Bonnaroo For Girls

Bonnaroo for the ladies! All suggestions are kindly provided by lady veterans of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Got more ideas? Suggest 'em on Facebook or Twitter or to bonnaroochris@gmail.com.

CLOTHES

Avoid tight shirts and tank tops, they get uncomfortably hot really fast. Loose and breezy shirts, shorts & skirts are much better!

Dresses! Sundresses will keep you cool & take up little packing space. Linen skirts. (Tip: Wear bicycle shorts under short dresses/skirts.) No rompers! Why? Because peeing is hard enough as is - do you really want to be naked in a port-a-potty?

Bikinis! Love your body and rock a bikini top! Bring a cover-up in case it gets chilly. Wearing a bikini means you can dip in the fountain on passes through Centeroo. Waterproof your phone and stuff, (with zip lock bags), or get someone to hold while you refresh.

Bandannas! (If you're nice to vendors, you can get them to scoop a cup of ice into a bandanna which is heaven!) or a scarf. Bandannas are really useful for cooling off, covering your mouth and nose during the dusty walks at night and for wiping away the funk.

Security Tip: Keeping cards or cash in your bra when you go out? Don't do it a festival! You'll be jumping up and down and getting pushed around in the crowd it will fall out. Buy a cheap padded bra and cut a line across the inside of the cup and sew a folded pocket into the material. Works great!

A light jacket/sweatshirt will help when the temperature drops at night, plus it works as a pillow or you can sit on it.

Shoes: Leave your fashionable shoes at home. But don't wear flip-flops the whole time either, (great for excursions to the shower/porta potti). Sanuk type-shoes or Chaocs are recommended. Closed-toe is preferable at night. (Hard to see exactly what you might be walking through - *shudder*).

Anna and Beth practiced acupuncture at the campsite to relax.

HAIR

Sun hats. Big and floppy to keep the sun at bay. Use anything to keep the sun off your face & neck! Headbands, hair ties or scrunchies to pull your hair up. Wet bandannas wrapped around your neck will cool off a little.

A word of caution if you're considering a Indian headdress as part of your ensemble - it is considered disrespectful to the American Indian heritage. People will hassle you about it. Some festivals have banned them completely. Try an Indian headband instead, as it is a more common ornament, with no sacred significance. Here are some ideas on Pinterest, Etsy and Ebay

Dry Shampoo: Gets rid of the greasy-ness and is great for the gotta-go situation ... just know it's not actually cleaning your hair, (which you'll wanna do at some point.)

TIP: Get your hair washed and braided at the salon in Centeroo in the morning - you'll get a ticket, then you can go to the cafe for coffee, while you wait for your appointment, (in the shade) and listen to artists at the Sonic Stage. Calm, cool way to start to the day. :)

It's all about a positive attitude!

HYGIENE

Baby powder, Baby wipes and Gold Bond cream. Wet Ones for the toilets. Toilet paper! "Don't worry about makeup, lol."

The showers are $10 each and include shampoo and body wash. They open at 7:00 am and the line forms quickly on the girls side. Don't forget your towel.

Budget Tip: Bring your own hose with a female coupling - you can connect it to any of the sinks to have your own shower on the fly. But please! ... if your gonna shave your legs and/or bikini area, don't do it where everyone gets their drinking water. Rinsing your pubes out of your razor is not fun for everyone else! Better yet, shave the day you leave or before if you can.

Carry hand sanitizer, toilet paper and a spare tampon. Bring cranberry juice pills, AZO Relief Tablets or antibiotics if you are prone to UTI symptoms.

DO NOT keep toiletries, food, medications or anything else in the car that may potentially melt.

Girl power! Be yourself.

SKIN

Use sun screen! Work on your tan before you go so you're not sun burned for the rest of of the Festival. Bring plenty of moisturizer.

Light colored clothing to keep the sun off. If you can stand to carry it around, (or make bae do it), a sunbrella works well. Body paint is amazingly comfortable!

You can always, just, take a seat.

BLISTERS

Blister Kit: a waterproof case with assorted bandages, moleskin, adhesive, small scissors, antibiotic ointments, and antiseptic towelettes.

Don't pop it, if possible. Keep it clean and covered.

Blister care: (The following info is just an overview of possible care. Please consult medical attention as needed): A small, unbroken blister about the size of a pea will usually heal on its own. Use a loose bandage to protect it. If a small blister is on a weight-bearing area like the bottom of the foot, protect it with a doughnut-shaped moleskin or shaped band-aids.

Do not drain a blister of any size if: You have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, because of the risk of infection (like at a music festival). You think your blister is from a contagious disease, such as chickenpox, because the virus can be spread to another person.

If a blister has torn open, or after you have drained a blister: Wash the area with soap and water. Do not use alcohol, iodine, or any other cleanser. Don't remove the flap of skin over a blister unless it's very dirty or torn or there is pus under it. Gently smooth the flap over the tender skin. Apply an antibiotic ointment and a clean bandage. Change the bandage once a day or anytime it gets wet or dirty. Remove it at night to let the area dry.

MISC

Embrace the lines and crowds and make friends with people around you - particularly in tight crowds before shows. People are less likely to try to push past you if they talked to you. :)

Front row advice: The experience, especially if the band is popular, can be fun but a bit intimidating. If you feel like you can't handle it, don't panic! Make your way out calmly and politely and find a spot that feels right for you.

Enjoy yourself. Forget the outside world and learn to appreciate the moment.

CHECKLIST