Over 32 million people go to festivals a year and these festivals usually last for several days. It’s essentially a giant party atmosphere with great music and lots of drinking. But you have to get some sleep or even take a break at some point.
This is why you’re going to want to know how to glamp at a festival.
You want to make the most of the event you’ve had tickets for the past six months, so why not live like a king or queen for the 2 or 3 days you’re there?
We will cover just the basics to get you started on your journey. Where you go from here, well, that’s up to you. Your site will be the center of attention at the festival!
Let’s get started!
Shelter in style with an RV or bell tent.
We’ll start with a shelter. You have to have a place to lay your head each night, and this is where you’ll make the most of your experience.
Fortunately, there are a lot of options for festival glamping. You can do what most do and take the RV or camper out that has everything you need to glamp in style, but not everyone has that luxury. Or you can go for a luxurious bell tent and bring along all of your creature comforts.
RVs, of course, are the easiest and most preferred option when you glamp at a festival. They usually have running water and bathrooms, but they can be pretty expensive if you’re not careful. And if you don’t have your own, you’ll have to rent an RV, which can get pricey. Dropping $50,000 on a rig for a weekend is usually not a viable option for most, and in that case, you might consider something a little less luxurious, more mobile, but isn’t going to require a mortgage.
On the other hand, bell tents are becoming more and more popular for festivals. You may have seen a few around. Of course, you won’t have the luxury of a built-in bathroom and kitchen, but the event is only for a few days. So, you might have to sacrifice that for the time being.
It’s worth noting that bell tents are not usually as portable as, say, a pup tent. Sure, a Coleman 8 person tent is a great option, but remember we’re considering style as well.
Luxury bedding.
You’re going to want to be well-rested during that weekend of partying, especially for the main event. So, getting a good night (day) sleep is essential, and it starts with bedding.
Before I go any further, I will rule out the sleeping bag on the ground. That is fine if you’re hiking through the wilderness and aiming for portability. But you’re going to a festival. This is glamping, remember. We’re aiming for comfort and style points.
With that said, you have a few options here.
You can go with an air mattress, which is the cheapest and most portable option, but it’s not going to be the most comfortable. There are plenty of options to choose from in size, material, and features. If you have an air mattress that you like, great, but if not, you’ll have to sort through all of the options to find one that works best for you.
A camping bed will give you a better night’s sleep, but they’re bulky and more challenging to move around. For this, you’ll need either a truck or an enclosed trailer, but it’s worth it to get a fantastic sleep while partying at the festival.
Regardless of which way you go, don’t forget the bedding and pillows when you glamp at a music festival. A luxurious down comforter with plush pillows will be the icing on the cake for your festival glamping experience.
Amenities for comfort and class.
This is where you can get creative and comfortable. It’s time to add some flair to your glamping set up at the festival.
We’re only going to cover the essentials because the list of amenities you can bring is essentially endless.
Air conditioning and heat for ultimate comfort.
First on the list of things is air conditioning for your shelter. If you’re lucky enough to have an RV, great, you already have this built-in. But for those going with the bell-style tent, you’ll need something to keep you comfortable.
Fortunately, most festivals (at least the ones I”ve been to) have power sources throughout the camping area. So you’re not entirely off the grid. Find an air conditioner that compromises between portability and power. You wouldn’t want something so big it’s a hassle to get set up, but you still want comfort.
Keep the party going with a portable sound system.
Next is some decent sound. Sure, you’re already there for fun and live music, but the music isn’t necessarily 24 hours of straight music. Sometimes, the sets haven’t started for the day, or the lineup is between sets. However, you want to keep the party going.
So make sure you have a decent portable sound system to keep the vibe alive the entire time.
Fire up delicious meals with a grill.
Lastly, you’re going to want to bring an excellent grill and a deep cooler when you glamp at a festival. There are many foods at these events, which is part of the experience, but you might want to get something a bit better than a greasy gutbuster from a food truck.
Perhaps some delicious sirloins? Grilled jalapeno poppers? Just some ideas. You might even consider bringing a gas Blackstone Griddle for some fantastic breakfast burritos to cure the hangover.
The large cooler, though, is for keeping your beverages ice cold. Keep in mind, some festivals have rules on outside drinks (probably a liability thing), but if you’re able to you’ll want to bring your own. Festival drinks are expensive!
Regardless, bring a decent-sized grill and cooler that can feed your entire entourage for the duration of the festival.
Lighting to set the mood.
This is more of a special mention as it’s completely optional. Since most of the best activities at a festival happen at night, you might not be spending too much time at the glampsite even to need quality lighting.
However, if you’re going for decor and glam, then definitely consider lighting options.
I recommend some warm white battery-powered LED lights to light up your glampsite. These would be easy enough to put up and take down yet give some elegance and grace to your nest.
Planning for a festival is more than just finding the perfect outfit and getting there. It’s about arriving with all of your needs met so you can enjoy yourself in comfort.
With these luxury camping tips, you’ll know precisely how to glamp at a festival. Get some good sleep before the big event, and keep partying without missing any music or food!
