Festival Season!
By: AMZ
With Jazz Fest upon us, it is time, once again, to reflect on that most important of accessories- the Festival Bag.
A light weight, secure bag that won’t interfere with getting through crowds, but can hold enough to get you through the entire day is essential. What mix of items to include in the bag is very personal but here are some tried & true items to consider the next time you’re in the travel size aisle of your local pharmacy:
Sunscreen- Even on the overcast days it’s a good idea to have a bottle of sunscreen with you to re-apply after a few hours of dancing.
Bug spray- Let’s face it, fleas and ticks love to follow you home to your pets and mosquito borne illnesses keep making headlines. A great idea is to head them off before they can hitch a ride!
Poncho- Because even on the sunniest of days in Nola a rain shower can appear on the horizon faster than you can spell Tchoupitoulas.
Tissues/Toilet Paper- Anyone who ever stood in line for a Port-a-Potty only to discover no paper once you’ve gotten inside knows the joy of having tissue in your festival bag!
Cash- Not only are the lines long, but not all vendors take credit or debit cards. (And all Jazz Fest food & drink vendors are strictly cash only!) Having some cash in hand is the sure way to walk back to the group with all their drink orders.
Antacid tablets- Did I mention all the food vendors at these festivals? They wouldn’t be there if they didn’t want us to try all the foods!
Cleaning Wipes- Being able to wipe away the evidence of the taco you had while you were waiting in line to get 4 orders of Crawfish Monica for your group is handy when they realize you might need help carrying that back to your chairs. Plus there was that sno-ball that dripped down your hand and that hot sauce splash on your shirt, etc…
Bandana- This is truly the multi-tool of the festival bag kit: napkin, plate, make-shift hat, neck cooler and Second Line accessory. (Though admittedly not usually found in your local pharmacy.)
Bandaids- Everyone knows that one person who will wear brand new shoes to the fest and get a blister.
Once your festival bag is packed you only have to decide on a few more things. Like who’s driving or are you splitting the Lyft?
Which hat is more ‘me’ today?
Where did I last see my sunglasses?
Did we already buy tickets?
