A. The line-up is AMAZING

B. The Gorge is an incredible venue with beautiful views

C. This will be my first time camping at a festival!

I can’t wait to see:

Camp:

• Tent and Rain Fly–  I’m looking at large two room tents for some privacy and ease. Something like this. Any tent works!
• STEAKS! It gets super windy out there making steaks for the tent essential. Don’t forget the hammer!
• Tarp – for under the tent *Make sure the sides don’t stick out past the tent or fold it under to not allow water or condensation to slide under the tent.
• Bedding – pillows/sleeping bags/sleeping pads - *Tip* If your planning on sleeping with  a special someone, most sleeping bags can zip together! I think we’ll just bring sheets and blankets though beacause our sleeping bags are rated for much colder temps
• Lantern or LED Battery Lights for camp at night (no campfires!)
• Garbage/recycling bags
• Flag – <CRUCIAL> to identify our camp. Connect a glow stick to the top
• 2 plastic crates  (i.e. milk crates) for storage and tables -These are great for packing and camp. Pack dry food, cooking stuff and other supples in them to organize the car and they double as night stands, camp tables and chairs.
• Towel
• Cards, Dice, pingpong balls, a Frisbee and any other games and activites
• Headlamp - <CRUCIAL>, especially for night trips to the port-o-potties. My friend also has a small light on a necklace so she is never without it.
• Zip Lock Bags
• Wash basin (i.e. large stainless steel bowl) – For washing dishes and myself
• Sponge
• 5 Gallon water dispenser cooler BRING LOTS OF WATER

Extras (The nice to have stuff if you have room to bring them):

• Air Mattress – Not crucial, but it is 5 nights and I thought it would be awesome to make the tent like home with a bed, night stands, lights, sheets, pillows and all. Sleeping pad does the trick though and is probably better for your back.
• Shade Structure and Tapestry, scarves and clips/clamps to hang – This again, is not essential but is wonderful for those long sunny mornings at the camp. Be sure to either steak it down soundly or lower it when you leave for the festival so it doesn’t blow away with the wind!
• Camp Chairs are nice but coolers and crates work too!
• A foldable/portable table. Not essentail but great for beer pong.

Food:

• Camp Cookware – I have a set for backpacking that is small light and includes everything you need – You can find it here
• Utensils
• Stove – The boy has a backpacking stove that will work great. It is essentially this - a single burner with fuel.
• Pocket Knife
• Can opener
• Cutting Knife
• Cutting board
• 2 bowls
• 2 small coolers – one for food, one for drinks *Also double as benches! *Tip – it’s a good idea to seperate some ice in a zip lock from the rest of the ice in the cooler to keep it clean for drinks.
• Cast iron skillet
• Small grill – I’d like to get what I call a “scoop-a-grill” like this one
• Charcoal and lighter fluid
• Coffee maker/filters – We use something like this.

Other:

• 4 Festival outfits, 2 travel
• Sleeping clothes – I’m anticipating getting dirty and if it does rain it’s best to not track a day of filth into the sheets.
• Warm non-bulky layering clothes
• Camera and extra batteries – I’m bringing disposable cameras and my digital point and shoot
• Sunglasses  <Crucial>
• Water Bottle <Crucial>
• Ear plugs – super necessary for that dub step tent that blares all night!
• Rain jacket or poncho- Just in case, this IS in Washington
• Boots and Sandals – broken in, and very comfortable for walking
• Hat and Jewelry
• Emergen-C - I never travel without it and great for hangovers, re-hydreation and an extra boost!
• TP – *Tip: Carefully pull out the cardboard roll and tug the first sheet out a bit. Squeeze the roll to close the gap and put in a zip lock bag with the first sheet sticking out of the top. This makes a great TP dispenser so you don’t need to worry about unrolling it.
• Dry shampoo – I think I’ll try it. Something like TIGI’s Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo and Conditioner. Baby powder works great as well.
• Dr. Bronners soap - The does-it-all biodegradable soap!
• Deodorant/toothbrush/tooth paste/chapstick and any other personal items
• Phone car charger – A solar charger is even better!
• Ground cloth/blanket – For sitting on in the festival grounds
• Watch – My watch face is on a necklace so I’m not late for the shows I want to see
• Bubbles
• Cleansing wipes – A LOT – to freshen up or to be your shower. I like these and the Berts Bees ones for my face
• Small gift boxes with earrings and business cards – I’m going to make some gifts for awesome people I see and spread the AquarEye word!
• Hand sanitizer
• Sun Screen!
• First aid kit including: Ibuprofen, band-aids, Aloe Vera, wrap, bandages and disinfectant

I’m still working on the food list. I’d like to prepare our own food as much as possible. In the past couple years I’ve really gotten into gourmet, healthy camping and backpacking food. I’ll share some of my recipes and what we are bringing in the next post. Recipes will include: Super Charged Acai Bowls, Pantry Salmon Pesto Tortellini, and Camp Fajitas!

Am I missing anything? Was this helpful? Let me know, I’d love to hear from you!

Looking for festival outfit inspiration? Checkout this post!