It's going to be one crazy-ass weekend for music fans in the Valley and beyond. Your choices are many: You can head East to Florence for rustic western sounds at Country Thunder, to the grassy turfed parking lot of McDowell Mountain Music Festival's for Compound Grill's flower-powered jam scene, down south to Tucson's Way Out West Festival for punk rock glory, or out West to Indio, California for the Coachella Music and Arts Festival. Where ever you are headed, you'll need to take precautions. Our friends over at West Coast Sound published a great list of must-pack gear, and we thought we'd share it with you Up on the Sunners. Be careful out there...
Jena Ardell
See also: Coachella Preview 2012: Everything You Need to Know About the Performers
By Jena Ardell
There's nothing worse than a gnarly flip flop injury or a third-degree sunburn across your chest to ruin your Coachella experience. To help prevent such desert mishaps the folks at StubHub sent around a list of must-pack items to ensure everyone has more comfortable weekends. Unfortunately, the list was kind of dry so we spiced it up with some fun illustrations.
1. Protection from the elements and dirt: Sunblock, sunglasses, rain ponchos, sweatshirt, wet wipes, toilet paper, anti-bacterial hand gel, Band-Aids. Be prepared for anything.
2. Comfortable shoes and socks: You'll be on your feet all day and will be walking--if not running--from stage to stage, so ditch the flip flops. Nothing will ruin the week like a pair of sore feet.
Jena Ardell
3. Portable charging device: If you absolutely need to be connected with the outside world, a portable charging device (solar or battery operated) will keep your phone juiced, plus it beats draining your car battery in order to charge your phone.
4. Campsite identifier: It's tough to keep track of a tent in a sea of thousands - take time to build a 10-12-foot pole and attach a unique flag to it.
Jena Ardell
5. Potable and non-potable water: In addition to drinking water, bring a large jug of water to dump on your head to avoid the fees and lines at the showers offered for campers. You're just going to get dirty again, so why bother showering?
Jena Ardell
6. Flashlight/lantern/head light: It's going to get dark at night and there are many trip hazards on the grounds.
7. Chair/hammock/stool: You probably won't be able to bring a lounging device into the actual concert area, but you'll need a place to take a load off at your campsite.
8. Small grill: Most festivals don't allow fire pits for roasting hot dogs, so pack a small grill, but remember to double-check the festival website to ensure it's allowed.
9. Dry ice: Ice is typically available in the campgrounds, but melts fast. A quick trip to a dry ice factory will save your bacon and eggs come Sunday morning.
10. Full tank of gas: Chances are high you'll be sitting in traffic for a long time waiting to get in (and out of) the festival grounds. Don't risk getting stranded!
Jena Ardell
See you in the desert!
See also: Coachella Preview 2012: Everything You Need to Know About the Performers
