📅 Pre-Festival Planning: Set Yourself Up for Success
Research shows that 87% of festival incidents could be prevented with proper advance planning. Here's how to be part of that statistic.
Research Your Festival
Not all festivals are created equal. Before committing, investigate:
- Safety record: Look for festivals with clear anti-harassment policies and visible security measures
- Medical facilities: Check if they have on-site medical staff and emergency protocols
- Venue layout: Familiarize yourself with exit points, medical tents, and security posts
- Local crime statistics: Research the area's general safety profile
💡 Pro Tip: The 3-Source Rule
Always verify festival safety information from at least 3 independent sources: official website, recent attendee reviews, and local news coverage.
Accommodation Strategy
Your base of operations sets the tone for your entire experience:
Hotel Selection Criteria
- 24/7 front desk service - Essential for late-night returns
- Well-lit parking and entrances - Visible security deters problems
- CCTV coverage - Look for cameras in lobbies and hallways
- Secure key card access - Avoid hotels with traditional keys
- Recent positive reviews - Focus on safety-related comments
🏨 Hotel Safety Checklist
Upon arrival: Note fire exits, test door locks, check peephole visibility, and store front desk number in your phone.
Transportation Planning
Getting there and back safely requires strategic thinking:
🚗 Driving
- Share GPS route with trusted contacts
- Plan rest stops every 2 hours
- Avoid driving tired or after drinking
- Pre-book secure parking near venue
✈️ Flying
- Book airport transfers in advance
- Use verified ride-sharing services
- Keep copies of tickets/IDs separate
- Allow extra time for security delays
🚌 Festival Shuttles
- Official shuttles are typically safest option
- Keep shuttle schedule and backup plans
- Travel in groups when possible
- Have emergency transport budget
Communication Plan
Stay connected with your safety network:
- Itinerary sharing: Send detailed plans to 2-3 trusted contacts
- Check-in schedule: Agree on regular contact times
- Emergency contacts: Program local emergency numbers
- Phone backup: Bring portable chargers and consider a backup phone
⚠️ Critical: Create a Code Word System
Establish a distress code word with your emergency contacts. If you text this word, they know to immediately contact authorities and/or come to your aid.
🏕️ Arrival & Setup: First Impressions Matter
The first few hours set the tone for your entire festival experience. Here's how to start strong:
Arrival Day Strategy
- Arrive during daylight hours - Better visibility for navigation and setup
- Check in with your safety contact - Confirm safe arrival immediately
- Orient yourself quickly - Locate medical tents, security posts, and exits
- Test your phone signal - Identify dead zones and plan accordingly
Camping Safety (If Applicable)
Festival camping requires extra vigilance:
📍 Campsite Selection
- Choose well-lit areas near pathways
- Avoid isolated corners or blind spots
- Position near friendly neighbors
- Keep distance from main party areas
🔐 Security Setup
- Use locks on all zippers
- Hide valuables in multiple locations
- Create decoy wallet with small bills
- Never leave tent completely unattended
💡 Pro Tip: The Buddy System
Even if you're traveling solo, make friends with neighboring campers. Exchange phone numbers and agree to watch each other's sites. Solo campers are statistically safer when they quickly integrate into small groups.
Venue Reconnaissance
Spend your first hour doing a safety walkthrough:
- Emergency exits: Locate all exits from main areas
- Medical stations: Note locations and operating hours
- Security posts: Identify uniformed security positions
- Safe spaces: Find quieter areas for breaks
- Communication dead zones: Test phone signal throughout venue
📱 Digital Safety Setup
Download offline maps, save emergency contacts, enable location sharing with trusted friends, and take photos of your accommodation/campsite for easy identification.
👥 Crowd Safety: Navigation & Survival
Large crowds can be exhilarating but also dangerous. Understanding crowd dynamics can literally save your life.
Understanding Crowd Density
Crowd safety experts identify these danger levels:
🟢 Safe (1-2 people/m²)
Normal walking pace, easy movement, comfortable personal space
🟡 Cautious (3-4 people/m²)
Reduced speed, some pushing, still controllable movement
🟠 Dangerous (5-6 people/m²)
Very slow movement, significant pressure, difficult to change direction
🔴 Critical (7+ people/m²)
No control over movement, crushing pressure, immediate evacuation needed
Crowd Navigation Strategies
- Move with the flow: Never fight against crowd movement
- Stay on your feet: If you fall, curl into a ball and protect your head
- Keep arms up: Protects chest compression in dense crowds
- Exit early: Leave before headliner ends to avoid crush
- Watch for panic signs: Screaming, sudden movement changes, people falling
🚨 Crowd Collapse Warning Signs
If you hear glass breaking, see people falling, feel intense pressure, or notice panic spreading - immediately move toward exits. Don't stop to collect belongings.
Stage Area Safety
Different areas around stages have different risk profiles:
💡 Pro Tip: The Sweet Spot Strategy
Position yourself 1/3 back from the stage and away from center. You'll still have a great view with significantly less crowd pressure. Avoid areas directly in front of barriers where crushing is most likely.
High-Risk Zones to Avoid:
- Barrier areas: Risk of crushing against barriers
- Narrow pathways: Bottleneck effect creates dangerous pressure
- Dead-end areas: No escape route if crowds surge
- Slope bottoms: People can fall on top of you
Mosh Pit & Crowd Surfing
If you choose to participate in high-energy crowd activities:
- Remove jewelry and glasses - Prevents injury to yourself and others
- Tie back long hair - Prevents entanglement
- Help fallen people immediately - Part of mosh pit etiquette
- Exit if you feel overwhelmed - No shame in prioritizing safety
- Never crowd surf toward barriers - High injury risk
✅ Crowd Safety Golden Rules
- Always know where the nearest exit is
- Never push against crowd flow
- Help others when safe to do so
- Trust your instincts about dangerous situations
- Prioritize safety over getting closer to the stage
🔒 Personal Security: Protecting Yourself & Your Belongings
Personal security at festivals requires a multi-layered approach that doesn't interfere with having fun.
The Strategic Approach to Valuables
The best security strategy is making yourself a less attractive target:
💎 High-Value Items
- Leave expensive jewelry at home
- Use an older phone if possible
- Bring minimum cash/cards needed
- Consider a cheap "festival watch"
🎒 Bag Strategy
- Use bags with zippers, not snaps
- Wear backpacks in front in crowds
- Consider a hidden money belt
- Multiple smaller bags vs one large bag
💰 Money Management
- Spread cash across 3+ locations