Music festivals are typically a group activity. But there’s no reason why you can’t go by yourself—and enjoy it, too.
Sometimes snaffle dinner party orgoing to the moviesby yourself can feel like a tall orderliness . But go to amusic festivalalone ? Many masses would never consider it — but they should . As an experienced fete - goer who ’s also a change of location writer and DJ , I can assure you that it ’s a more enriching and enjoyable experience than you might remember .
roll alone at a festival shares commonperks with solo locomotion , enhanced with experiential elements you wo n’t regain in existent lifetime . festival wait on as hedonistic rabbit holes of music , bodily function , and art , adult playgrounds where it ’s loose to permit lax — a financial statement that ’s especially dependable when your crew is a party of one . That ’s because while festivals are traditionally considered an experience to be share , they can also bring out the worst ingroup locomotion . The pressure of “ doing things together ” drop dead sideways when everyone wants to do different things … not to mention all the time spend looking for one another in crowds , without any reception , worrying about who ’s got the room key or is inebriated and stick in a bush . For solo fete - goer , there ’s unlimited freedom in doing what you need , when you want all while judge new thing on a itinerary to escapism and ego - find .
Choose the right festival and go into it with the right position and preparations , and one will never be a lonely identification number . Here is everything I ’ve learned about how to go to a festival alone and get the most out of the experience .
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Choose the right festival
Selecting a festival with care is key — this ca n’t be stressed enough . Some festivals are much well beseem to solo locomotion than others . A few factors can help you resolve .
It ’s always smart to opt for small- to mid - sized festival ( around 7,000 people or less ) . Anything less than a thousand may feel tighten if you do n’t gel with anyone . Anything bigger makes it more hard to bump into the same folks again ( Coachella , you ’re out ) .
Pick a festival with no more than a baker ’s twelve of stages and a total grounds area of an Akko , max . That ’s a solid fashion to ensure you ’ll see the same faces again — and that you wo n’t get miss .
Of course , there are always exceptions . Hot take : the more niche - pursuit a festival is — and the more you moil that niche — the more fun you are guaranteed to have , no matter of the fete ’s size .
Find your scene
Music weigh vastly . A disc jockey ’s advice : Certain genres have friendly dance floors . For representative , on the spectrum of electronic beats , upbeat style like home and disco will make it comfortable to relax and confab with others in the crowd . Faster genres , like hard techno , can put multitude in more of a trancelike nation .
For some of the world ’s most beloved festivals , likeGarbicz Festivalin Poland and Germany ’s legendaryFusion Festival , tickets are super difficult to come by . These fete , therefore , tend to see more solo attendees , such as Pilgrim Father come after their favorite disc jockey , and lend to a less cliquey and more welcome , open - minded vibration .
Festivals that draw a circle of travelers from afar are also friendlier for solo travelers . Take Thailand’sWonderfruit , for example . Though the festival is among Southeast Asia ’s big , it pull in an incredibly divers , region - spanning gang that includes European and North American tourists . more often than not , Thailand ’s company panorama is well - define by tourist comings and goings , which make meeting new people an easy affair .
Wonderfruit
Last but not least , choosing a festival with a solid program of activities and workshops , from yoga to craft , is smashing for meeting people . Mental health - focused workshops ( an increasing trend ) are specially great for getting mystifying the right way away with unexampled crony .
Make preparations before you go
Still feel weird about going alone ? facilitate yourself shed those initial fears by lay some groundwork for construction connectedness ahead of the fete .
After you ’ve secured a slate , do some research on Facebook to find groups commit to the event and approaching action . These days , there are plenty of participant - led Telegram and WhatsApp groups for regain and share-out accommodation , scoring planning advice , and so on .
You could also believe going to a fete solo , but as a voluntary . With a free ticket , you ’ll meet new people by working nearly together , plus you ’ll enjoy an intimate peek behind the scenes of the event . Valuable memories can include building mega - art installment and stage , or karmatically helping fellow partiers get around or find their friends — and the hours can even reckon towards school reference or go on resumes .
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Let connections happen organically
The most important advice : Always let friendships and connectedness happen organically . Sometimes , friend groups are keen to receive strays ; sometimes not . Being able to take a speck is key .
After all , the prowess of construction connections at festival is a multi - dimensional experience ; it can be action whether you meet a vast measure of strangers or tie in with just a few on a deeper level . Some new connectedness might last a lifetime , while others could just linger for the fete season — don’t put too much pressure on them , okay ?
Spend some time alone—safely
When you go unaccompanied , you have to be ready to reckon on yourself . vanish unaccompanied at a fete is no exclusion . Be sure to detain hydrated , use sun security , and carry emergency supplies . Meeting new people or experimenting at a festival can direct to all kinds of memorable experience , but always fuck your limits and your manner around ( habituate a function app to define pins for your tent and important places ) , and — most importantly — mind to your instincts .
And while it might be tempting to focus on the new friends and the medicine , do n’t blank out that going alone to a festival is a wonderful way of life to get to bang yourself . pass some time communing with nature , observe how you handle different scenarios , and have a solo dancing company . As much fun as you ’ll have , the best part is the chance to savor your own caller .
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Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision/Getty Images
