Heading to a festival is one of the most fun things you can do in a weekend but figuring out how to set up your temporary abode can be a bit challenging if it’s your first time.
Don’t worry though, we’ve got all the information you could possibly need to get you all set up and settled in at Stradbally!
Here are our top tips…
1) Do your research
Your Electric Picnic ticket includes camping in one of the general designated camping areas and it’s up to you which one you decide to call your home.
The key thing here is to choose one in advance and make sure that all of your mates know which one to base themselves in. The campsites are called after artist Andy Warhol, musician Jimi Hendrix, writer Oscar Wilde and movie legend Charlie Chaplin and which one you choose is based largely on whether your priority is sleep or partying.
Generally, the farther away you are from the main areas, the better the chance that you’ll actually get some sleep!
Campsites open at 9am on Friday 29th August and close at 1pm Monday 1st September, while the campervan site will open at 4pm on Thursday 28th August. While you may think there will be loads of room, the sites tend to get very full by Friday evening so the early birds always get the best spots. If your group have a few tents, put them close together or chances are that you’ll find a few new additions to your area by the end of the night.
An elevated spot can be a godsend if there are downpours on the horizon and whatever else you do, make sure that you’re not near the toilets!
2) Get organised
The week before a large festival like Electric Picnic usually sees a massive run on every stockist of tents, sleeping bags, wellies, rain jackets and anything else you might need.
So, if you want to stay dry for the weekend, make a list and get everything sorted early. There are tons of cheap tents to be gotten but make sure to read the online reviews or examine the material before you buy to make sure that it’s not going to spring a leak or collapse at the first sign of wind. Argos and Dunnes Stores are usually a good port of call, while Aldi and Lidl usually run promotions in the weeks leading up to a festival.
It’s always so worth keeping an eye on sports and camping stores as you can get some great bargains that will have you festival ready for years to come.
As well as the tent, you’ll also need foam sheets for the floor and some sleeping bags. If you don’t mind carrying it, an inflatable mattress will add a serious touch of luxury to proceedings!
3) Pack light
Last week, we gave you the ultimate guide to camping for a festival but the main thing to remember is to keep it light. You will be carrying your stuff across the length of the festival site and having made this mistake before, take it from us, you will wish that you left half of those trendy outfits at home. Bring what you need and try and find a good backpack to pile everything into. If you want to bring some alcohol for the campsite, you’ll have to carry that too so don’t overload yourself.
4) Become a tent pro
Pop-up tents are easy to put up but have a reputation for being a bit difficult to get back down again so make sure to practice at home to avoid starting your festival experience with a stressful meltdown.
If you have a regular tent, Halford’s have some very handy tips here on how to pitch it.
Our top tips? You’ll probably be a little bit wrecked from carrying all your gear so take fifteen minutes to have a rest and maybe a cheeky drink before you get stuck in. Also, every campsite usually has a friendly group who are happy to lend a hand so making friends can be beneficial in more ways than one!
5) Treat yourself
If you want to avoid all this extra work, there is always the option of letting someone else do it for you. No, we’re not suggesting flirting with the nearest fella and hoping that he’ll volunteer (although that does tend to work too).
There are a selection of luxury campsites available at Electric Picnic, where you can hire a tent (usually a two-man, four-man and six-man) and arrive to have everything set up for you. From tipis to pods, these usually make for a much more comfortable camping experience and are more secure than the regular campsites.
They’ll usually have a few added benefits as well, with the Pink Moon Campsite including a pamper parlour and café.
These sites tend to get filled in advance of the festival so if you’re interested, check out electricpicnic.ie for details.
Don’t forget, the price of the tent DOES NOT include admission!
6) Meet the neighbours
While most people enjoy festival camping without any bad experiences, there have been thefts from tents in the past. Don’t bring expensive goods with you and keep things like your phone and cash on you at all time. It also helps to introduce yourself to those staying nearby as this means they are a lot more likely to notice if a stranger is rifling through your stuff.
