3 ‘must do’s’ for Electric Picnic 2016
As you should already know, Electric Picnic is taking over the beautiful green gardens of Stradbally Hall, Ireland on the 2nd-4th September this year… and we cannot wait.This festival was in very high demand this year and all the tickets have now sold out, which just shows that you’re in for one of the craziest weekends of the summer. So for all you picnickers out there that managed to bag yourself a ticket, here are 3 ‘must do’s’ for this year’s bash.
1. You must…. DO everything
Whilst it may be extremely tempting to arrive as soon as the arena opens and stand in the same spot at the front of the main stage until Lana Del Ray graces the festival with her presence, remember that there is so much more to do at EP than sing along to sad love songs (and also, standing still for that long would probably give you the worst leg cramp of your life). In fact, this mega-fest has everything a music, art and comedy lover could EVER want. It’s basically heaven for creative people. So as well as the hundreds of musical acts, the comedy tent will be bringing you the best established and up-coming comedians from around Ireland to make you giggle and keep your spirits high throughout the weekend. If you’re more of a spoken word fan, the Minefield area is the place for you. This is where you can find literacy readings, political debates, poetry performances, inspiring talks, science experiments and many other things that will exercise your mind.
For any of you art-loving Picnickers, keep your eyes peeled as there are artworks hidden in every nook and cranny of the place, so map out a treasure hunt to find the most glorious of sculptures, or take a trip to Greencraft’s Village – a place where you can learn to make willow baskets, silver rings and other beautiful things to take home. Finally, it’s time to release your inner child and take a trip to Fossett’s Circus. That’s right, Electric Picnic even has a circus. And who doesn’t love to watch aerialists, jugglers and acrobats? Our only word of advice… stay away from those clowns, especially after a few glasses of wine!
2. You must… EAT everything
Electric Picnic knows what people at a festival want. They know they want food, and lots of it. That’s why they’re treating us to over 100 food stalls offering up grub from some of the country’s top chefs, brewers, bakers and food geniuses. So it’s time to ditch the classic burger and cheesy-chip combo and set your sights on some of the more exciting cuisine. Prepare to be stuffed…
If traditional stuff is what you like, then traditional stuff you can get. Our mouths are already watering at the thought of the organic pie and mash or the seafood chowder, but there will be so many different types of nosh there that it is the perfect opportunity to try something a little different. So, be brave and try the aromatic potato dumplings from the streets of Pakistan or grab a fresh Mexican taco. And, if you’re either really health conscious or you have a special dietary requirement, the folks at the fest have you covered as there are plenty of vegetarian, coeliac and vegan options too. All you booze-lovers should take a trip here too, as there are several bars offering everything from beer to cocktails to whole bottles of prosecco. But the theatre of food isn’t just about expanding those stomachs of yours – all you foodies can also attend food demonstrations, mixology classes and other exciting activities, or pay a visit to the Artisan Food Market to purchase some of the best produce available from the local area. It ain’t called a Picnic for nothing!
3. You must…. PACK everything
Packing for a festival… Easy, right? If you just pack all the bare necessities then you will be able to survive. BUT, sometimes it is the more obscure items that you might not normally think of that can save you in some tough festival situations.
First of all – personal hygiene. Everybody that has attended a festival before knows how much of a pain it can be when you’re trying to take a shower or brush your teeth when there is so much festival-ing to be doing. So do yourself a favour and pack a few extra bits and bobs which mean you are able to put off visiting those communal bathrooms for a few hours longer. We’re talking dry shampoo, wet wipes, hand sanitiser, mouthwash and all of that malarkey. One more thing that should be high on your hygiene list is spare toilet paper… there are a LOT of people using those toilets, so it’s best not to be caught short, right? Another thing that seasoned festival go-ers know is how much it is possible to drink in one day. They also know how much they can live to regret those extra 3 pints the next day. If you want to be able to enjoy your entire time at Electric Picnic and not have to cower away in your tent after a heavy first night, then you might consider bringing along things like headache tablets and berocca which will help you feel more human the next day.
So there you have it – everything you need to know about doing Electric Picnic the right way! Now go forth, sing your hearts out, eat lots of food and have a bloody good time!
By Emily Thursfield