Festival season is just around the corner, and many of us are preparing for our debut event of the season. For a lot of us, this event is Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival in Sunshine Grove, Florida which is happening March 5-8, just over a week away!

If you’re anything like me and you’re going to Okeechobee, you’re rattling your brain on what it is you need to pack. Camping festivals are always a mission-and-a-half to plan and pack for, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! I’ll talk about a few of the necessities for this festival and provide you with my full ultimate packing list at the end. Keep reading to see everything you should bring to have an amazing time at this year’s Okeechobee!

I won’t go into too much detail on this one because most of them are no brainers and are included in the full list below, but don’t forget the most important basic items for any festival or camping fest! Sometimes it’s easy to get so excited about packing fun and goofy stuff for a festival that we can forget one or more items that we actually really need. Your phone, ID, money, ticket, outfits for every day, socks and underwear, shoes, comfortable (and warm!) clothes to sleep in, hygiene products like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shower supplies are all musts. If you wear glasses/contacts or take medications, these are essential as well!

I can’t stress this enough! Make sure to bring bottled water for you and your crew, and hydration backpacks that you can refill inside the festival. Fortunately, this festival offers free filtered water to everyone, so it’s important that you bring something to carry your water in to stay healthy and dancing all day and night long. 

Neon Vibes Hydration Pack

Also very important in making sure you have a safe and fun time at this festival is sunscreen! If you’re like me and from somewhere a little colder like Colorado, this isn’t the first thing that comes to mind in the middle of winter. I’m used to wearing snow boots and a coat in March, so why would I think to pack sunscreen? However, Okeechobee is in a sunny area (the location is even called Sunshine Grove!). The forecast is looking like it’s going to get up to the mid 80’s during the festival as well, so make sure you’re prepared to protect your skin from the hot sun. 

Though you certainly don’t need your phone at a festival, if you are someone who uses it to communicate with your group or take photos and videos, it’s definitely a good idea to have a few of these fully charged in case of a pinch! There are no electrical outlets at the festival, so if you don’t bring a portable charger, you will either have to purchase one or find a way to charge your phone in a car or other device. My group also likes to bring walkie talkies just in case there’s no cell service. This is a great way to communicate without the stress of your messages going through, or outside distractions that take you away from the festival!

Another thing we don’t always think of to bring to festivals but will be great to have at Okeechobee is swimming attire. There is a beach called the Aquachobee Beach where you can go swimming and cool off, and it would be a shame to not be able to participate due to not being prepared! A swimsuit, towel, goggles, and maybe a fun floatie or two will have you ready to splash around and have some good old fun in the sun.

Photo Courtesy of Okeechobee Festival

Now that we’ve talked about a few of the best items to bring to this festival, check out my full Okeechobee packing list below!

• Ticket! (seems like a no-brainer but you never know)
• Water bottle(s)
• Phone
• Phone chargers
• ID
• Cash (bring extra if possible!)
• Debit or credit card
• Fanny pack, hydration backpack, or both
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Ear plugs
• Sunglasses
• Festival clothes for every day you’ll be attending
• Underwear
• Socks
• Bras
• Hat(s)
• Comfortable shoes
• Flip flops or shower/swim shoes
• Swim suit
• Towels
• Sweats and jackets for sleeping/colder nights
• Rain ponchos
• Any medication you take
• First-aid kit with Ibuprofen, bandaids, etc.)
• Vitamins (I always bring a box of vitamin C packets to drink each day of the festival)
• Glasses/contacts if needed
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Floss
• Mouthwash
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Soap
• Razor
• Deodorant
• Lotion/moisturizer
• Hairbrush
• Hairspray
• Bobby pins
• Dry shampoo
• Makeup
• Makeup removing wipes
• Baby wipes
• Glitter, glitter, glitter!!
• Glitter glue
• Kandi and other cute goodies to trade
• Mirror
• Tampons (even if you don’t need them, someone else might!)
• Toilet paper
• Tissues
• Paper towels
• Ziploc bags
• Trash bags
• Tent
• Stakes
• Hammer or mallet
• Rain fly
• Tarp for under the tent
• Air mattresses/pump or some sort of pad to sleep on
• Sleeping bag
• Pillows
• Blankets
• Canopies and tapestries to relax under and personalize your camping space
• Lawn chairs
• Fold-up table
• Speaker (make sure it’s all charged up before your trip!)
• Cooler with water, drinks, and food (ice can be purchased at the festival if needed)
• Granola/protein bars
• Trail mix
• Sandwich supplies
• Camping stove and food if cooking
• Pots, pans, plates, utensils
• Totem or flag to mark your campsite
• Flashlight
• Lantern
• Biodegradable soap

There you go! Hopefully, this list should get you going and get you excited for what’s to come at Okeechobee next week. Obviously you don’t necessarily need to bring everything on this list, and there will probably be items not on here that you want to include as well! Hammocks, flow toys, a journal, face paint, and more creative or outdoorsy things are also awesome things to bring but aren’t things everyone has or needs. The most important thing is to come with an open mindset and with everything you need to have a fun, healthy, and safe week. See you at Okeechobee!