Firefly is the Lollapalooza of Delaware, in that thousands of people from all over gather for a four day long music festival full of incredible music and a whole lot of fun. This year, 30,000 people headed to The Woodlands to watch the Legendary Paul McCartney, The Killers, Modest Mouse, Sublime with Rome and about 100 others rock out in Dover’s June heat.
The big difference with Chicago’s music festival is that at Firefly, you’re not in the middle of a major city, and in order to be close to the festival, you either have to rent an RV or camp out. If you’re thinking of attending Firefly at some point, there’s a few things you need to know in order to prepare. Here’s some helpful hints on surviving the weekend:
1. Expect to get dirty and stay dirty: Thousands of people are driving over the once grassy areas surrounding the Dover Downs, ripping up the grass and exposing lots and lots of dirt. If even a drop of rain falls (and you can count on that), the entirety of the camping grounds turn into a complete mud-pit. There are operating showers, but they are a ways away, you have to wait in an unfathomably long line, and you have to pay for it. I suggest you bring plenty of water in case you want to rinse off, slap on some deodorant, cover your hands in hand sanitizer and move on. Everyone is in the exact same boat, so no one is going to judge you for being smelly or covered in mud. A little mud never hurt no one!
2. Bring more food than you plan on eating: It’s important that you bring quick and easy food items to camp with, such as PBJs, granola bars, and fruit you can peel like bananas and oranges, and that you bring extra. You won’t be at your campsite too much, and you will most likely buy food inside, but you should have foods that can at least give you a little energy to make it until dinner. You also never know what friends will stop by your tent and you want to be able to offer them something!
3. Don’t wear or bring anything you truly care about: I understand the urge to dress in super cute festival gear, but mark my words – it will get ruined. You think – I’ll just wash it when I get home, who cares? Trust me, this is the type of mud that embeds itself deep into the fibers of your clothes, shoes, and accessories and never lets go. Do yourself a favor and leave the feather headdress and crochet romper for Coachella.
4. Invest in a Camelbak: You will be spending enough money on beer, don’t waste your money on water. It also gets extremely hot, so dodge dehydration by making sure you have water at all times. The reason I am suggesting a Camelbak instead of a refillable water bottle is because although there are filling stations, there are few and far between. I was actually very dissapointed in how few there were considering the high volume of festival-goers and the high temperature. You’ll be waiting for 30+ minutes if you bring a standard water bottle. Bring a Camelbak and spend less time waiting for refills!
5. Plan your artist itinerary ahead of time: Rebecca and I discussed who we wanted to see ahead of time so we could map out where we were going and at what time. This will eliminate possible arguments with friends over who to see at what times. It also makes for a smoother experience when you have a plan and know where everyone you want to see will be playing!
6. Wear sunscreen: If you listen to nothing else that I’ve said, please just bring sunscreen. You will be out in the baking sun for five+ hours. Don’t ruin your weekend right off the bat by getting a gnarly sunburn.
7. Have fun & don’t worry: Firefly is an insanely fun time where you can discover new artists to add to your playlist, see artists you already know and love, and meet a ton of awesome people who are there to do the same thing as you. Don’t let some mud or inclement weather ruin your experience. A tropical storm cut Sublime with Rome’s set short and cancelled Kings of Leon which Rebecca and I were pumped to see, but you have to anticipate that not everything with work out in your favor. Keep a positive outlook and have a bunch of fun!
