3 minute read
SURVIVE YOUR FIRST FESTIVAL
from TAG 2022
Life hacks for finding freedom without your parents
Summer 2022 will be the first big holiday that we have had from school and college since our age group became Covid-vaccinated. For many of us, 2022 will be when we experience our first festival. Therefore Tag is here to tell you the essential festival hacks. Festivals were booming last year, with tickets selling out instantly as we all clamoured to get out there again. Festivals are amazing, a great place to socialise and have fun, but it’s not always great. It’s important to be aware of the negatives. Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place to find out everything you need to do, pack and wear.
Stay Cool
Firstly, the main thing to be aware of is your own personal health. Make sure you’re looking after yourself. We know it’s hard to sleep with music banging on all night and people talking around you, but it’s crucial that you get a few hours rest in each day, otherwise your body will be exhausted. As festivals occur in the summer when the sun is shining, it’s important to keep your skin safe by wearing suncream and a hat.
Highs and Lows
Secondly, as we are sure you’re aware of, there are lots of drugs and alcohol at festivals. Alcohol is okay if you’re over 18, but however old you are, know your limits, you don’t want to ruin the experience by feeling ill the whole time. Keep an eye on your drink at all times as it is a risk that drinks get spiked. If you are drinking, don’t mix your drinks. It’s a good idea to alternate any alcoholic drinks with water or a soft drink, and if it’s hot, take water! Drugs are illegal and are a big problem in festivals but it’s difficult to stop as people manage to sneak them in. Beware that you also don’t know what you’re buying. You could be paying £10 for a paracetamol tablet! As with any drug, you don’t know what they are cut with because they’re on the black market. Do you want to be ingesting a household cleaner? The best thing to do is stay clear. If you see someone consume something and you are worried, it is important to get them help instantly. This is the same situation with yourself too, make sure you’re with a group or someone you know at all times so you don’t get lost or left behind.
Ticket Touts
Drugs aren’t the only thing to look out for. Ticket fraud and ticket cloning are a problem as there are revellers that do anything to avoid paying the large fees for tickets. People can steal your code if you put it on social media along with personal information. Some touts sell fake tickets so you have to make sure you buy them from a secure site.
Tag spoke to Jay Dinnis (18) from Crowborough, who went to the Reading Festival in 2021 and asked him a few questions about his experience. He claims he felt “so alive” and ‘energetic’ that he got to experience his favourite artists live with his friends. He “never felt unsafe” as there were always people there if you needed help. We asked him about drugs and he replied “[They] did not affect the festival as the festival was never interrupted”. He believed people take drugs because “they feel pressured into doing so” as their peers are doing them.
Tag also interviewed Rhian Hamilton (18) from Hailsham, who also went to Reading in 2021, about her festival. She mentioned that it was “the best experience of her life”. She said that “the festival was so needed as we haven’t socialised like that for a long time due to Covid”. “There were a few drugs going around but me and my friends all stayed away from them.” We asked Rhian whether she felt safe, her response was: “There were a few moments where I felt uncomfortable, other than that I felt safe.”
To finish off, here’s a quick packing list of essential items that you’re going to want to take to your first festival: • Refillable water bottle • Hat • Toothbrush and toothpaste • Earplugs • Face mask • Baby wipes and deodorant • Suncream • A tent and camping chair (if you’re staying) • Portable charger • A bag for your belongings and a small bag to carry with you at all times for your valuables. • Condoms • Paracetamol
