21 Best Holiday Accessories and Equipment (2025): Essentials and Fun Things
Reduce damage
Photo: Double Deck Police
Regardless of your personal habits, drug use can be widely used during festivals. It is important to understand the location of the medical tent, pay attention to the surroundings, and find your festival attendees in the way you want them to look for you.
I highly recommend that you get training in naloxone (Narcan). It prevents opioid overdoses and is easy to get training and the medicine itself at a cheap price. I took mine away through insoverdose online. It took half an hour and $5. I liken this to know about CPR or suffocation rescue. You hope you never have to use it, but it’s really good to have the knowledge just in case.
I also recommend researching drug testing kits. You can get these from Double Deck Police and Dancesafe. Fentanyl test strips are affordable and it takes very little time to test any substance that may be present. Some festivals have supplier tents that can be used to test substances for amnesty. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
Finally, I recommend registering Bunkbot’s alerts when applicable. This is an emergency alert system that texts people if dangerous substances are found. It adds another layer to reduce damage and helps you become more alert when needed.
Stick together
Since phone services can prevail during the holidays and not everyone has a smartwatch, a friend system is priceless. My group glued it together when possible and if someone had to separate, they made sure someone in the system knew where they were going. In an emergency, we also designated festival venues and gathering places outside the gate. Be careful about your surroundings and don’t be afraid to contact holiday volunteers or employees if you need help.
Unfortunately, things do happen. Make sure to set up stolen device protection on a compatible iPhone or Android phone. You may also want to set up some Bluetooth tracker for your wallet, bag, or other essentials. Most major festivals have dedicated Lost and Founding Programs. Before you arrive, check its details so you can get familiar with it.
Just for fun
Photo: Louryn Strampe
Of course, it is best to prepare the essentials. But ultimately, the festival is about pleasure. Here is a list of holiday accessories you might want to have, purely for their joy.
The Candy Manufacturing Kit costs $20: Trading beaded bracelets are a hallmark of electronic music, but more music genres are joining due to the Taylor Swift tour. Any beads will work, but I highly recommend stretching magic elasticity ($17) – cheap stuff falls off too easily.
Running channel: Some dancers like to use a lot of toys. I prefer the Fiberflies Pixel Whip ($85), but the Flowtoys Podpoi ($135) is another popular option. You can even get suspended wands and lightweight staff. It’s very fun to dance with it (they will entertain your companions).
Small gift: Little duck. Sprouted hair. Soft animals. Festivals usually have a gift culture. This is not expected, but there are some things that can be circulated to the people you meet. Consider carrying some trinkets with you – you might even make a new friend or seven.
$19 night light: If you are at a camping festival, it can be dangerous to walk around in the dark. Sometimes you just want to pick up the snacks from the cooler without shining the flashlight. I love this night light because it provides a soft glow – visible but not so bright that I wake up to everyone nearby.
Camping towels, priced at $16: Sometimes it rains. Sometimes you accidentally spill the entire Beatbox into a tent. Anyway, camping towels are convenient. They are super absorbent and dry very quickly.
Funny clothes: When it comes to holiday outfits, you can be bold or practical as you wish. Don’t sacrifice comfort in the name of fashion! However, if you’re looking for fun clothes to wear, I recommend checking out Ihearttraves and Rave Wonderland. These are the closest thing to EDM, but they will work for everything from Bonnaroo to Burning Man to EDC. Your favorite artist’s merchandise may also be a good place to start. If in doubt, you can always accessorize – consider a bucket hat or Pashmina-style shawl to make your outfit more adventurous.
Baker, $14: We have a lot of feelings about the importance of small multifunctional cloths. Music festivals are usually dusty and dirty. The turban serves as a face covering, absorbs sweat, a quick place to sit and an easy way to wipe overflowing drinks. Hidden some in your bag and you will do better.
Over the years, I have tested this gear by attending many festivals. (This year, there are performances on the list that may or will include Wakaan, Secret Dreams, Infrasound, Infrasound Equinox, Force Fields and The Caverns; in the past, I have also played heavy batsmen. It’s something I packed every time I participate, and I’ve been testing new gear to assess whether it’s worth the space it takes (or the psychological energy it needs).
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