Five Tips to Keep Your Bluesfest Rockin’!

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Ottawa’s highly-anticipated annual Bluesfest begins tomorrow and with big names like P!nk, 50 Cent, Melissa Etheridge and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on this year’s roster, it’s surely one you don’t want to miss! If you’re new to the city, or going to Bluesfest for the first time this year, here’s a guide of some advice and tips to make sure you have the most rockin’ time ever!

Leave Your Car at Home

LeBreton Flats is not a particularly parking-friendly area, so consider other methods of transportation to make your Bluesfest experience as stress-free as possible. If you live close by, you can walk or ride your bike. There will be a designated area where you can park and lock your bike for free. If you’re coming from Gatineau or non-downtown areas of Ottawa, taking the bus is your best bet. OC Transpo route 8 conveniently stops right at the festival gates.

Portable Charger

If you’re going to be taking photos or live tweeting your Bluesfest experience, a portable phone charger will be an absolute lifesaver! They can be purchased for as low as $10 and really come in handy when you’re out and about without access to a power outlet to charge your phone. Nothing worse than your phone dying when you’re in the middle of capture.

Avoid the Sun

LeBreton Flats is just as its name implies, flat with no trees or shady areas, so you’re going to want to really protect yourself from the sun. We suggest a cap or large, wide-brimmed hat, a good pair of sunglasses and tons of sunscreen that you can re-apply throughout the day. Wouldn’t want a painful sunburn to prevent you from jamming out to your fave band!

Stay Hydrated

Don’t forget to bring along your reusable water bottle! There is a water station at the festival which you can use to re-fill your bottle throughout the day. This saves you money, not having to repeatedly buy $3 water, and is so much better for the environment. If you’re going to be consuming alcohol, make sure you’re gulping down lots of water between drinks to prevent dehydration.

Spend the Day

Take advantage of your day pass! Even if you bought your ticket for one specific artist, it’s well worth your while to just go and spend the whole day as there are so many performances to take in and new artists to discover. Take an hour or so to check out the Black Sheep Stage, located behind the War Museum, where there are often quirky, local bands and DJs you may have never heard of before!