Our Guide to Surviving T in the Park

Greasy hair, sweaty armpits and toilets that could rival the infamous Trainspotting scene might be the price you pay for a weekend of fun at a musical festival but there are, surprisingly, a few things you can do to make your overall experience more enjoyable. With over 85,000 people expected to decent upon Balado airfield for T in the Park this weekend, we decided to share our very own guide to surviving UK music festivals…

Prepare for the Worst
Promotional pictures for T in the Park might show cheery revellers, armed with ice cold pints of Tennent’s and brightly coloured sunglasses, frolicking in the sunshine but the reality is that this event is held in Scotland. Whilst some years have seen the sun make a welcome appearance, more often than not rain tends to dominate the weekend. As much as you’ll probably want to channel your inner Kendall Jenner by turning up wearing skimpy denim hot pants and chic cowboy boots, make sure you also pack a waterproof jacket and a pair of study wellies so you’re at least prepared if the heavens do decide to

open.
Arrive Early
There’s no worse way to start your carefree weekend than getting all riled up about being stuck in a three hour-long traffic jam. The best way to ensure a stress-free journey is to leave yourself with plenty of time to get to the venue and take loads of sweets to munch on the way, obviously!
T in the Park offers camping festival-goers with certain tickets the chance to pitch up from as early as tomorrow – allowing them the opportunity to not only nab the best spots but also enjoy a whole extra day of festival fun!

Budget Carefully
Though T in the Park tickets are far from cheap, the real cost only start to add up once you’re through the gate. Car parking, food, drink and that neon face paint you decide you just can’t live without don’t come cheap so make sure you have more than need to cover it. That being said, you don’t want to carry around valuables or excessive amounts of money either so we’d advise you give yourself a set amount of money to spend each day and stick to it.

Home Comforts Are Like Gold Dust
We’re not suggesting you rock up to Balado with your best Chanel perfume and Molton Brown shower gel but basic, everyday items like toilet paper, deodorant and antibacterial hand gels are like gold dust at music festivals. Pack lightly yet effectively by liaising with your friends beforehand – if you share certain items it means you each only have to take half as much!

Be Flexible
With a line-up that boasts Calvin Harris, Paolo Nutini, Artic Monkeys and Jake Bugg, it’s easy to not look past the main stage. However, a big part of the festival experience is stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new so make sure you check out some up-and-coming acts on the smaller stages – you never know, you might just discover a new favourite band!

We’ll be bringing you all the latest news and reviews from T in the Park 2014 this weekend. For more information on the festival, visit www.tinthepark.com