Pack the Perfect Bag for Summer Festivals: The Ultimate Guide (Clear, Security-Approved Stadium Bags)
To be quite honest, I think I have given up on festivals. Post Covid, they just have not been as enjoyable for me, especially when there’s nowhere to sit down, entry is unorganized, and many people are generally rude. Having said that, I’ve been to enough of them to know the best way to pack a bag so that I have everything I need.
One of the best things to happen in terms of entry, is the mandate for clear, security-approved stadium bags. With these, I can pack my essentials in a way that’s accessible for me and such that security doesn’t have to take anything out of the bag because they are able to see right through it. I will say that they are not my first fashion choice when it comes to bags, but they are practical and affordable for the occasion. If it means I don’t have to throw anything away at security or return all the way to my car or hotel room to take something back, I’ll bite the bullet.
There are all kinds of shapes and sizes now—backpacks, sling bags, fanny packs, totes—and the one you choose depends on how much you like to carry. Here is everything I absolutely must have in mine:
Packing the bag
Hand Sanitizer: You are most likely going to be eating and won’t necessarily be able to locate a serviceable bathroom wash your hands every time. Festivals are also just generally dirty places. You’re going to want hand sanitizer on deck to keep your hands as clean as possible.
Wallet (ID and Credit Cards): For festivals, I never take my full size wallet because, quite frankly, it’s very big. I normally take a mini wallet and only put my ID, credit cards, and sometimes insurance card in case of emergencies.
Toiletries (Sunscreen, Lotion, Deodorant, Chapstick): Being outdoors all day is sort of a recipe for drying your skin out, so I make sure I have mini toiletries so that I can refresh as needed.
Face/Body Wipes: Also in the way of refreshment, a new addition to my bag this summer was face and/or body wipes. These are mostly for sweat, but they’re also good for spills, if you can’t find napkins while eating , or if you happen to run out of hand sanitizer. They’re really a multipurpose kind of thing and great to have on the go.
Tissues: I’ve been a few festivals that are quite dusty, and I also happen to have allergy issues, so tissues are always good to have.
Portable Chargers: I’m a photo and video kind of girl for sure, so I need my phone to be fully charged for the moments I want to capture, but I also carry multiple portable chargers because I’m often solo and can’t ever be in a situation where I’m stranded. I need to be able to use GPS and rideshare, and I need to be able to get in contact with people. None of this can be done with a dead phone, so it’s best to Iock in with portable chargers.
Sunglasses and Sunscreen: Raise your hand if you didn’t learn until you were an adult that you’re supposed to reapply sunscreen after a certain amount of time in the sun? I feel like this was never emphasized, especially to Black children. If you’re going to be outside at a festival for quite a while, it’s probably best practice to do this. We love a good pair of shades for style, but they’re also good for protecting your eyes and face.
Water Bottle: I have been in disbelief how many people i’ve seen pass out at festivals, most often due to dehydration. If you’re going to be in the heat and moving around as much as one does at a festival, why wouldn’t it cross your mind to drink water? Now, many festivals allow empty water bottles that you can fill at water stations so, if you can, use a clip to attach a water bottle to your bag. That way you can stay hydrated and you also don’t have to carry it in your hand the whole day.
Small First Aid Kit: As much water as I drink on festival days, I almost always get a headache (overstimulated much?). I must have pain relievers like Tylenol or Advil, but you also can include things like band-aids, personal medications, and some sort of ointment for bug bites and stings or small scratches.
Organizing the Bag
Only pack what you need. This sort of goes without saying, but you’ll be carrying the bag for hours. Don’t make the mistake of taking more than you need. If you’re like me and easily annoyed at events, a heavy bag will be one of the first things to frustrate you because it’s not something you can just offload or get rid of.
Use the pouches or compartments to separate items. I put the things I’ll have to reach for more often like hand sanitizer and wallet in a different compartment than all of the other things that are more like “just in case” items. I also put portable chargers in their own compartment where there’s room to also fit my phone in case I need to charge it or take a break from holding it.
Check the venue policies. Some of the venues i’ve been to have had slightly different rules about what you can bring in and sizes. Normally a festival or venue website has a FAQs page that answers questions about entry and bags.
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