Summer Music Festival Essentials: Dollar Store Haul

Summer music festival season is here. The 1st weekend of July hosted music of all genres on stages in small towns and big cities, and we love it. We also want to help.

So, if you’ve got festivals coming up, use this post as a checklist of things that you want to make sure you’re bringing with you – especially if you’re camping!

Some of these things are very basic and easy to remember, some of them are easier to overlook and forget… and maybe we’ve forgotten something that you think is super important.

The best thing about this list though, is that everything was picked up at Dollarama for no more than $4 an item (Herbal Essences dry shampoo) from top to bottom. You know you’re going to spend money on food and drinks and clothes and accessories and gas and camping gear – so why not save some money on your essentials?

Now, let’s get started with your shopping list. Have fun this summer, we’re going to!

ps. If there’s something you think we forgot that you know you can find at your local dollar store, leave a comment so everyone can add it to their list!

Sunscreen and Bug Spray!

It’s summer, that means sun, it also means sun burns, and you don’t want that. So, remember to grab some sunscreen (30 spf is probably the minimum you should be picking up) and remember to apply and reapply to avoid painful burnage.

Festivals out in wooded areas are also (often) full of flying biting insects that can be a real pain. So, get yourself some bug spray, and make sure that when the sun goes down, you’re ready!

Wipes, Dry Shampoo, and Deodorant

Your friends may love you, but they may not like you too much if you don’t keep things fresh. The combination of wipes (makeup, face, baby, etc.), dry shampoo, and deodorant will help keep you presentable, looking clean, and feeling (and smelling) fresher than 3 days in a bunch of fields should allow.

Dudes, all three of these products are great for you. Don’t be fooled into thinking that wipes and dry shampoo are women’s only products. They don’t need to be in man packaging to be smart choices!

Chapstick, Advil, and Mouth Wash

We’ll take, Things You’re Going To Want In The Morning, for $400, Alex.

If you’re camping/partying for more than 2 nights in a row, you’re going to want to be able to reach for some Advil when you wake up dehydrated, tired, and hungover. You’re also going to be happy for that chapstick when you notice how dried out, and maybe even burned, your lips are.

The mouth wash, that should be pretty explanatory. Use it as needed.

Tissues and Hand Sanitizer

Tissues and hand sanitizer are great for your car, tent, or the bag you’ll be carrying around on the festival grounds. Maybe you’ll need to wash your hands after you eat, maybe you’ll get muddy, or maybe the porta potty situation leaves a lot to be desired… in any and all of these times of need, you’ll be happy you have these with you.

Also, you’ll be a hero to your friends and strangers if you decide to share the wealth.

Hair Elastics, Comb, and Brush

People with long hair, or hair that needs to be addressed, these are items that you don’t want to forget – but also don’t want to spend a lot of money on. Elastics break, so buy a bunch and make sure you have back-ups available. And you don’t want to lose a good brush or comb, so get one that works, and if you lose it, or lend it out, or break it, you’re not going to cry over it.

You know you feel better when you can brush your hair in the morning. And you know how good it feels to get long hair off your neck and back on a hot hot hot day… do the right thing.

Poncho and Eye Mask

Last but not least, 2 items that are too often overlooked and missed in the summer music festival packing process… ponchos and sleep masks.

We picked these bad boys up for a combined total of $3. That’s a steal when you think about what they provide. 1st, the mask. The one we grabbed is a gel mask that will cool down if you put it in your cooler with your food and drinks. Throw it on to block out the sun for an afternoon nap. Roll over and put it on in the morning to grab some sleep after the bright sun comes up. Or, just put it on to rest and cool yourself down and take some of the puffiness out of your eyes!

Next, the poncho. We get a lot of rain at some festivals, so much that it almost feels like tradition. But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t protect yourself. The poncho is well packaged, so you can keep it in your bag if it’s cloudy, or leave it in your tent if it’s not. And as a bonus, a poncho also works well as a water proof blanket if the grass is wet and you want to sit down. Nice!

We hope this list has helped with your summer music festival packing plans… and we hope you have a great time, no matter where you go and what music you love.

And like we said, leave a comment if you think we missed a dollar store item that we should all be packing!

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Joshua Murray

creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.