Last updated: June 13, 2026
The Ultimate Festival Guide
Everything experienced festivalgoers know — in one place. Packing list, camp tips, safety, and music area etiquette for Roskilde Festival, Smukfest, NorthSide, Copenhell, Nibe Festival, Samsø Festival, Vig Festival and Tønder Festival.
The packing list nobody tells you about
Things that save your festival:
- Tarp — you'll hate carrying it, but you'll love it when you use it (extra rain cover or impromptu slip-n-slide 🛝)
- Duct tape and large trash bags — to protect your stuff from sudden downpours
- Extra tent pegs + rubber mallet
- Waterproof bags to protect things inside the tent
- Water jug (12L plastic, preferably two — they break)
The hygiene arsenal:
- Hand sanitizer (the small ones from Lidl are perfect)
- Soap in a small pouch or "flake" form
- Wet wipes — for EVERYTHING. Face, shoes, hands, you know
- Head & Shoulders — works as shampoo, body wash AND face wash
- Hand and foot cream for the evening (your feet will thank you on day 3)
- Spray sunscreen — no greasy hands
- Toilet paper
- Condoms — stay safe 😉
The medicine trinity:
- Paracetamol + Ibuprofen + Aspirin — handles everything from hangovers to knee pain
- Blister plasters and a small first aid kit
- Antacid tablets (underrated)
- Electrolyte tablets — water with electrolytes in the morning is worth its weight in gold, especially for hangovers
Don't mix Ibuprofen and Aspirin — both are blood thinners
Practical:
- Power bank + charging cable
- Earplugs (critical for sleep)
- Sleep mask
- Tent lamp
- Extra rope
Food & drinks
- Meal prep that works without a kitchen: tortillas, peanut butter, tuna, instant noodles, granola bars
- One water per beer — the golden rule. Your body (and next day) will thank you
- Pretzels and nuts are underrated festival fuel
- Rice cakes — cheap, light, and a good base for toppings or peanut butter
Clothing strategy
- Layers — it's 25°C during the day and 8°C at night
- Have one outfit you don't care about — the rain + mud day is coming
- Rubber boots if the forecast says rain (rent them if you don't own a pair)
- Theme days and costumes strengthen camp bonding — plan it at the camp meeting
Sleep & survival
- Place your tent so the entrance faces AWAY from morning sun — otherwise it becomes a sauna at 7am
- Power nap between 2–4pm is sacred. Seriously. It saves your evening
- Sleeping bag comfort rating: Danish summer nights can hit 8°C. Bring a warm enough one
- Air mattress > sleeping pad — your back on day 4 will remind you
- Earplugs + sleep mask = the only reason anyone survives 8 days
Camp logistics
Hold a camp meeting before the festival. Seriously. Discuss:
- Expectations — who's there for the music, who's there for the vibes, who needs help with medication etc.
- Camp rules — smoking, cleaning up, sober watch, when do we get beer?
- Shared events — are there concerts the whole camp goes to?
- Who brings what? — table, speaker, ball for beer bowling, mallet, decorations
- When do people arrive/leave? — coordinate the packing process
Practical camp tips:
- Rum is the best festival spirit — tastes better warm than vodka or tequila
- A mixed camp (guys/girls) typically lasts longer and works better socially
- Proper footwear that's broken in — not new shoes that give blisters
At the music area
- Use the "king's side/queen's side" to orient yourself — not left/right. The king sits to the right of the performer on stage, i.e. to the left of you as audience.
- Moshpits at metal = fun. Moshpits at hip-hop = violent. First time? Find a metal concert.
- Don't "camp" at the front for a concert you don't care about just to be upfront for the next one. Nobody appreciates it.
Valuables & phone
- Leave expensive things at home — festivals and Louis Vuitton don't mix
- Fanny pack/bumbag for phone and essentials at the music area — hands free for beers and high-fives
- Put your phone on airplane mode — saves battery for photos and maps
- Screenshot the festival map before you leave — you won't have signal
- Mark your tent with a flag, fairy lights, or something unique — all tents look the same at 4am
Safety & community
- Never walk home alone. Agree on this from day one. Everyone always has at least one buddy. Yes, even Kasper who's too drunk.
- If two people walk Kasper to his tent, those two can walk each other back after.
- Find the number for the Curling Phone in Dream City — for emergencies on site.
Coordinating with friends
- Avoid agreeing on exact meeting times — it never works. Instead, write where you are and if you're on your way.
- "I'll be there in 20 minutes" is a lie. Always.
Arrival & departure
- Arrive early = the best camp spots. It's worth waking up at 5am
- Pack a "day zero" bag with essentials — so you don't have to unpack everything right away
- Coordinate departure in advance — someone always needs a ride
- Take photos of your camp setup — makes it easier to pack down again