In case you missed this week’s buzz, the Winnipeg Folk Festival unveiled their star-studded list of 2020 artists on social media, including Vance Joy, Kaleo, Tegan and Sara, Tash Sultana, Japanese Breakfast, Alan Doyle, and Sharon Van Etten just to name a few. To celebrate Manitoba 150, the Winnipeg Folk Festival also announced a special Manitoba music showcase with performances from Micah Erenberg, JP Hoe, Jonny Moonbeam, Atlaas, and Kelly Bado.
All-in-all, this year is looking to be one of the most exciting years in the festival’s history meaning many eager music fans in Winnipeg have already snatched up passes for the event.
Some of my fondest memories were created at music festivals and I’m of the opinion that everyone should attend one at some point in their life. They’re a sensory overload and offer a safe, fun and creative space where people from all over the world can celebrate music together.
That said, if this is your first time attending a music festival, it can be hard to know what to expect and how to proprerly prepare for the weekend. Here are some of the things you should be aware of before purchasing your summer fest tickets.
1. YOU (PROBABLY) WON’T GET TO SEE ALL THE ACTS YOU WANTED TO
Kaleo // 2016. 
St.Lucia // 2016
I hate to burst your bubble, but there’s a very good chance you won’t get to see every single act you want to at a music festival. I don’t say this to hurt you. I say this to set you up with realistic expectations.
One of the main things I’ve learned over the years from attending multiple music festivals is that the initial lineups are deceiving. Sure, in theory all of your favourite artists are together performing in the same space, but people often forget festivals have multiple stages and each of those stages have their own individual schedules that overlap throughout the day. This means that two or three of the artists you came to see may end up playing at the same time on oposite ends of the grounds.
If you’re like me, you may attempt to hightail it across a sea of people in the hopes of catching a glimpse of both artists’ sets, but honeslty, it’s not worth it if you want to get the full experience of each live performance.
In short, you’ll likely have to make some compromises once you arrive.
2. YOU’LL PAY MORE THAN YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULD
When you buy tickets to a music festival, things can start to add up fast. Don’t be surprised if your $200 weekend quickly turns into a $1000 weekend.
If you’re travelling to a festival out of town, you’ll need to book accommodation – often at peak tourist times during the summer when hotels and Airbnb owners jack up the prices. You’ll also have to factor in plane tickets or gas money in order to actually get to your destination.
The more people you rent a room with or travel with, the cheaper your festival roadtrip gets. You can cut down the cost if you don’t mind sacrificing your personal space for a few days or you can stay in an area farther away from the festival grounds for half the price.
Although festivals with campgrounds seem more cost effective, if you don’t have your own equipment on hand, you’ll end up dishing out big bucks for tents, sleeping bags, air mattresses, and other supplies. At some festivals there are a number of unexpected fees associated with parking spaces and renting campsites, so be sure to check the festival’s online FAQ page ahead of time to get a gauge on what’s included in your pass.
While music festivals are full of exotic treats and specialty craft beers, food and drinks can be very VERY expensive. If you’re planning to hit up the vendors and get a taste of all the festival has to offer, you’ll want to budget at least $50 a day in extra spending cash.
3. SHELTER ISN’T ALWAYS EASY TO FIND
This is the part where I remind you that music festivals take place OUTSIDE, meaning they are totally dependent on having favourable weather conditions. While there are a few exceptions, most festivals are held in large open fields with very few trees or buildings around for protection.
Tents are usually the first places people congregate when the weather turns ugly, making space especially limited. Unfortunatley, items like umbrellas have been banned from most festival grounds due to sight-line and security concerns.
Therefore, it’s important to be prepared for any situation, whether that be a thunder storm or a desert-level heatwave.
Consider keeping a light-weight rain poncho in your pocket in case the skies unexpectedly open up, and ensure you have a hat and bottle of heavy-duty sunscreen on you at all times to avoid getting heat stroke or sunburns (we’re talking SPF 50 here people).
Stay tuned for Sound Off Winnipeg’s “Festival Survival Kit” blog post to enhance your music fest experience this summer.
4. POWER OUTLETS ARE SCARCE
It’s 4 p.m. on day one of the festival and you’ve already accumulated hundreds of photos of you and your friends posing in your trendy, glittering outfits. You’re now in the crowd, about to get a perfect Instagram-worthy video of that artist you’ve always wanted to see when…GASP!…your phone dies. Now how are you supposed to link up with the rest of your group?
I’m not going to stand here and tell you that you shouldn’t take photos or use your phone at a music festival. Technology is a huge part of the experience and it’s what lets you create memories for the future. However, I am here to remind you that out in the open wilderness, you likely won’t find many power outlets to plug your charger into when you’re in a desperate situation. For that reason, I suggest conserving your battery power as best as you can.
Many modern festivals do offer free charging stations for your phones, but lines for these services are often extremely long, and waiting in one may mean missing a great performance on stage.
Save yourself time and pain by investing in a portable charger.
5. THERE’S MORE TO FESTIVALS THAN JUST MUSIC
Yes, music may be the big draw at music festivals (who would’ve thought), but there’s a whole world of art, food, culture and excitement to discover. At major music festivals like Osheaga or Lollapalooza, you could spend a whole day visiting local vendors, playing carnival games, riding rollercoasters, getting your face painted and walking through commissioned art installations, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
Among all the craziness, make sure you factor in some well-deserved time for exploration when you attend a music festival this summer. You may even meet some amazing people along the way!
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