How to survive an outdoor music festival

With summer in full swing, more outdoor festivals are coming to or near Sioux Falls, including Lallycooler, Rock the Country, Tacos & Tequila, etc.

I will be going to

Lallycooler to see Pitbull,

which I am so excited about.

Anyway, these shows are small in comparison to the West Coast’s Coachella, or the Midwest’s own Summerfest in Milwaukee, or Lollapalooza in Chicago.

They can draw in thousands of people, some nearly a million.

Concert-goers at these festivals want to enjoy their favorite artists; unfortunately, for some, a great time at a concert can quickly turn into a horrible one.

Whether you’re at a local festival or traveling to a larger one, it’s important to take some precautions to make sure you’re safe.

Here are some tips to survive an outdoor concert and to make sure you have a fun and memorable experience.

Taking the time to research the concert you plan to attend, the venue and its policies gives you an understanding of what you’ll be getting yourself into.

You may think you’re going to a great venue, but you could very well end up at one with portapotties that you thought were outdoor bathrooms, or one that doesn’t allow water bottles, but you assumed they would.

Amateurs. Tsk tsk.

Every concert is different, and familiarizing yourself with its rules and policies for what is and isn’t allowed can save you the hassle and answer questions you’ll have.

Also, avoid festivals that seem sketchy to you. Trust your gut.

Whether you’re going to an all-day concert or for a few days, it’s important to pack things ahead of time.

Making a list of items can make all the difference.

Some essentials include: a water bottle, sunglasses, a portable phone charger, hand sanitizer, snacks, a fanny pack or small clear bag (depending on concert policy) and cash.

Just don’t bring too much; no one wants to haul around a suitcase of crap.

Oh yeah, don’t forget your ticket. Seriously, don’t be that guy.

Traveling with the right crowd is a smart move when going to an outdoor festival.

Not only will it make the concert more memorable, but it will also make it more relaxed.

Having trustworthy friends or loved ones with you can ensure that you are safe in case bad situations happen.

Talking with your group about a designated meeting spot in case of separation is a good idea, too.

Don’t trust strangers at concerts, just because they like the same artists as you and they seem cool, they might be just the opposite, uncool.

It doesn’t take much for a stranger to gain your trust and your bank card information…just saying.

In the case of an emergency, be aware of exits, medical tents and have an escape plan for you and your group.

At large outdoor events, with hundreds or even thousands of people, personal belongings can be stolen. Pickpocketing can happen, and individuals can take wallets, phones, or even bags.

Not just in big cities, it can happen in good ol’ South Dakota.

To prevent this, put those items in a bag, not in your back pockets. Ideally, one with a zipper, like a fanny pack.

They came back in style, don’t worry.

Consider only bringing a few belongings, so that there’s less to keep track of; just bringing the bare necessities is best.

In most states, guns are not permitted to be brought when attending concerts. Although policies may vary.

But it’s best to just leave them at home.

I mean, c’mon.

With gun violence increasing, it’s important to identify where exits are and have a plan of escape in the case of an emergency.

Oftentimes, outdoor festivals in the summer will be very hot, from direct sunlight with high temperatures, and with large numbers of people adding to the already hot weather.

Last year, Hinterland in Saint Charles, Iowa, was held from August 2 to 4. The three-day festival attracted over 12,000 people. Temperatures were in the 90s, and there wasn’t much shade for concert-goers.

Lines for food and water stations were long and attendees were fainting and needing medical assistance, along with overcrowding and long wait times for shuttle transportation.

Attendees weren’t allowed to bring outside water on the first day, until Hinterland changed their policy on day two, due to concerns.

Hinterland faced backlash from attendees because of how the 2024 event went.

This year, they made a new policy, called the “90 Degree Guarantee,” allowing for tickets to be refundable on any day that will be 90 degrees or more.

They also added more changes and improvements to water stations, more shade from the sun, more food vendors, the space itself and more.

See all of the new changes here.

An even worse case is with Lollapalooza. Over time, there have been ten heat-related deaths reported from the festival.

Here are some tips to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses at an outdoor concert, so you don’t get fried.

Staying hydrated is very important, if not, the most important thing to do when going to an outdoor festival in the summer.

It is recommended by the Mayo Clinic that women drink 11.5 cups of water a day, and men 15.5 cups.

Maybe bring a water bottle if you can, and add a Liquid I.V. to stay hydrated.

Ok, the electrolyte packets can be a little spendy, but they make drinking water so much more fun. No? Just me? Ok.

Just drink a lot of water. When you think you’ve drunk enough, drink more. Because I know you don’t drink enough water, yes, I’m talking to you.

Go drink some water.

All the kids are doing it these days, just do it.

On the other side of the coin, try to avoid drinks that cause dehydration, like coffee and alcohol.

I know, bummer, it’s the fun drinks that you can’t have, but you’ll regret drinking 12 beers during Pitbull’s set at Lallycooler and missing “Fireball” because you’ve passed out from the heat.

Just chill out on the alcohol altogether; your body will thank you later.

Also, wear light-colored clothing that is breathable, and avoid heavy layering. Wearing a hat can also provide some shade.

Nothing is worse than wearing black on a hot day; it’s annoying and feels like the sun is punishing you for it.

Lastly, wear your sunscreen. It may be annoying to reapply for some, but preventing sun damage to your skin is important as well.

I know I sound like your mother, but it’s true.

Mother nature can be unpredictable, and rainfall can drastically affect concerts.

She can be so vain, can’t she?

Concerts can get canceled due to rainfall because of how it affects performers and because of the hazards it can cause.

For the performers, rain can cause them to slip on stage and injure themselves, or standing water can cause electrical shocks.

For the crowd, rain can cause muddy and slippery conditions and potentially dangerous ones.

In 2000, the Rokslide Festival in Europe, headlined by Pearl Jam. Over 100,000 people came to see them when the rain hit. The crowd rushed to the stage, and unfortunately, some attendees were trampled, resulting in nine people dying.

The Cure, who were to follow Pearl Jam, canceled their set.

If rainfall occurs, it’s best to wear shoes that have good traction to prevent falls or slips and to avoid large crowds.

Better to be safe than sorry in this case.

Sometimes, there are just some things you can’t prevent during a concert.

One of those is overcrowding, and it is a huge and dangerous problem for festivals.

And no, I’m not talking about concerts where you’re close together and feel like you’re in a can of sardines because you don’t have your personal space.

Overcrowding is much, much worse.

In November of 2021, at the Astroworld Festival, eight attendees died, two passed in the hospital, and hundreds were injured. This was due to the crowd surging near the stage when headliner Travis Scott began performing.

The event organizers faced backlash for a few reasons.

Some attendees jumped fences past security that led to overcrowding, there was a low security and medical ratio compared to the 50,000 concert attendees and the venue itself wasn’t made for the large capacity of the crowd.

That, mixed with a chaotic mosh pit, led to a tragedy for the crowd.

After that, the Astroworld Festival was canceled for good.

If there happen to be moments of packed crowds at outdoor festivals, there are some ways to try to prevent injury or dangerous conditions.

Once you’re inside the concert, look for exits or a way to get out in case you get stuck in a big crowd.

Stay away from tightly packed crowds or mosh pits, and stay on the outside of them.

Mosh pits can seem fun to some, for some reason, but it’s dumb. Don’t go into one.

If you are in the middle of the crowd, try to protect your head and other vital organs like your heart and your lungs by standing on your feet with a boxer stance.

Lastly, don’t push those around you. The more pushing, the more panic that can happen and make the situation worse, and it’s just rude.

It’s better to just focus on keeping yourself safe and reducing the risk of suffocation and trampling.

All in all, outdoor concerts can be fun and exciting, but there are risks that come with them.

Taking some precautions such as these can reduce the chances of injury or worse situations.