Hydration & Snack

Staying hydrated is key, especially when dancing for hours under the sun or in crowded venues. Before going to a rave, make sure you have a reliable way to carry water with you. Many festivals allow hydration packs, which are perfect for keeping your hands free while giving you easy access to water throughout the day and night. Even if you prefer a water bottle, choose one that’s durable, lightweight, and easy to refill at festival water stations. Staying hydrated not only helps prevent fatigue and dehydration but also keeps your energy up. Also packing small snacks like granola bars, trail mix, nuts, or dried fruit gives you quick, convenient energy whenever you need it.

Fans

Festivals can get insanely hot, especially during the day in crowded areas, and it’s easy to get overheated while jamming for hours. Not only will this be useful for you, but it will help out everyone around you.  They can actually be a part of your festival outfit. Many ravers decorate their fans with LED lights, stickers, or kandi to match their vibe and complements their outfits. Bringing a fan might seem like a small thing, but it’s honestly one of those underrated essentials that can completely level up your festival experience. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference it makes when you’re packed in a crowd and the heat starts kicking in. 

Personal Belongings

When it comes to personal belongings before a rave festival, keeping things digital is honestly the smartest move. Most festivals let you save your tickets right to your phone wallet, which makes it so much easier. When it comes to physical stuff, less really is more. Just stick to the essentials your ID, debit or credit card, and a little cash and keep them in a secure fanny pack or backpack. It keeps everything safe, easy to grab, and won’t weigh you down while you’re running around and dancing all day.

 Another big thing to remember before a rave festival is checking the festival’s rules. Every event has its own policies on what you can and can’t bring like bag sizes, hydration packs, fans, or certain accessories. Knowing the rules ahead of time saves you a ton of hassle at security, and it keeps your belongings from getting thrown away at the gate. I had experienced this when I threw a small cologne bottle in my bag without even thinking about it, and security took it the moment they saw it. It wasn’t the end of the world, but it definitely sucked watching them toss something I didn’t realize wasn’t allowed.

One of the best parts of a rave festival is seeing your favorite DJs and performers live but it can be overwhelming if you don’t plan ahead. Before going to a rave, it’s important to know when and where your favorite artists are performing so you don’t miss out. Most festivals release a full artist lineup along with set times days or weeks in advance. I learned this the hard way at Breakaway Festival. One of the biggest performances was Zedd, one of the popular DJs at the festival. My friends and I didn’t plan our timing well, and by the time we got to the stage, all the good spots were taken. We ended up way further back in the crowd, and while the music was still amazing, the experience just wasn’t the same as being close to the action. 

Arriving early not only secures a better spot but also allows you to enjoy the other DJs as they build up the energy before the main performance. It’s a great way to meet new people who have the same music taste as you whether it’s bonding over a favorite track or just chatting while waiting for the headliner. Showing up early gives you time to really soak in the atmosphere.