, easy to carry, and efficient at removing makeup. The best part is that they activate only when you add water, which is great for carry-on bags. Pharma-C’s Personal Cleansing Wipes refresh your body when camping or on the go. Formulated with cranberry and aloe vera, they’re alcohol- and fragrance-free.
Water bottle
Snow Peak’s Kanpai insulated water bottle is durable and sleek. Made of vacuum-sealed, double-wall stainless steel, it keeps drinks hot or cold for many hours, making it a stellar camping and festival essential.
Cooler
Oyster coolers keep your drinks and snacks cool for several days — Photo courtesy of Oyster cooler
Oyster’s Tempo Cooler is unlike any other. Its aluminum exterior makes it sturdy and reliable. It provides seamless vacuum insulation and can stay cool for several days with the ice packs provided. It holds up to 23 liters (approximately 6 gallons).
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Blanket
Rumpl’s portable blankets keep things cozy at the campsite — Photo courtesy of Rumpl
Rumpl’s Original Puffy Blankets are great for staying toasty on cold mornings and nights. Made from sustainable materials, they’re stain- and water-resistant. Plus, they pack down easily so you’ll save on precious luggage real estate.
Tent
REI Co-op’s Half Dome 2 Tent with footprint is water-repellent, features durable aluminum poles, and has two large doors for easy access. It’s easy to assemble and weighs just over 5 pounds, making it a supreme choice.
Sleeping pad
In addition to a roomy tent, you’ll want to invest in a mattress pad. They make all the difference in getting quality sleep. The Campwell sleeping pad is an affordable option that self-inflates. It’s made of 100% recycled soft-stretch polyester.
First-aid kit
Keep a mini-sized first aid kit on hand for emergencies. This handy set includes 120 pieces, including bandages, scissors, cotton swabs, and more. Everything you might need is in this compact, waterproof case.
Table and chairs
Snow Peaks chairs make camping comfortable — Photo courtesy of Snow Peak
Cook and dine in comfort. Snow Peak’s Red Lounge Set and Renewed Entry IGT table are festival essentials for your campsite. Lightweight and made for transporting, the IGT table features a high-quality bamboo tabletop and foldable legs for easy storage. The lounge chairs are snug and offer user-friendly assembly.
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Snacks
Snacks are always great to have on hand for festivals. You’ll have something to nibble on at the campsite or when food lines get too long. Pack some of Patagonia Provisions’ seafood tins, such as the sardines in coconut curry sauce. They’re tasty paired with the brand’s rosemary garlic crackers.
Stay hydrated with Protekt hydration packs, which come in single travel sizes and are easy to use. Simply mix their natural, zero-calorie, sugar-free liquid supplements with water.
Just for fun
Glow sticks are another fun item to pack for festivals. They entertain and make great props for photos. And you can’t go wrong with a sturdy hammock for relaxing in between all the fun.
