ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL
- FLASHLIGHT
- REUSABLE CUP
- GARBAGE BAGS (BIG DUB IS A 100% LEAVE NO TRACE EVENT)
- EXTRA CAR KEYS
- PHONE, ID, EXTRA CAR KEYS
- CASH – MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU WILL NEED
- CREDIT CARD/DEBIT CARD – THERE IS AN ATM ONSITE AT THE CAFE
- PROOF OF HEALTH INSURANCE/AAA CARD
- TICKETS OR PRINTED EMAIL CONFIRMATION
- MAP OR DIRECTIONS TO VENUE
- SOLAR LIGHTS FOR AROUND YOUR TENT (IT GETS DARK AT NIGHT & WE ENCOURAGE ALL CAMPERS TO LIGHT UP THEIR TENT SPACES)
- UMBRELLAS & PONCHOS
Keep In Your Car
- ID
- WALLET
- HOUSE KEYS
- JUMPER CABLES
- LEAVE YOURSELF A CLEAN CHANGE OF CLOTHES, FRESH SOCKS, A LITTLE BIT OF CASH FOR TOLLS AND A COUPLE OF GRANOLA BARS IN YOUR CAR FOR THE RIDE HOME
Camping
- TENT (TIP: SET IT UP BEFOREHAND TO GET FAMILIAR WITH HOW TO SET IT UP, JUST IN CASE YOU HAVE TO IN THE DARK!)
- SLEEPING BAG, AIR MATTRESS, PILLOWS
- EXTRA BLANKETS (TIP: BRING A COUPLE, IT GETS COLD AT NIGHT!)
- TARPS & TENT STAKES
- LUGGAGE OR LOCKER LOCK FOR YOUR TENT (BETTER SAFE THAN ABSOLUTELY MAD)
- CANOPY (TIP: PUT YOUR TENT UNDERNEATH FOR ADDITIONAL SHELTER AND SHADE!)
- CHAIRS AND/OR RUGS FOR SITTING (TIP: PUT A TARP UNDERNEATH!)
- FOLD-OUT TABLE (TIP: DIY TABLE WITH 2 RECORD CRATES AND A PIECE OF WOOD OR PLASTIC)
- CAMP DECO! TAPESTRIES, FABRIC, LANTERNS, WINDCHIMES, ETC.
- EXTRA LIGHT SOURCE (TIP: SOLAR LIGHTS ARE GREAT AND CAN BE VERY CHEAP!)
IDENTIFYING YOUR CAMPSITE!
- USE FLAGS, NEON ROPE, LIGHTS, OR OTHER METHODS TO IDENTIFY TENT LINES AND STAKES
- USE SOLAR POWERED LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE YOUR SITE SO YOU CAN FIND IT AND ALSO HELP TO LIGHT UP THE CAMPSITES FOR EXTRA VISIBILITY
- ALWAYS KEEP YOUR CAR KEYS IN THE SAME PLACE: WHETHER IT IS A POCKET IN YOUR TENT OR IN YOUR BAG, BUT KEEP TRACK OF THEM!
- IDENTIFY NEAREST RESTROOMS TO YOUR TENT DURING DAYLIGHT
Survive and Thrive
- FIRST AID KIT – IBPROFEN, ANTIACIDS, BANDAIDS FOR BLISTERS, NEOSPORIN
- ESSENTIAL MEDICATIONS
- VITAMINS + MULTIVITAMINS
- 5-HTP
- ELECTROLYTE TABS (VERY IMPORTANT TO START YOUR DAY BY DRINKING ONE OF THESE DISSOLVED IN WATER. ELECTROLYTE DEPLETION CAUSES SEIZURES)
- EMERGEN-C OR AIRBORNE
- MOTION SICKNESS MEDS
- GROCERY BAGS + LARGE AND SMALL ZIPLOC BAGS – (TIP: THESE ITEMS TAKE UP ALMOST NO WEIGHT OR SPACE AND HAVE 8 ZILLION USES, FROM DIRTY CLOTHES TO TRASH)
- EAR PLUGS
- HAIRTIES, HEADBANDS, BOBBY PINS (TIP: ALL CAN BE USED FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES)
Not All Hippies Are Dirty
- DEODORANT
- BUG SPRAY
- SHOWER KIT / SHAMPOO / TOOTHBRUSH / TOOTHPASTE
- BABY WIPES (*PLEASE DO NOT DISPOSE OF THESE IN TOILETS OR PORTA POTTIES!*)
- LOTION / MASSAGE OILS
- EXTRA TOILET PAPER
- IF YOU WEAR CONTACTS, BRING AN EXTRA PAIR! AND DON’T FORGET YOUR CONTACT SOLUTION + GLASSES
- CHAPSTICK (TIP: CAN ALSO BE USED TO LUBE YOUR TENT OR CLOTHES ZIPPER. THAT IS NOT A METAPHOR.)
Cooking + Eating
- SMALL CAMPING STOVE, SMALL GRILL OR RENT A FIRE RING
- EXTRA GAS CANISTERS, FUEL OR CHARCOAL
- BIODEGRADABLE HAND AND DISH SOAP (TIP: DR. BRONNERS SOAP CLEANS DISHES, BODIES, AND TEETH TOO!)
- HAND SANITIZER
- STRAWS (OF COURSE)
- WET WIPES
- REUSABLE HOT MUG FOR COFFEE (TIP: DELICIOUS COFFEE IS SOLD ON THE GROUNDS AT THE COFFEE DRAGONS CAFÉ!)
- REUSABLE COLD MUG FOR DRINKS (TIP: DRINKING WATER IS AVAILABLE AT SPIGOTS)
- REUSABLE CAMPING EQUIPMENT (TIP: FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND OF FOOD YOU WILL BE COOKING / BRINGING AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO PREPARE IT)
- FLASK
Foooood + Drinks
- DRINKS WITH ELECTROLYTES: COCONUT WATER, SMART WATER, GATORADE,
- CITRUS: HIGH LEVELS OF VITAMIN C WILL HELP KEEP YOU HEALTHY AMONGST THE LARGE FESTIVAL CROWDS. GRAPEFRUIT AND ORANGE SLICES MAKE A REFRESHING AND DELICIOUS SNACK, BUT IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO BRING ON THE ELECTROLYTE POWER, BRING ON THE LEMONS. SQUEEZING SOME INTO YOUR WATER WILL GIVE THAT EXTRA BOOST TO KEEP YOU GOING
- GRABBABLE SNACKS: NUTS, CHIPS, BERRIES, GRANOLA BARS, BANANNAS
- (PROTIP: SANDWICH FOR THE FIRST DAY – MAKE ONE YOURSELF OR GRAB A 12” FROM A LOCAL DELI, YOU CAN EAT HALF FOR LUNCH, HALF WHEN YOU GET HUNGRY LATER, AND NOT HAVE TO THINK ABOUT FOOD THE WHOLE FIRST DAY)
- GROUP FOODS ARE FUN! THINK PITA CHIPS + HUMMUS & CUCUMBERS, TOMATOES, FETA, OLIVES, PEPPERONCINIS, RED ONION SLICES, TABOULEH, ETC.
- INSTANT FOODS ARE GOOD TOO: GARLIC RICE NOODLES OR CINNAMON OATMEAL
- TINFOIL DINNERS: AN IDEAL DINNER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SPEND MUCH TIME COOKING, YET WANT TO SERVE A MEAL THAT’S WHOLESOME AND SATISFYING. GREAT WAY TO GRILL VEGGIES. THE BEST PART? NO DISHES TO WASH UP!
BODY GEAR
- STURDY, COMFY, CLOSED-TOE SHOES (TIP: THE LAND IS HILLY AND FULL OF ROOTS, GET SOME COMFY INSOLES. BONUS POINTS IF YOU WATERPROOF YOUR SHOES BEFOREHAND!)
- SANDALS FOR SHOWER AND SWIMMING HOLE
- 2X THE AMOUNT OF SOCKS YOU THINK YOU WILL NEED
- 2X THE AMOUNT OF UNDER GARMENTS YOU THINK YOU WILL NEED
- BATHING SUIT
- LIGHT JACKET OR HOODY
- PONCHO / RAIN JACKET (BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW!)
- 1-2 LONG-SLEEVED SHIRTS + PANTS
FUN EXTRAS
- WATER WINGS OR FLOATIES
- HAND DRUMS AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
- HAMMOCK
- ALTAR OFFERINGS FOR THE SPIRITS
- GIFTS FOR THE COMMUNITY (JEWELERY, ACCESSORIES, STONES, BANDANNAS, THINGS OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT NEED!)
- FACEPAINT / CRAZY MAKEUP (TIP: BEFORE YOU GO OUT, DUST A FINE LAYER OF TRANSLUCENT POWDER OVER MAKEUP OR USE A TINY SPRAY OF HAIRSPRAY / SETTING SPRAY TO SET THE MAKEUP AND MAKE IT SMUDGEPROOF)
HACKS
- PACK YOUR FESTIVAL BACKPACK OR PURSE TO CARRY ON-SITE BEFORE YOU ARRIVE, AND STOCK IT UP WITH ALL YOU MIGHT NEED!
- ONCE A DAY, SPEND 5-15 MINUTES ORGANIZING AND REPLENISHING YOUR BAG AND CAMPSITE WITH WHATEVER IS NEEDED.
- FREEZE WATER BOTTLES TO USE IN PLACE OF ICE IN COOLERS SO YOU HAVE COLD WATER TO DRINK AFTER THEY MELT.
- BRING A LARGE PLASTIC TUB TO WASH OR HAUL BACK DIRTY DISHES.
- HERE IS A TUTORIAL TO MAKE A CHARCOAL GRILL FOR $2 OUT OF MATERIALS FROM A DOLLAR TREE: HTTP://WWW.INSTRUCTABLES.COM/ID/2-CHARCOAL-GRILL/
- FACE SOAP + FRISBEE + WATER = MORNING FACE WASH