A word to the wise, in its' inaugural year Firefly Music Festival only spanned 87 acres of the Woodlands; now, it encompasses 300 acres, so the following is just not ho-hum advice from a festival fan and Delaware native, but things that could help save your life and keep your sanity while you traverse the 300 acres with 80,000+ people.
To enter:
-your Firefly wristband
-cash
-credit/debit card
-Government issued photo I.D.
What to pack daily in your small carrybag (16"x16"x8"):
1. Empty Bottle for water. Stay hydrated.
2. A sandwich bag with toilet tissue or Kleenex. Better to be safe than having to use leaves to wipe your arse.
3. Flip flops/Sandals and an extra pair of socks. Do not wear these on your way in, bring them to change into when you are halfway through your day and decide to take a break. Then switch back into your other comfortable shoes (*recommended-sneakers, Wellingtons/rainboots, Docs)
4. Bandaids and Moleskins. 300 acres is lots of walking no matter what shoes you have decided to wear. Do not rely on all the first aid stations and EMTs to fix your blisters, they have plenty of other serious issues to deal with than boo boo blisters.
5. Trash bag or poncho. A trash bag is my version of a makeshift poncho, it serves two purposes though...as poncho, or just to keep your butt clean and dry when you decide to take a nap on the ground while listening to a concert.
6. Wet Ones. Sanitize.
7. Suntan lotion and a hat/bandana. Yes it is in the woods, but also open fields, where you are exposed to the sun. Keep yourself protected and *remember no aerosol suntan lotion permitted inside.
8. Bug repellent (no aerosol).
Be prepared for the Woodlands! As a Delaware native and local, I can assure you that it has rained the entire week prior to Firefly, what that means for Firefly fans is this:
-MUD- do not try to look cute, dress comfortably. For women this means put aside your sandals and grab those Wellington rainboots, Crocs, Birkenstocks and sneakers. Also, last year we had rain prior to the festival and to prevent an area from becoming a muddy mess, a lot of mulch was put down (this area had a pungent smell and made you feel like you were walking drunk even when you had not had a sip of alcohol). *Your pretty little shoes will get ruined, you will get blisters, you may even sprain your ankle...so take this advice and DO NOT spend 4 days walking 300 acres with a sore ankle.
-MOSQUITOES AND OTHER BUGS- when we have large amounts of rain you can expect it creates large breeding grounds for bugs, particularly mosquitoes. Prepare yourself, invest in bug spray. *Do not worry mixed with your coconut suntan lotion you won't stink. Well, at least not until day 3, but it won't be for this reason.
-CAMPING PEEPS- bring extra jugs and bottles of water to wash off with...yes there are showers, but you may have to walk long distances and wait in long lines to get them. Some Wet Ones could help in this predicament too.
-HUMIDITY- Delaware gets pretty humid, by that I mean that an 80 degree day can quickly feel like 100 degrees. Just imagine walking around with a wet towel laying just an inch above your face and the steam smothering you, another reason to stay hydrated.
-FOOD- I am sure you have stocked up on all your favorite junk food, but you may want to pack a few things like bananas, granola bars and crackers. I cannot stress enough to stay hydrated...I watch fans drop every year to dehydration and heat exhaustion. In between your alcohol consumption remember to refuel your water bottle at the refilling stations and you could also get a blast of fresh berry and fruit goodness at Greenman Juice Bar (*this is not only my sister-in-law, Rachel and brother-in-law, Jeremy's juice bar, but their juices are chocked full of nutrients and vitamins that your party-going body needs in these conditions).
Lastly, be courteous to everyone! Be mindful, not everyone is prepared as they think they are for an event like this...you are sharing the Woodlands with 80,000+ other people. Remember to thank all the event staff: Red Frog, the musicians, the volunteers, the vendors, as well as all the Delaware staff involved- EMTs, police officers, DelDOT, and all the Delawareans who are sharing this part of their state with you! (I apologize now for anyone I left out, please feel free to add in the comments).
Now, download the Firefly app, make your schedule and have fun!
