Bonnaroo/Multi-Day Festival Going 101 (Need Feedback Her

[TheDirector217]

I'm 80-85% sure that I'm going to Bonnaroo next week.  Never done the multi-day outdoor thing, so I need some serious issues addressed. (Expert festival goers like S. Dot Cell, Joey Marshmallow & bnyced0, I may be looking at you here.) Please feel free to include important things I forgot:
 
 *First & foremost, the showering thing.  I heard there's VIP showers or something like that. (If so, I'm willing to bribe somebody to get in them as I only plan on getting regular tix.) Then I also heard there are NO showers & only "sinks".  Am I gonna have to end up showering myself in the middle of a swordfight? The prospect of even going a half day w/o showering plus displaying the *ahem* organ in an area full of sausage doesn't appeal to me even a little bit, and is the main reason I ain't 100% on going.
 
 *I Have serious iPod withdrawal issues.  I'm guessing it would be super dumb to bring it, as I'm guessing I there won't be a power outlet center.
 
 *Heard they search you upon entering the venue.  Is this a go through your vehicle thing, a pat down thing or what?  I'm not too keen on being touched by unknown humans unless they wear a 34B or above.      
 
 *Me & my lady concert buddy plan on bringing a cooler full of bottled water, food (hot dogs & burgers) & a little Heineken.  Is this feasible or what?
 
 *How hot does it get really?  (100s??) I've heard it's unbearable at night AND during the day, so need feedback on that.
 
 *What are the best times to get down there/leave??? Plan on getting there Friday, leaving Monday.
 
 *Doing the camping thing.  Got the tent, grill, shade covers, etc. locked down.  Any other tips are apreciated.
 
 *Please advise what other crucial areas I may have missed.
 
 Thanks.

[Vas Deferens]

I'm no expert on Bonnaroo, but I read that in order to access the VIP showers, you will need to buy a VIP pass for $1,100! Otherwise, I suggest you line up at the showers early! 6 am?

[nkotb]

You would base a vast majority of your decision to go to a three-day, all day long music festival on maybe having to shower in front of other dudes for 15 minutes a day tops?
 
 

Originally posted by TheDirector217:
 The prospect of even going a half day w/o showering plus displaying the *ahem* organ in an area full of sausage doesn't appeal to me even a little bit, and is the main reason I ain't 100% on going.

[Christine Moritz]

I've never been to a festival in the U.S. (just the Big Chill Festival in the UK), but one thing that people recommended to me was a head light (or "head torch" as they call it there) -- a little flashlight thing you wear on a strap around your head.  Handy for nighttime visits to portapotties.
 
 Make sure you bring enough batteries for your flashlights.
 
 Liquid hand sanitizer (in travel-size containers) is invaluable.  Travel-size containers are handy overall; that way you don't have to lug your entire bottle of sunscreen, etc. around the festival site all day.
 
 If you're averse to showering in a communal setting, bring baby wipes.  Or you could compromise by showering while wearing a swimsuit.
 
 Hope this helps!

[Chulahoma]

I went two years ago and I dont think many things have changed since then..so here goes nothing.
 
 First off, grills are not allowed. I can't imagine allowing grills into the campground due to the state of mind everyone will be in throughout the weekend.
 
 Showers are only located in the VIP section.  They gave us wristbands when we entered the campgrounds, so I'm not sure if VIP has a special wristband of laminate.  They have huge sinks throughout the campgrounds that 10-15 can crowd around.  A lot of people just wash their hair...but there were a few others who wore bathing suits and washed their bodies.
 
 If you plan on driving to Bonnaroo...bring an iPod.  It's a good 10-12 hour drive from the DC area.  I just left mine in my car the entire weekend.  
 
 Bringing a cooler filled with food and drinks(alcohol)is fine.  
 
 They do a small search through your car to make sure you arent sneaking someone into the campgrounds and so that you arent bringing a grill, fireworks, weapons, ect.
 
 When I went it rained the first day and our tent had a hole in it, so when we got back to the campsite it was flooded.  This year I'm going to buy a new tent.  It can get very hot, so I'd bring a lot of sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.
 
 If you can get there Friday Morning, between 2-8am, you shouldnt have a problem just rolling in and unloading, without sitting in traffic.
 
 Other things I recommend would include bringing a lot of water, a blanket to bring into the concert area, and a few lawn chairs for your campsite.  All in all, don't stress out over small things you forgot and just enjoy yourself.
 
 Hope this helps.
 
 
 

Originally posted by TheDirector217:
  I'm 80-85% sure that I'm going to Bonnaroo next week.  Never done the multi-day outdoor thing, so I need some serious issues addressed. (Expert festival goers like S. Dot Cell, Joey Marshmallow & bnyced0, I may be looking at you here.) Please feel free to include important things I forgot:
 
 *First & foremost, the showering thing.  I heard there's VIP showers or something like that. (If so, I'm willing to bribe somebody to get in them as I only plan on getting regular tix.) Then I also heard there are NO showers & only "sinks".  Am I gonna have to end up showering myself in the middle of a swordfight? The prospect of even going a half day w/o showering plus displaying the *ahem* organ in an area full of sausage doesn't appeal to me even a little bit, and is the main reason I ain't 100% on going.
 
 *I Have serious iPod withdrawal issues.  I'm guessing it would be super dumb to bring it, as I'm guessing I there won't be a power outlet center.
 
 *Heard they search you upon entering the venue.  Is this a go through your vehicle thing, a pat down thing or what?  I'm not too keen on being touched by unknown humans unless they wear a 34B or above.      
 
 *Me & my lady concert buddy plan on bringing a cooler full of bottled water, food (hot dogs & burgers) & a little Heineken.  Is this feasible or what?
 
 *How hot does it get really?  (100s??) I've heard it's unbearable at night AND during the day, so need feedback on that.
 
 *What are the best times to get down there/leave??? Plan on getting there Friday, leaving Monday.
 
 *Doing the camping thing.  Got the tent, grill, shade covers, etc. locked down.  Any other tips are apreciated.
 
 *Please advise what other crucial areas I may have missed.
 
 Thanks.

[eltee]

Originally posted by nkotb:
  You would base a vast majority of your decision to go to a three-day, all day long music festival on maybe having to shower in front of other dudes for 15 minutes a day tops?
 
     

Originally posted by TheDirector217:
 The prospect of even going a half day w/o showering plus displaying the *ahem* organ in an area full of sausage doesn't appeal to me even a little bit, and is the main reason I ain't 100% on going.

[/b]

Or, being without your iPod?
 You will be at a MUSIC festival! And, I assume sittin' 'round the pit enjoying some hackeysack & sing-a-longs.
     :roll:  
 Dear Director,
 Stay at a HOTEL.
 Love, Dear Abby.

[gloriaabortion]

I believe last year there was a place where non-VIPers could take showers for $10 a pop.  I just bought a bunch of shower wipes from CVS and used those to keep myself smelling decent as well as baby powder for my hair.  
 
 Our car wasn't searched and I know you'll be fine with a cooler full of stuff.  
 
 I don't know how you react to heat and humidity but I have a hard time during the higher temperatures and even with drinking lots of water, I got sick a couple of times over the weekend.  
 
 It's a really fun time and I wouldn't let the lack of showering affect whether or not you go.  Bring a washcloth and some soap to a sink and wash yourself down there if you have to.  It's really not that bad and the rest of the experience more than makes up for it.

[sonickteam2]

i have been to many 3 days festivals, never camped at a single one, and quite frankly i wouldnt do it, ever.
 
 that said, Bonnaroo is a pain in the ass hotelwise and if you havent booked one yet, your ass aint gettin one!
 
 and since i dont camp, batteries, flashlights, soap and all that shit never matters to me.
 
 bringing an ipod doesnt sound silly to me, though i dont even have one. if you're going alone it may be a good way to pass time in between bands.
 
 
 see how much my reply didnt help! you're welcome!

[godsshoeshine]

so you're exceedingly clean, homophobic and ipod dependant. camping does not sound like your thing

[Shadrach]

Don't miss Clutch or your entire trip will be wasted!!!!

[TheDirector217]

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
  so you're exceedingly clean, homophobic and ipod dependant. camping does not sound like your thing

Clean, yes.
 iPod dependent, check.
 Homophobic, no.  I'm just weird about showering.  Unless it's pre, post, or during intercourse w/ your "participant", I believe it's something that should be done alone.  Not right or wrong, just my opinion.  Plus showering around a bunch of dirty ass people (And there are a lot of dirty fuckers out there, unfortunately) isn't really ideal.  But it sounds like I'm stressing over nothing, and I just need to suck it up for a weekend.  After seeing all your posts, I'm slowly starting to inch towards 100%.  Keep 'em coming, I know I'm forgetting something.
 
 FYI - Small, non-open flame grills are allowed @ Bonnaroo.  The lady concert buddy loaded up on some propane last night.

[thatguy]

gold bond.  toilet paper.  baby wipes.  flashlight.  batteries.
 
 learn to deal with being stanky for a couple of days.

[vansmack]

Originally posted by TheDirector217:
  I just need to suck it up for a weekend.  

Yep.

[eltee]

Originally posted by TheDirector217:
   

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
  camping does not sound like your thing

Plus showering around a bunch of dirty ass people (And there are a lot of dirty fuckers out there, unfortunately) isn't really ideal.  
 [/b]

You'd rather they not shower?   :p  
 Does everyone shower at the same time? I'm sure you could find a time to shower alone. Perhaps Paris has email and you could ask how she is managing?
 I think you need to campout somewhere this weekend and not shower for a few days as a trial run. I'm sure Bonnaroo is great, but panic attacks aren't fun! Leave that iPod at home and latch onto your lady buddy - she seems ready to go!

[sweetcell]

random thoughts:
 
 - bring ear plugs and an eye-mask = better sleeping in case you tent-neighbors decide not to.
 
 - personally, i wouldn't worry too much about bringing food unless you have specific requirements.  most big festies have great food vendor selections, and the $20-30 you'll save ain't worth lugging propane, in my books.  beer, on the other hand, is definitely worthwhile to bring (if only for the option of having a few waiting for you at your tent after a long day/night of rocking out).
 
 - traffic in on friday and out on sunday is HORRIBLE.  i'd strongly suggest getting there before 8 AM on friday if you can (especially if you're planning on seeing any of the acts on friday afternoon).  i've heard plenty of horror stories of people spending 6-10 hours crawling along at 5 MPH trying to get to the festival site.
 
 - if you bring an ipod, don't leave it (or anything else of value) in your tent.  stash it in the car.
 
 - if showering in a semi-public enviro is an issue, consider wearing a bathing suit and flip-flops while showering.  and don't worry, it's just a few days, you'll survive with or without one.  book a hotel to hit on the way out, maybe an hour or two away, shower there once it's all over.
 
 - shade cover: put it over the tent, favoring the east and possibly hang something off the east side to further shade the tent (to get a little extra shade in the morning).  my biggest complaint about summer festies is that once the sun is up, tents turn in to ovens and you can't sleep past 8 AM (a serious issue if you only got to bed at 3!).  (incidentally, this is why coachella RAWX: hotels, with A/C and thick curtains and pool/hot-tub are completely do-able)
 
 - as much as possible, stay out of the sun during peak hours.  try going to early performances in the tents, save the outdoor stages until after 4 PM if possible.  you won't be the only one thinking this, so get to the tent early.
 
 gotta run to a meeting, maybe more insights later...