The Luxury Guide to Surviving Festivals in the Rain

Festivals are great but not when it rains; here are my tops tips to stay sane in the worst-case scenario.

This is your Luxury Guide to Surviving Festivals in the Rain. Festivals are great fun, but if you are not prepared for the event of bad weather it can be horrendous.

You are booked and ready to go that’s assuming you have picked the right festival. You have your pop-up tent, glittery outfit and a bottle of plonk. You take one look out of the window and it is raining. The first night the tent leaks, your feet are cold and what was perfect festival attire resembles that of a drowned rat.

So having experienced what our great British weather can give you when you are trying to party hard, here are some helpful tips to set you on your way. They may not be the cheaper options but trust me if you are not adept at slugs sharing your sleeping space you may not care!

A few things I wish I had known about Surviving Festivals in the Rain.

I knew nothing about camping before I attended a very wet and rainy festival. I learnt the hard way so here are a few things I wished I had known about Surviving Festivals in the Rain. You never know you may be blessed with a hot sunny festival but you need to be prepared just in case with this handy list of stuff you may need!

Surviving Festivals in the Rain Which Festival is Best?

First off make sure the festival you attend is suited to the people you are going with, i.e. Children, hippies or teens. It will not be that good an experience if you rock up to an entirely different music genre and generation than you are expecting. There are plenty of family-friendly festivals so there will always be something that suits your needs. Whether you are heading off to Glastonbury Festival or Bestival read these tips to survive the rain!

There are many choices of accommodation and if you are going to experience full-on rain you will be glad you chose the right one! Tents are great, but you need to spend a bit more money. You can not just rock up, pitch a tent and think all is going to be ok.

Surviving Festivals in the Rain What do I need in my tent?

No awning – wet tent, no double lining – wet tent, If you purchase a tent you need a good one with an extra room double skinned. Pop-up tents are great and easy but are not the best, usually one layer and thin.

A tent with an awning is a must, if not a separate small tent is ideal. This will give you an undercover place to sit with a camping chair and keep all of your stuff dry. Getting in and out of a small tent is no mean feat when it’s raining and you can’t get your wellies off!

So if you do not have a tent that is super duper with a spare room? Hire one. Think Camper van a Yurt or a luxury already set up tent in a designated boutique area. It won’t be perfect but just a bit more comfortable. There are lots of campsites that offer Luxury Glamping at festivals where you can have post toilets, showers and even real beds.

Tip- Take lots of bin bags for wet stuff!

Tip- Cover chairs with a bin bag to keep dry; take off when the rain stops

Where should I Position my tent?

You have your luxury tent, and you now have your dry awning, and then you find where you are positioned is not quite right. The large tuft of grass in the middle of your back and the waste lorry rattling past will keep you awake at night.

Do not erect your tent on a slope if you can help it. If you have to pay attention to what way up you will be sleeping. Upside down or rolling to one side is very disorienting.

Do not erect your tent near a passing road or work way. Work at a festival goes on for most of the night with lorries setting up as early as 5.30 am. These vans remove rubbish clear out portaloos and general maintenance; avoid this at all costs.

The same goes for sleeping arrangements; good-quality sleeping bags are a must. We woke up to find we were lying in 1 inch of water but inside our sleeping bags we were completely dry! So good quality washable sleeping bags such as these. Add some gaffer tape for leaks, camping pillows, bed rolls or even inflatable mattresses.

Tip- If you end up by a dirt road earplugs will help.

Where can I go to the toilet at a festival?

Now I am not that fussy normally, but I found the toilets the hardest thing to bear. It will smell; no matter how hard they try, it will smell!

Where can I go to the toilet at a festival? In the VIP!

First,  if you can book VIP or get boutique camping I would highly suggest it. You will have better toilets, not porterloos that are cleaned more regularly. However these can still smell quite a bit by day two, so if your campsite offers a paying VIP toilet experience it’s well worth the £2 a pee option! Check this out on day one!

Failing that make sure you have tissues, hand sanitiser and maybe even a nose plug ( I kid you not )

Some festivals operate a composting toilet. These work great and although it feels a little strange covering your business in soil or sawdust it does not smell half as much.

Tip- take toilet wipes and gel hand sanitiser to your festival

How to eat at a festival in the rain?

Food is generally good at festivals with street stalls and lots of options. However, if it is raining and cold standing up in a field can leave your chicken balti a bit water-logged. If you are not good at this sort of thing make sure you are prepared before. There may be some tented areas with seating, find these on day one. This way if it rains you have somewhere to head, sit and eat.

Check out a few local pubs prior to your stay and eat out one night. Trust me it will make you feel sane, somewhere warm with a real knife and fork.

Take a stash of food or drinks with you. Check out first what your festival allows. Some festivals let you take your own alcohol. Cans of drink and plastic are usually ok as are boxes of wine. Some cereal bars, fruit and a few bars of chocolate might cheer you up.

Tip- take a thermos flask to top up with a warm drink.

What to wear when surviving festivals in the rain?

It is nice to be glam at a festival but comfort is a priority. Invest in a good raincoat, waterproof breathable and light it will save you.

I grabbed myself a Barbour raincoat in the sale, and it saved me! I was dry all weekend. Try sale stores such as this or the end of the season for a bargain. If you are dry underneath you will stay comfortable and warm all day. Also, take a brolly for when you are standing around it will stop the water running off your hood and dripping onto your nose.

Wellie socks will save your feet and keep you warm and make so much difference. Make sure that your footwear is comfortable in the rain. Wellies are a must! Chairs get very wet, and you may be standing longer than you think.

Take plenty of layers, thin layers, a vest, t-shirt, cardigan, hoodie, and raincoat. It is easier to take off layers when they get wet or when hot. Do not take too much however as your tent may be very far away from your car.

If you want glam forget it; take a tutu, face glitter or pretty headpiece. Beautiful hip white clothing looks a bit naff covered in mud plus you will not be comfy.

Tip- take a poncho for an extra rain layer you can take off

Hygiene and Beauty at a Festival in the Rain

Simple ready make-up, lots of hair bands and maybe a few hair rollers. Try using some in your fringe before you go to bed; instant hair in the morning! Plaits, buns and flowers work well too.

Take stuff for a quick freshen up Baby wipes, face wipes, and antibacterial wipes are also a must. Try a Dry shampoo spray as well.

Easy all-in-one foundation face makeup, waterproof mascara and a slick of gloss are about all you need. For faces grab a pot of vaseline and glitter for instant glam.

If you think you can’t hack slugs, frogs, or mosquitoes sharing your tent or have a bad aversion to dirt and smells maybe stay in a hotel!

I hope The Luxury Guide to Surviving Festivals in the Rain has helped somehow. I just need to take my own advice. Hopefully, the weather will stay dry for you so party hard and  “rock on!”

Knowing what to take to a festival can be hard too make sure you properly pack in advance!

What do I need to Pack for a festival in case it rains?

You need to make sure you pack correctly for a festival in case the skies open and it rains. Here is a handy list of what you need to take to a festival in the rain;

• Wellington boots
• Spare shoes
• Umbrella
• Crocs are great if not too muddy
• Boot Socks
• Spare clothes in case they get wet
• Extra underwear and socks
• Thin layers of clothes such as vests
• Waterproof bag or rucksack
• Bin bags for wet clothes
• Freezer sacs to keep small items dry
• Rain coat
• Rain hat
• Waterproofs such as over trousers if you have them
• Toilet wipes or baby wipes
• Toilet roll
• Gel hand sanitiser
• Extra blankets if it cold
• Festival tickets
• Wallet or purse with enough cash
• ID
• Mobile phone and charger
• power bank
• Torch for nighttime
• Earplugs
• Painkillers or tablets for medication 
• Plasters
• Toiletries such as toothbrushes and deodorants
• Dry Shampoo
• Ear Plugs
• Sleep mask
• Insect repellant
• Sun cream ( you never know )
• Alcohol
• Bottles of water
• Fold up chair
• Extra Blankets
• A bumbag or a rucksack

For some more tips on Summer family festivals or even a month-by-month guide hop over to My Travel Monkeys Travel blog to see what’s on in Kent this summer. You can also visit Travel loving families Travel blog which has a whole section on just festivals.

Tip- If in doubt stay in a hotel or book a day ticket!

D x

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