Leicester Summer Sundae Weekender
It’s officially mid-music-festival season and tonight Leicester’s 10th Summer Sundae Weekender event begins (13-15 August). With an amazing line-up including indie stalwarts Teenage Fanclub and Seasick Steve playing this evening, The Go! Team on Saturday and Mumford & Sons headlining on Sunday all set in the backdrop of the stately De Montfort Hall & Gardens, it’s definitely the region’s top music event.
But as any festival aficionado will tell you, there’s much more to festival life than simply seeing the bands, so we’ve put together a guide to surviving the highs and lows of life under canvas and more…
What to pack
The first rule is: you can never bring too much loo roll. The portaloos will run out on the first day – guaranteed.
Non-perishable snacks such as crisps, cereal bars and fruit help to stave off those early morning hangover-induced hunger pangs when the walk down to the food stands in the pouring rain seems too much to bear. As for alcohol – check the restrictions, but it’s always a good idea to bring your own if you fancy post-gig tent drinks. Plenty of water is also vital for the morning after.
Even if it’s 30 degrees outside when you leave home, anticipate all weathers when packing your wardrobe. It’s only once you are out in the elements that you realise how changeable our weather can be, and it’s bound to start pouring the second your car rolls into the campsite.
Make sure you bring a torch – essential for those middle-of-the-night calls of nature.
Spot on – where to pitch your tent
Get there as early as possible to make sure you get the best position – there’s nothing worse than being at the furthest end of the campsite and facing a 20-minute walk back when you’ve realised you’ve forgotten your jumper/wristband/money.
Pitching on a slight hill is also a smart move if you want to avoid extra mud/flooding.
Seeing the bands
Check out the line-up and then work out your own itinerary. There will always be a clash with one band you really want to see appearing at the same time as another, typically on a stage at the other end of the site. So make a few executive decisions, before the beer starts flowing, about what to see and when, to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Eating and drinking options
Festival food is improving with most events serving more than the odd burger or soggy burrito, with everything from Falafal wraps to hog roasts on offer. But be prepared for queues and make sure you join one before the hunger pangs get too bad.
When it comes to tipples, beer is the obvious classic, along with summery cider, but if you want to avoid time-consuming, frequent trips to the loo, why not try wine.
