Festival Glamping
The year was 1994. I was 19 and camping at a festival in England for the first time. Funds were tight, so there were two of us in a two-man tent (built for one man in reality). We were parked what seemed like many miles from the campsite and had to drag our clothes, tent, sleeping bag, food, and (most importantly) beer for a great distance. We were drinking the cheapest beer and eating Pot Noodles, the British equivalent of Ramen packets. We didn’t care, though — why would we? We were music-mad teens, essentially getting to sleep at a concert, and we were with friends. It was a great adventure.
Fast-forward to 2007. Now 32, I went to the Rocklahoma Festival in Oklahoma. This time, I had a job and therefore some disposable income. I flew from England to Dallas, rented an RV, and drove to the festival. No carrying shit because it was all in the RV, where I was sleeping. Air conditioning (which is admittedly more important in Oklahoma than England). Good beer. Good food. A real bed. This was a very different way of experiencing a festival.
The thing is, I love camping at festivals. I love the atmosphere on campsites, and I love roughing it a bit. I’m 41 now, and as I’ve grown older, I’ve seen my friends who still want to attend these events start going the nearby-hotel route. To me, this is a cop-out. More than anything, what would bother me about this would be missing out on the party atmosphere on site.
Conversely, I have to admit, that RV was a great compromise. If you can afford it (and they are expensive to rent) or you know someone with one that you can borrow, try it. But not everyone is so lucky, so how can you make camping at a festival as pleasant as possible?
From about 2000, when I did stay in a tent, I was lucky enough to be on the press/VIP site. With fewer people and a closer proximity to the stages, plus some great campsite parties, this was an awesome way to experience it. Again though, not everyone can do it. There is a way though. Most festivals call for volunteers to help pick up trash and other such tasks in exchange for a free ticket. Often, those volunteers also have their own campsite, and I’ve noticed it’s right next to the one for press at some festivals. It’s worth a try.
Otherwise, the only way to make it work is to take the planning seriously. How much food do you really need to take with you? If you can save a bit, survive on soggy fries for a few days and save the space for clothes, makeup, etc. Share sheets with friends, if you need sheets at all. Don’t take a cushion — use clothes. Liquor takes less space than beer. And park your car carefully.
There are few better ways to spend a weekend than at a festival. And with some planning and perhaps a bit of luck, you don’t have to sacrifice your appearance or any of your good time to do it properly.
