Top tips for a great Download Festival 2023!

With Download Festival literally a week away, we look at some handy tips to ensure you have the best time possible!

Next week we will all be in Donington for Download Festival and while some of us are festival veterans, for many it will be their first time attending a festival.

This can be nerve wracking if you’re unsure what to expect so here we give you some of our top tips to make sure you’re ready to have a great time listening to your favourite artists in the field.

1- Pack essentials

You’re going to be in a field for 4-5 days (depending on your tickets), so you need to make sure you have everything you need. It’s always handy to write out a checklist before you pack to make sure you know what you’re going to have to take.

The important stuff includes your tent and sleeping bag (or air bed etc), warm clothes for the night (even if it’s 20-30 degrees in the day, it gets extremely cold in the nights in a tent), some sort of light to help you see so you don’t break your (or someone else’s) tent in the middle of the night (it’s happened many a time), chargers for your phone – Download usually does phone charging lockers but if you’re someone who likes to keep your phone on you at all times then it’s best to get some portable chargers and make sure they’re fully charged before you leave.

You should also remember to pack clothes, toiletries (including toilet roll) and whatever else you may need for your camp (you can take as much alcohol into the camp providing you’re over 18 but you can’t take any of this or food into the arena with you). There are plenty of water refill stations around the arena too which will come in handy.

2- If you forget something

If you do forget to bring something, then there’s no need to worry as the Download village will have you covered. They will have a supermarket on site as well as a number of stalls that will sell essentials but expect to pay festival prices.

3- Arena essentials

You can’t take a bag bigger than A4 into the arena with you but whatever bag you take make sure you have the following in it: toilet roll (you don’t want to get caught short if the portaloos are out), sealed 500ml water bottle so you can refill it while in the arena (it’s important to stay hydrated while having fun in the – we hope – sun), phone, charger to make sure your phone won’t die, card as most of the vendors in the arena are card only or prefer to take card. And of course sun cream to avoid the dreaded sunburn if the sun does make an appearance.

4- Make sure to eat

We won’t lie, festival food can be expensive but if you want to have the best time you should make sure you’re fuelled up so make sure to eat throughout the day. Whether that’s what you have at your camp or from the vendors in the village/arena it’s always good to take some time out to get some food (and if you choose to eat in the arena, you can still enjoy the acts on stage).

5- Look after yourself and each other

We know it can get a bit chaotic once the pits open up. If you’re someone who would rather not be involved in the pits, that’s fine but we would advise you to stick to the sides or towards the back of the stages rather than in the middle as this is where people tend to start pits. And if you’re in a pit and see someone fall, pick them back up. We’re all here for the same reason – to have a good time.

6- Plan

It’s always worth having a look at the clash finder so you can make sure you don’t miss those acts you really want to see and can also work out the best way to see as many acts as possible.

7- Have fun

This is obviously the most important part but making sure you follow the tips will lead to a more enjoyable weekend for all.

We’ll see you there!

Elizabeth Birt

June 1, 2023

Band management assistant. Goth princess and lover of all things music and sport.

@lbirt1993

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