Festival season is right around the corner and with that comes lots of questions! In a city like Ottawa where you can experience four seasons in one day, it’s important to think ahead and know what to wear so that you can focus on getting down, not your getup. Festivals in this city are a test of endurance. Your outfit will need to be durable and not get in the way of you having the time of your life.
While there are no strict attire guidelines, here’s a few helpful and practical tips. Let’s start with the basics.
Footwear
Even though it can be hot and therefore tempting to wear flip flops, it’s very important to sport sturdy shoes as festivals usually involve an incredible amount of walking, often in muddy fields. Plus, let’s not forget people stepping on your toes in crowded quarters. A good option would be converse or trainers. Closed-toes protect your feet from wayward partiers and tough fabrics mean you can throw them in the wash once you get home. With a decent amount of support and rubber soles made to withstand a variety of weather conditions, they'll keep you comfy until the early hours.
Fanny Packs
You have to ask yourself, what’s more important – not looking like a tourist or having the freedom to go hands-free? Avoid heavy straps digging into your shoulders or riffling through excess baggage with a practical fanny pack. These adjustable belted bags are great to have because they are the ideal size to keep all of your essentials in one place, leaving your hands available for more important things like holding your drinks or camera.
Shades
With summer comes sun! If you are lucky and the sun is shining during festivals, then you are going to need something to protect your eyes and block the rays so you can see what is going on onstage. It’s the perfect time to break out a pair of colourful, quirky sunglasses. However, don’t be fooled into bringing expensive frames because it’s very likely that you’ll lose them.
Rain Gear
There is nothing worse that being trapped in the middle of a downpour with no raincoat. Even more so when you know you're going to be there for a while and there is no shelter in sight. You want to be prepared for the worst case scenario. A disposable poncho will be your new best friend in these situations. More lightweight than a rain jacket, it packs up small and won't block the audience's view of the main event.
These small tricks will really come in handy in preparing for your outfit and help you not be worried during festival season!