What to Wear
- Loose fitting clothing that doesn’t chafe.
- Sunscreen on the back of your neck.
- A hat that shades your face.
- A cool flag or other unusual item that will help your friends locate you in a crowd.
- Secure shoes that won’t break if trampled. I prefer Sperry’s boat shoes because they are closed-toed.
- A bathing suit if you want to “shower” under the large water mushrooms.
- Either a sturdy purse with an over-the-shoulder strap or a form fitted backpack/camelbak.
- Bandanas are great for shading your neck and giving you something to sit on.
- Need some inspiration? Check out my full list of music festival clothing attire websites.
Don’t Forget
- You HAVE to transfer all your liquor into plastic containers or you will watch as the folks at entry carry away all your precious supplies. Waterbottles, Nalgene bottles, watering cans, milk jugs, plastic cups, zip lock baggies- ANYTHING- as long as you aren’t bringing glass handles. This goes for beer bottles as well; opt for cans and you won’t lose your booze!
- Download the Bonnaroo App on your mobile device and start putting together your lineup. The app also includes maps and festival info.
- If you’re camping with a big group and have multiple vehicles plan ahead to meet up BEFORE you reach the entrance point. Also, realize that there are three different points of entry (East, West and Highway)- so be sure you know which one!
- Please for the love of god bring a camera.
What to Bring
Check out my Music Festival Packing List for ideas on what to cram into your vehicle.
What to Expect
- Very hot temperatures during the day. Year to year the weather does vary quite a bit, but you’re guaranteed at least one scorcher.
- Temperature variation between day and night- so bring a blanket! Bonnaroo 2012 was freezing at nights and multiple layers of clothing were essential.
- Awesome neighbors. Without fail you will make a friend at Bonnaroo. Everyone is generally very friendly and there is a lot of sharing between campsites.
- A long walk to Centeroo. Unless you miraculously teleport into the venue a day early, there will be a long line of cars all trying to cram into the same 2 mile radius. Most likely you will end up quite a distance from the main stages, so be prepared for a truck. No worries, there are showers, ice stations and bathrooms scattered throughout the campsites.
- Great food. Bonnaroo is famous for its incredible selection of organic/natural/homemade/fresh-to-order food stalls. Everything from Lebanese to waffles to grilled cheeses to steak sandwiches. Be prepared to pay a bit extra for the convenience of getting a ready-to-eat meal inside Centeroo.
- Noise. You will be camping near other people. There will be music going on until 4am. Bring earplugs if you have trouble sleeping.
Bonnaroo 2013 is right around the corner! Hope you’re as excited as I am!
Still have questions? Check out State of Glow for a How To: Bonnaroo for newbies!
