Peace, Love, and Rave: The Power of Music Festivals and How to Survive One
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Setting the Stage
Imagine the kaleidoscope lights. Hear the music surrounding you. See the vibrancy of it all. Feel the rhythm of the night.
If you wish to enter a world of color, life, and love, attending a music festival should be next on your bucket list. Trust me, you won’t want to leave.
If you’ve never been to a festival, it may seem daunting. And I won’t sugarcoat it—it is. Before even attending one, it feels like there are a million things to plan and organize just to ensure the time you’re there might go according to plan. But, I promise, it’s all part of the fun! While every fest is different in terms of vibes and guidelines, there are overarching experiences and ways to prepare that remain the same.
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Survival 101
1. Surviving a fest consists of gathering the greatest group you can find. It can be your best friends, people who party, or anyone who’s ready for the ride of their life.
2. Next, you need to plan early. While planning closer to the start date of a fest is totally fine, you’ll have a much less stressful process if you don’t wait until the week before. Get your tickets early because they’re usually cheaper. And reserve accommodations ASAP. Trust me, you’re going to need the best sleeping situation possible to get good rest and power through.
3. Be sure to do research for the specific fest you wish to attend!
4. Once your plans are set and the festival date is approaching, try your best to take extra good care of your body. You want to be in the best condition to enjoy yourself. Boost your immunity. Chug some Vitamin C. I’m serious.
5. And I can’t stress this enough, buy a hydration pack. It will make your life so much easier. The last thing you’re going to want to do is scramble for water in the middle of a colossal crowd.
6. Lastly, conjure up the most eclectic outfits you can think of. Or the most scandalous; whatever’s up your alley. The wonderful thing about festivals is that anything goes!
One minor warning I should give to the “rave babies” out there is to remember that festivals are marathons, not sprints! They produce an incomparable type of exhaustion, and to make the most of one, pacing yourself and listening to your body is key. It’s easy to get caught up in the fanfare of it all and forget to take care of yourself.
I told you, surviving a music festival is no joke – you'll be pushed to your limits, but it’ll look so *magical* on your camera roll when it’s over.
Ultimately, to conquer a music festival, you must prepare your body and mind to be overstimulated at all times (in the best way possible). You’ll watch mind-blowing performances, see beautifully bizarre sights, and make new friends along the way. Festivals are experiences I wouldn’t trade for the world, and if attending one is an opportunity for you – take that chance and run with it.
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Why Rave?
Now that you know how to survive, it’s time to elaborate on the why. Naturally, not all festivals will garner the same experience. Numerous factors come into play to determine the type of experience you’ll have. The genre of music, number of people, how many days you attend, etc. But without a doubt, experiencing live music at that level with people you love (and people you don’t know) is euphoric. There’s something special about dancing the night away with strangers because although you may not see them again, you understand that life has allowed this momentary crossover. You were meant to connect with them. Sometimes, a moment is all you need. Festivals allow for a celebration of humanity to ensue! Some food for the soul.
Music brings all walks of life together and shows us that we’re really not so different. It’s a reminder of the shared human experience at a fantastical level. We’re just humans trying to live life to the fullest! Music, especially performed in live sets, allows you to feel liberated and even look inside yourself. I’ve walked away with way more self-discovery and healing than I ever initially expected before going to my first festival. I’ll never forget seeing Odesza and Paramore at Bonnaroo 2023 and crying tears of joy. Or screaming the lyrics to “Clarity” by Zedd at Electric Daisy Carnival with friends I had made days prior. Don’t even get me started on how much joy I felt walking into Ultra for the first time. I can say with positivity that festival-going is something I plan on doing for the rest of my life. It’s beyond description how heartwarming it is to see so many people gathered for one positive purpose.
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All in all, the ambiance is addictive. Once you taste a festival, you’ll never go back. So, with that, my friends, please proceed with an attitude of peace, love, and rave!
PS: Expect there to be Kandi. Trade them. Peace, Love, Unity, Respect. PLUR.
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Strike Out,
Writer: Dani Hernandez
Editor: Cristina Angee
Tallahassee