In the long summer months, it can be difficult to find things to do that aren’t the routine movie dates or frozen yogurt runs.
A good break in the routine could be attending one of the many music festivals that take place in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Larger festivals such as Lollapalooza and Riot Fest, which just celebrated its 10th year, boast a wide array of artists that can accommodate any music taste. Here are some things to keep in mind whether this is your first time at a fest or you are a seasoned veteran:
1) Plan out your day: Most festivals feature multiple stages with artists playing sets that can span up to an hour and a half in length. Be aware that these sets can sometimes overlap and cause time constraints. The easiest way to make sure that you are seeing every band you want to is to grab a schedule from the festival’s information table and circle the times that your favorites are playing.
2) Leave valuables at home: Even though you may want to bring your expensive camera to snap some pictures of the many bands, it is best to leave anything that is easily breakable or expensive to replace at home. For things like wallets, cell phones and keys, a draw-string backpack may be something to consider. Music festivals can be very cramped, and it can be easy for people to take other people’s belongings from them without being noticed. It is much harder for this to happen when your belongings are in a bag with no zippers.
3) Keep hydrated!: This may seem silly, and like it is common sense, but when you are in crowds watching artist after artist, in weather that can be sweltering hot, it can be hard to pull yourself away from the music to go get a bottle of water. Especially in the warmer months, it is so easy to get dehydrated and it can cause some serious side effects. It is better to drink water throughout the long day than to end up in the medic tent due to dehydration.
4) Dress appropriately for the weather: Music festivals are all-day affairs and weather, especially in the Chicagoland area, can change in a matter of hours. It is best to dress in, or at least bring, multiple layers of clothing to prepare for different weather conditions. Even though you may want your outfit to be worthy of a fashion blog, it is important to keep cooler weather in mind. In addition to this, if there is any chance of rain on the day of the festival, a poncho or umbrella is essential.
5) Wear close-toed shoes: Even though the weather may call for strappy sandals, it is better to go with a pair of boots or sneakers for a music festival. It is also a good idea to wear a pair of older shoes to protect your feet from mud, dirt, or other people’s feet. With boots and sneakers, if the weather takes a turn for the worse, at least your feet will be safe. In the case of this year’s Riot Fest, a rainy first day turned Douglas Park into a field full of mud, and saw many a pair of new shoes become ruined.
Once you go to one musical festival, you will want to go to another as soon as possible. Not only are they great summer fun, but they are also a way to discover new bands to add to your playlist.
