If you need music festival tips... this is for you. Don't miss our tips for attending music festivals! For the last thirty years, we have had the great fortune of watching thousands of fans enjoy our music festival. Each year we see many questions asked by first-time festival attendees. No matter which music festival you are attending, it's only natural to want to know what you should pack, how you should prepare, and what you should do when the festival gates open. 25 Tips for Attending Music Festivals We asked our amazing attendees for their best tips for attending music festivals. The Old Settler's Music Festival family did not disappoint. We received hundreds of tips from our friends and decided to package them up for you. These tips aren't just for Old Settler's, they are for anyone attending any music festival. So if you hear someone asking... Do you have Bonnaroo tips? Who has tips for ACL Festival? Got any Coachella tips? What are the best Kerrville Folk Festival tips? What tips do you have for Burning Man? Got some Telluride tips? ... this guide is for them! If this is your first time attending Old Settler's, we know you will find it helpful too.

1. 25 Essential
Music Festival
Tips
A collection of must-know tips for attending music festivals.
No matter what music festival you plan to attend you will
benefit from these tips provided by attendees of the
Old Settler’s Music Festival.

2. “Come early and explore, read the program and festival guidelines, and
familiarize yourself with the festival vibe!”
- Stephanie Nelson, Laguna Beach, California

3. Funky hats
or Bright sun
“Hats and
sunscreen can
save lives!”
- Jonny Levine,
Austin, Texas

4. weather above
or people in ponchos
“Always check the weather (of course!)
but, no matter what the weather says,
throw a rain poncho and a long sleeve
shirt or light wrap in your bag. I always
bring at least two ponchos so I can give
one (or more) away to someone who
needs it!” - Nisa Wilson, Austin, Texas
Photo by Amy E. Price

5. Dress in layers…
Wear layers: your outer
shirt can act as a sun-
shade or for warmth
during hill country nights.
My favorite for hot days is
lightweight, sweat
wicking, sport-design,
long sleeve shirts sold at
REI and Whole Earth
Provision, etc. That outer
shirt an be dipped into
water and cool you as
well. The other layers
optimally will be fresh thin
tanks or long-sleeved
and, for warming, thin
thermal shirts, also sold at
sporting goods stores and
other places.
- Amanda Winters

6. “Make sure and pack a backpack
that is not too heavy that includes
the following:
• Reusable water bottle
• rain poncho/light jacket
• blanket or small seat (I use REI
trail chair as it will clip on to back
of backpack)
• sunscreen
• Tylenol
• cash
• shades with cleaning pouch
• dry socks or sandals
• bandana
• phone charge juice pack.”
- Clayton Oldham, Austin, Texas

7. Rules
“Carefully read all the Dos and Don'ts for the festival you're attending.
Many don't allow outside food or drink, and some are even particular about
the kind of sunscreen you can bring in (e.g., bottles are fine, but spray-type
applicators are not), so don't be caught unawares!”
- Mary Capps, Austin, Texas

8. “Have some kind of option
for getting shade...even if
it's just an umbrella.” -
Marissa Sweeney, Park
City, Utah.

9. “Bring your best
friend to sing and
dance with.”
- Deanne, Austin,
Texas

10. Print out or Jean pocket
“Print out the music lineup and
fold it and keep it in your
pocket for easy reference to
catch the band you want to
see.” - Will

11. Reusable water bottle
“Bring a reusable water
bottle.”
- Ani DeWitt, Austin,
Texas

12. CAMPING, JAMMING, PERFORMANCE WORKSHOPS,
YOUTH COMPETITION, KIDS’ ACTIVITIES, ARTS & CRAFTS
SHAKEY GRAVES · THE DEL MCCOURY BAND · LOS LOBOS · OLD 97’S · SAM BUSH · LEFTOVER SALMON
GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV · SHINYRIBS · SARAH JAROSZ · ELEPHANT REVIVAL · THE LONE BELLOW
ANDERS OSBORNE · NIKKI LANE · GAELIC STORM · PETER ROWAN & FRIENDS · THE TRAVELIN’ MCCOURYS
MANDOLIN ORANGE · WOOD & WIRE · THE CALIFORNIA HONEYDROPS · VÄSEN · THE HONEYCUTTERS
RIVER WHYLESS · THE LAST BANDOLEROS · THE PETERSON BROTHERS · BILLY STRINGS · THE LIL’ SMOKIES
SESSION AMERICANA · AMERICAN DREAMER · AND MANY MORE
Tickets: www.oldsettlersmusicfest.org

13. Chairs in front of stage
“Set your chairs
down FIRST
THING at the
stage you'll be at
the most. Then
use it as a home
base.
When you aren't
there, others
may sit in your
chairs and that is
COOL -
embrace it and
enjoy your
special spot at
the festival.”
- Robin Lucas ,
Driftwood, Texas

14. Mosquito
“Bring bug spray (as pleasantly scented as
possible, of course).” - Gary, Austin, Texas
Photo by Boris Smokrovic

15. Comfy shoes
“Wear comfortable shoes.” -
Kate Kavanagh, Austin, Texas
Photo by Foroozan Faraji

16. “Bring another pair of
underwear. Make sure
they’re clean.” - Chad
Forester

17. Bandana and ice
Soak a bandana in the bottom of your cooler.
Wrap around neck when the sun starts shining. This will keep you cool ya dig?
- Greg Day, Austin, Texas
Photo by Sofía Salom

18. Memorize the path / map?
“Set up your tent during daylight, and memorize the path to the
tent and bathrooms before dark.” - Hana, Boulder, Colorado

19. Blanket pic nic
“Bring a blanket and have a
regrouping spot for your peeps.”
- Frank Cheff, Austin, Texas
Photo by Susan Roads

20. Portajohns
“Know where all the bathrooms are.”
- Carlotta Hamilton, Austin, Texas

21. talk to strangers
“Strike up a conversation with the unknown person standing/sitting/dancing
next to you (between the music, of course!) - you already have the music and
the event in common. At the very least, pass along a smile.”
- Gwen Conner, Rosanky, Texas

22. Phone taking photos of bands
“Be courteous and don't hold up your phone in front of people to record
long sessions of a performance. Be in the moment. Close your eyes.
Open your palms toward the music and dance like no one’s watching.
You'll replay that memory in your head more than your video, I promise.”
- Nisa Wilson, Austin, Texas

23. Family portrait
“Pretend like everyone at the festival
is your favorite family member, you
will be treated the same in kind.” -
Jeanette Ward, Austin, Texas
Photo by Cody Aulidge

24. Hidden treasure
“Make time for bands you've never heard of. They always end up
being my fest highlights - not just because they are good, but because I
feel like I've "discovered" some hidden treasure that I can share with
my friends who aren't there.
- Joel Simon, Chicago, Illinois

25. “Relax, go with the flow.
Understand that at some point,
two acts you'd like to see may
be performing at the same time
on different stages. Resign
yourself to the fact that you
might not be able to see
everyone you want to.”
- Paul Mueller, Houston, Texas

26. Clapping
“Clap real loud for the
musicians.”
- Charles Link, Austin, Texas

27. “Be well rested.”
- Larry Ouellette, Austin, Texas

28. From its origins as a one day bluegrass festival, Old Settler’s Music Festival has
grown into a nationally renowned four day affair attracting 16,000 roots music lovers
each year. As No Depression observed, “Old Settler’s is what a festival should be:
simple, properly sized, stocked with excellent bands, and held in an environment where
it is nearly impossible not to enjoy yourself.” With camping, jamming, kids’ activities, a
youth competition, and performance workshops.
The 30th Anniversary celebration runs Thur-Sun, April 20-23, 2017 in Driftwood (near
Austin), Texas. Our lineup includes Shakey Graves, The Del McCoury Band, Los Lobos,
Old 97’s, Sam Bush, Leftover Salmon, Gregory Alan Isakov, Shinyribs, Sarah Jarosz,
Elephant Revival, The Lone Bellow, Anders Osborne, Nikki Lane, Gaelic Storm, Peter
Rowan & Friends, The Travelin’ McCourys, Mandolin Orange, Wood & Wire, The
California Honeydrops, Väsen, The Honeycutters, River Whyless, The Last Bandoleros,
The Peterson Brothers, Billy Strings, The Lil’ Smokies, Session Americana, American
Dreamer, and more.
Check us out at oldsettlersmusicfest.org.

29. Enjoy the
Music
Thank you to our wonderful attendees for sharing these tips.
We hope to see you at Old Settler’s Music Festival.
Say hello at OldSettlersMusicFest.org.

30. Sharing is
Caring…
If you found our tips helpful please share with your friends.
Thanks!