Josie’s Journal: Attendee suggests survival kit for LouFest

Josie Krueger
Entertainment Columnist

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Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats performs Sunday, Sept. 10, on LouFest’s Bud Light Stage. This year, LouFest was moved to the Muny grounds. Photo by Josie Krueger

Thirty-two artists. Two days. Eleven hours each day. LouFest is a thrilling and electrifying experience.

Some fest-goers walk in simply looking for a good time and walk out with a new favorite band or artist, while some know every word to every song during every performance.

Some are just looking for an excuse to dance their day and night away. Whatever situation one might be in, it is not hard to have a fantastic time at LouFest.

Though LouFest is sure to wake you up the moment you walk in the entrance with vibrant colors and welcoming staff members, most can agree it is also an exhausting experience. With two, 11-hour days full of walking from stage to stage to catch every moment possible of the back-to-back performances, one may become a bit fatigued.

However, there are ways to have a completely successful and enjoyable day(s) at LouFest if you have the right supplies.

WGHS attendees of LouFest 2017 give us an idea of the perfect survival kit for two days of Loufest or even a full day music festival in general:

6. Tobey Nelson, junior, is a huge advocate for a jazzy pair of shades during LouFest .
“Sunglasses are essential because when you’re out in the sun all day, not only is it potentially harmful to your eyes but also it’s a bit of a hassle to squint constantly. Also if you have the right pair, they look super cool,” Nelson said.
Well, he isn’t wrong.

5. A portable charger was mentioned by multiple festival-goers.
Junior, Jenna Michalski explained, “I would recommend bringing a portable phone charger because my photo battery was definitely low, and I wasn’t able to take pictures.”
There are outlets available to charge devices on the festival grounds. Keep this in mind if you’re one that likes to get some artsy pictures of the performances/artists.

4. Blankets are essential for the people who just want to relax and enjoy some music without wasting their energy. With the 2017 location change to the upper and lower Muny grounds in Forest Park, two of the stages are situated in grass at the bottom of a hill. This makes it perfect to sit down and enjoy a chill music performance, even using the free “air guitar” paper fans given out to the attendees to cool down while sitting in the sun. A blanket of some sort is essential for these situations so the grass isn’t tickling your legs or the dirt getting on your clothes.

3. Anyone who has gone to a music festival knows that the food and drinks are ridiculously expensive. A juice at one of the stands was $5!
A way to avoid these expenses partially is to bring your own reusable water bottle. This way you can refill it for free at the water filling station and stay hydrated all day, which is very important if you’re out in the sun and walking around.

2. Coachella, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, any music festival will cause you to encounter many, many fanny packs.
Fanny packs were first popular in the 1980s, but now they’re making a comeback.
Kaelin Dooley, senior, said, “My number one item for Loufest would probably be a fanny pack. They’re making a huge comeback, and it holds everything you would need, while not getting in the way of having fun at Loufest.”
Olivia Weik, senior, agreed, “My fanny pack! It carried all the essentials, and I didn’t have to worry about someone stealing from my purse or lugging it around.”

1. Finally, by far the most important thing that festival fanatics have stressed bringing is described by Kevin Drexl, senior: “I would say the most important thing for me is comfortable shoes. Everyone tries to wear the cutest clothes or look their best, but if you really want to enjoy all the shows and have the most fun, then just wear the most comfortable shoes you own because you’ll be standing for quite some time!”

So you might want to swap out the high heels for a pair of sneakers if you want to be able to hear the music over your barking dogs.


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