Before you pack
the tie dyed shirts, take time to research your trip for Firefly Music Festival 2016. Buying your wristband(s) gives you one duck
in a row. Here is how to line up all your ducks:
My number one Firefly 2016 tip is DO NOT put your wristband on too tight. Save room to feel comfortable all
weekend. Tie the excess band into a
small knot or loop it inside the band.
Cutting the band will cause the material severe unraveling and
inconvenience. I can’t convey how
unhappy you will be if your wristband is too tight. You can always pull the band a bit
tighter. You CAN’T loosen a
wristband. You’re welcome. Read instructions to understand which wrist
to put your band on. Sometimes artists
use one wrist and attendees use another.
Hotel vs: Camp Site
If you are going to book a hotel, make your reservations
early. There are more attendees than
hotel rooms. Don’t wait until the last
minute to book your room. Don’t be
afraid to look at hotels 10 - 20 miles
away. You may have less competition if
you expand your search. I stayed with
friends 25 miles away, slept soundly and didn’t get wet in Firefly’s 2015 storm.
Camping Tips:
Bring an extra tarp.
The grass can get damp. The ground will get muddy. The camp parking area can become a messy
gravel pit. Drive s-l-o-w-l-y through the camping areas.
Getting from Point
A to B Takes Time:
The lines for the shuttles were long. It was much easier just to walk from the
racetrack to the fields. Pace
yourself. Firefly is spread out over
giant fields. Take a break and plan your
journey based on which artists you want to hear. You will wait in line for the bathroom, food,
drinks, merchandise and security. Give
yourself extra time each day. We claimed
our spot for Paul McCartney 5 hours ahead of time.
Be Safe:
Lock your valuables in your car. Those large blue IKEA bags make excellent
suitcases. They are easy to move items between
your tent & car. They are also great for hauling groceries. Keep your cooler in the back of your car for
easy access. Don’t leave any valuables
inside your tent. If your tent has a
zipper that opens at the top and bottom,
get a luggage lock to keep your tent more secure. Don’t assume that everyone is as nice and
honest as you.
Handy Items to Pack:
Bring cash (save on ATM fees), flashlight, rope, duct
tape, bug spray, umbrella, whisk broom to sweep your tent floor, trash bags,
One sheets (they are washable), freezer sized zip lock bags, scissors, a giant water jug just for bags of
ice. When the ice melts, you have
chilled water. The free water stations
can run out of water. Last year, bottles of water were $4 a pop.
Rain Preparation:
Have an umbrella, raincoat and/or reusable ponchos that
can also cover your backpack. Water
proof pouches for your wallet, camera, phone & charger. Bring boots or shoes that can handle mud. Gardening crocks are my favorite. They keep your feet dry and are easy to wipe
off mud.
Walmart or any sporting good s store will have water
resistant & waterproof cases/pouches.
Ziplock makes giant plastic bags that can fit pillows or a sleeping bag.
I kept one in my back pack. You never know when the rain will soak
everything. A large gardening trash bag
is great to put under your towel or blanket at performances.
Survival Kit: a
large water bottle, sunglasses, a hat or cap, sunblock, bug spray (Avon Skin So Soft is my fav for both), baby wipes, tissues, glucose tablets, water bottle, power bars, gator aid bottles or powder,
extra socks, bathing suit/towels.
Shamwows save space & also dry efficiently. I carry a wash cloth and sporting chill towel. Bring a bandana for those dusty moments. The Woodlands is on a farming field. Bring portable chargers for your phone &
other items. I carry three. Firefly will have recharging stations
throughout the grounds. Walmart has
inexpensive chargers in many colors.
First Aid:
There are lots of stores near The Woodlands, but will you
really want to leave the area? Bring band aids, aspirin and Pepto-Bismol. Ginseng tablets work great for nausea or an
upset stomach. Soy sauce is great for minor burns. Black activated charcoal is another wonderful
natural remedy for food poisoning, cramps
and other ailments.
Gotta Have’s:
Download the Firefly application onto your phone. You can read the lineup, look at The
Woodlands maps and get important updates on set changes from Firefly. Last year’s storm cancelled some acts. Get a map when you receive your
wristbands. Take a picture of the back
of your wristband before you put it on.
That makes registering your wristbands much easier. Bring ear plugs. They are handy if you are near a speaker or
trying to sleep. Having a plan will make
your Firefly experience much richer.
Food for Thought:
We enjoyed checking out all of the food stands on the
grounds. My favorite food item was the
pizza. If you are saving a spot to hear
your favorite band, you may not be in a position to grab a bite. I carry Kind bars, glucose tablets and a
piece of fruit. As long as you aren’t
carrying your entire cooler onto the grounds, security isn’t going to mind if
you have a few snacks. Trail mix is a convenient item to have. Some of the vendors sold fruit last year. The
vendors that sell food by the racetrack are just a good start. There are tons of items for sale inside The
Woodlands. Study the maps posted all
over the place.
Have Fun:
Bring a deck of cards or a Frisbee to pass the time at
your camping area or The Woodlands. If
you need a break, the casino is close to the racetrack. Make sure you visit early so you can take
pictures at all of the great photo opp areas.
There are creative spots to take pictures all over the grounds.
Be Considerate:
Your momma didn’t raise you to be a pirate. Pick up your trash. Don’t be so rushed that you bump into people
waiting in lines. If you have to smoke,
try not to blow smoke in people’s faces.
It is rude. Be respectful to the
security guards. They aren’t persecuting
you. Everyone gets searched. If you drink too much, throw up in the woods
and not in a port-a pot or on a person! Note – Walmart umbrella bags are great barf
bags. If you are walking around the
grounds at night, try not to hold onto strangers in the dark. It is creepy. Carry a flashlight or use the flashlight app
on your phone.
Do Your Research: Spend time on Firefly.com to learn policies,
information and great suggestions. Read
the threads on everything. There is a
good chance that your question was already covered by someone else.
Recap:
Get excited. The
weekend is going to be extraordinary.
DO NOT put your wristband on too tight.
Stay dry – it will probably rain.
Be nice – you will be around thousands of people. Let’s
make everyone’s experience a great one.
Be smart - Pack your daypack with practical items that
you may need during the day. It is a hike to return to the racetrack and
camping area. Make sure you understand
contraband and what NOT to bring. People
seemed shocked that they couldn’t bring in glow sticks. Fireflyfestival.com
clearly spells out the rules.
Protect yourself - Take a picture of the back of your
wristband before you put it on.
Did I mention not putting on your wristband too tight?
Have fun and make sure you tweet or post pictures about
your experience during Firefly 2016!
For more information about the festival, check out fireflyfestival.com
For more information about the festival, check out fireflyfestival.com
