The weather’s warming up and Memorial Day is around the corner – festival season is coming up! Festivals are an awesome experience – but like any area with a concentration of people, alcohol, and other substances, there is an element of danger. Here are a few tips to keep in mind so you stay safe at festivals.
- Try not to keep valuables on you – they’re likely to break, and pickpocketing is always a possibility. If you must bring them and leave them in your car, hide them rather than locking them in the glovebox.
- Divide your cash and credit cards between two separate places so if one set is misplaced or taken, you still have the other half.
- Don’t leave valuable items in your tent when you aren’t in it, and don’t padlock it – this only encourages thieves.
- Put your name and phone number on larger items like tents and coolers to avoid theft and inadvertent mix-ups.
- Photocopy your credit cards and ID, and write down the phone numbers for your banks so you can quickly let them know if your cards go missing.
- Stick with your group, or have a solid plan where and when to meet up. You’re likely to get slowed down and separate by other large groups of people, but try to be tolerant of being elbowed or pushed by the crowd.
- Never leave your food or beverages unattended.
- Don’t rely on your phone as a way to meet up with people (batteries drain quickly in large crowds), but check it every so often and keep it charged.
- Be wary of poorly lit areas at night, especially if you are under the influence.
- Befriend your neighbors so you can keep an eye out for each other, but don’t be overly trusting.
- Arrange to meet your group at a specific place at a few specific times each day to check in and make sure everyone is safe.
Have a great time and stay safe this festival season – see you at Sasquatch and Mysteryland!
