Festvival Camping

bluenoseam

I've just had a scout, it would appear B1505 is correct in this case, they've banned gas camping stoves but allow disposable bbq's (which i personally think is slightly more dangerous hey ho!)

mcmanlyn

I've been to Sonisphere the last 2 years, and again this year

You can't have gas, but can have those hexi things & disposable bbq's - they have special areas for bbqing but do allow them in normal camping area's. Any proper fire/naked flame is usually shot down v quickly.

The food & drink on site is pretty pricey but not really extortionate. Burgers, sausage buttys, hot dogs etc about £3.50/£4. I bought all my food on site last year, but more skint this year so I'll go equiped with crisp, cereal bars & tins of beans this time. There's a Tesco in Stevenage that gets A LOT of business on Soni weekend - you can get a free bus from site to there so you can get hold of fresh food

There are showers on site (not that I used them...baby wipes & dry shampoo for me hehe) even though it's July it's blummin cold at night - fleecy pjs & a hoody are a good idea. I'm a wimp and take an air bed with me, it's a godsend

pogofish

Sharon87 wrote: »

Hmm yeah that's a point, food... First day might be a disposable bbq lolm bring some meat and bread and steal the sauce sachets from the burger vans

Do not bring a portable barbecue, unless you want to haul the blocks to put it up on - The damage they do to fields can take years to recover. In fact, IME many festies now discourage/ban them altogtgether.

If you do take anything to cook on, get a cheap gas stove and pan set, plus enough simple non perishable foods, UHT milk, tea, coffee whatever for at least one solid meal a day. That way you don't have to depend on what are often rip-off food vans etc. Although some rock festivals now ban cooking gear too, often citing safety but IMO, more likely because they want to force you to use the consessions.

Oh and whatever you do end up taking, don't take anything very expensive or that you would be concerned about dumping/getting stolen, damaged, muddy etc. I have my "good" camping kit and my cheap stuff for festivals.

Sharon87

So I'm not going Download, as I've just bought Reading Festival tickets Going Sonisphere as well. So I'll need a tent that can last 2 festivals.

If anyone wants weekend tickets for Reading, I'm afraid you may be too late! Tickets sold out!

I'm spending too much money... not very MSE of me. But at least I'm earning now

porlock

My festival must-have is a roll of cheap bin-bags. I use them for the following:

- Rubbish (obviously!)
- Sitting on - mud, dust, dew, damp, cold.
- Keeping clean clothes in, keeps them dry in case of tent leakage
- Keeping worn clothese seperate. By Sunday morning, a chance encounter with Thursday's socks is not fun.
- I even keep one to stuff my sleeping bag in during the day, again, in case it rains and my tent leaks.

It's always worth taking some cereal bars or somthing similar, just so you've got some snacks handy that won't go wierd in the heat.

b1505

bluenoseam wrote: »

I've just had a scout, it would appear B1505 is correct in this case, they've banned gas camping stoves but allow disposable bbq's (which i personally think is slightly more dangerous hey ho!)

I think they've only been banned due to people throwing the gas canisters on fires. The first festival I went to they were allowed and on the Sunday night there were several explosions from people throwing them onto fires.

eamon

At Latitude last year some kids decided that it would be fun to throw aerosols unto campfires. That was until many of their tents were burnt down etc. But seriously if you are carrying all your gear to a festi then you need to be on a really reduced budget to consider lugging food etc all that way. But on the other hand there are few better moments than a lovely cup of tea in the morning.

leandygandy

I'm a Reading-goer and here is my list :

MUST HAVE
Clothes - I have found that a clean pair of leggings and a long top seems to cover all the basis clothes wise and obviusly undies, socks! ETA - for each day, not just one set for the whole time!!
Comfy shoes - Don't take heels, they're a ridiculous thing to have at reading, I'd also say the same for flip flops as the arena is really quite dusty. My general shoes advise would be one pair of trainers and a pair of wellies.
Blow up bed - Some people may see this as not essential but I like my sleep and find that a roll mat simply doesn't do the trick
Dry shampoo - Five day old hair is not pretty.
Roll on deodorant - small, compact and less likely to blow up your tent
Money - Nuff said
Wet wipes - You can use these for everything, mainly a quick wash in your tent each morning
Toilet roll - Essential
Fold-up chair - Again some may argue not an essential but it's nice to have a comfy chair for chilling in of an evening, in addition you can take it into the arena to grab a rest between acts. Particulary essential in my case this year as I'll be 8 months pregnant so won't be up to all that standing up
Toothbrush

NICE TO HAVE
Pillows - Poundland sell two for a quid or something like that so we walk into town and buy them when we arrive.
Camera - We bought some cheap batteries before we went last year, so we had three nicely charged camera battieries to last....you'd be amazed how quickly a festival can drain them

Re : Food and drink we normally wander into town and stock up when we get there, alcohol in particular (although not for me this year ) you can buy crates from the stalls outside red camp for a fairly reasonable price (more than if you bought it with you but less distance to carry...)

I'm sure there's more but that's all I can think of right now...

I'll echo what others have said about only taking things you don't mind losing!

xx

Sharon87

To be honest I don't think I'll drink that much. I never drink at regular drinks. I don't think a hangover works well with gigs. I had a hangover when I saw My Chemical Romance in February at Wembley Arena. Wasn't the best experience, luckily I had seated tickets. But a month later, drank the night before, then saw All Time Low - standing gig, but luckily it was short lol.

So I may drink on the last day of the festivals (especially if it's Slipknot on the last day of Sonisphere, not the biggest fan of them...), but sober the rest of the time lol.

bluenoseam

b1505 wrote: »

I think they've only been banned due to people throwing the gas canisters on fires. The first festival I went to they were allowed and on the Sunday night there were several explosions from people throwing them onto fires.

typical for some lunatics to wreck it for the sensible ones among us! I remember last time i was at T the "big thing" was climbing the poles for the lights (basically a scaffolding pole :eek: ) swinging from the top and shouting "TUUUURBOOOOOOO". Right up until one of the poor sods fell about 20ft off it and landed on his head - he got turbo'd straight to the local A&E for his troubles!!