Having just attended the French Quarter Festival and getting ready for Jazzfest, I figured this post was needed. Lordy….why the heck would you wear stilettos and black clothes to walk on festival grounds on a hot day in April?

Sooo….here you go…would love to hear your advice in the comments as this is only my 5th festival season, which makes me a newbie still.

* Do bring and wear sunscreen – reapply even after a few beers or if it is cloudy!
* Do bring an umbrella or rain coat if you see rain in the forecast. Be forewarned, poking drunk people with umbrellas or blocking their view, will not win you friends.
* DO wear comfortable flat shoes/sandals (ugly Crocs if you must) or rain boots you do not care about (throw in a pair of flip flops if you must).
* DON’T wear high heels or good shoes on muddy or grassy fair grounds! (And you know I love my heels.)
* DO wear cotton clothing in light colors.
* DON’T wear dark colors unless you want to broil in the sun.
* DO wear shorts. Ladies, dresses are cute, but most likely you will sit down at some point.
* DO bring a blanket or chair and claim your spot early.
* DON’T be “that person” who shows up late and thinks you can weasel your way to the front.
* Ladies, DO NOT wear shirts that give you “cleavage sweat.”
* Men, DON’T take your shirt off at any point during the day – no matter how many drinks you have had or how hot it is!
* DO plan your parking adventure ahead of time. Nothing worse than driving around and getting frustrated before you get there.
* DON’T park in a questionable place and not expect a ticket or even worse, to get towed!
* DO purchase any tickets ahead of time.
* DO print out any schedules or directions and keep them on you at all times.
* DO be prepared for entering and exiting problems and road closures.
* DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE or get in the car with someone who has! Plan accordingly!

3 Replies to “Festival Attire and Common Sense: Do’s and Dont’s”

  1. Don’t plan on “looking cute” all day – forget it. Once the sweat sets in all hope is lost.

    Do: Allow yourself to be caried along with the music and Roll with it Baby!

  2. SUN SCREEN! Everyone needs to understand the numbers on sun screen. If you use an SPF 45, this means you need to reapply every 45 minutes, etc. and so on.

    I am from New Orleans, but now live in Eagle River, Alaska.
    I moved to Alaska in June 1995 after finishing the spring semester at Tulane University.
    My husband and I use sun screen year round. With the diverse climate we experience, moisturizers and sun screen are necessary.
    I am a published author and professional photographer.
    During the winters we snow ski, ice skate inside and outside, snow mobile, sojourn, ice fish, go to Homer, Ak., in February to fish the first run of King Salmon, go to Fur Rondy and the Iditarod. I’m always taking photographs with every event.
    The Winter Solstice begins on December 21. This is the shortest day of the year. In Eagle River where I live twenty miles northeast of Anchorage, we have 5 hours and 23 minutes of daylight on this day. Fairbanks, Ak receives 3 hours and 42 minutes. As one gets closer to the Arctic Circle, which is 66 degrees and 33 minutes there is less and less daylight. Every place north of the Arctic Circle has this effect… As of November 21, the sunsets in Pruhdoe Bay, Alaska for the last time until it shows a mere 8 seconds of light on Jan. 23.

    In Eagle River on December 22, we receive a “gain” of 8 seconds of light and the time takes a rapid incline for many months.
    The daylight steadily grows until June 21 where we celebrate the longest day of the year. Our total daylight is 19 hours and 21 minutes. On June 22 we lose 8 seconds of daylight and rapidly lose from there. In fairbanks, Alaska they have 21 hours and 49 minutes of daylight.
    During the summer, we fish, camp, hike, and go Grizzly bear watching/photograph taking all summer long. Sometimes the bears are mating. Sometimes the Grizzlies are raising their yearlings. Then sometimes the sow is just exposing their new babies for the first time for the world to see.
    Whatever you decide to do when outside, remember to wear your sun screen year round. everyone needs more and more protection as years come by because of the deteriation of the atmosphere.

Comments are closed.