A Foodie’s Guide To This Year’s Summer Music Festivals

If summer is unofficially “music festival season,” the upcoming weeks mark its unofficial peak. The end of July into August sees summer music festivals sprout up across the globe. July 24th brings the Newport Folk Festival back to Rhode Island (with none other than the sacred pipes of Cat Power and Ms. Lauryn Hill). Just a week later sees the return of its historic step-cousin, Newport Jazz. On July 30th, Lollapalooza starts rhythmically unleashing its insane four-day lineup at Chicago’s Grant Park, while over in Amsterdam, Dekmantel will be well into day two of its Skrillex-fed energy fest in an actual forest.

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Like jazz and third encores, the list goes on. And while you probably (hopefully) already have your tickets, you can’t forget about the food. Well, food and drink. Besides planning outfits and accepting probable bathroom realities, music festival success hinges on the oft-forgotten question of nutrition. So before you slap on feathers and glitter or those reliable Birkenstocks, we thought we’d break down a few of the do’s and don’ts of music festival eating.

Don’t Forget To Do It

Don’t forget to eat and hydrate. Sounds simple. But it’s clutch. And necessary, since music festival-goers don’t have eclectic burritos and burgers on the brain. After all, music festivals are about communal movement and communal feeling, the kind of sublime transcendence that happens when we all shut our eyes together and just let loose (freak out/jump up and down/etc.). So, yes, that’s the point, but don’t forget to replenish your body in the meantime. Because nobody grooves on zero cals. Yeah, we said it. 

Scope Out Local Snacks!

Yes, most venues will have you covered for all the food and drink you could overpay for during the actual performance. But if you’re lucky enough to be in town for a day or two, don’t skip on local dining. Music festivals tend to happen in desirable destinations, (seaside Newport, bustling Chicago, charmingly freakish Amsterdam, or freakishly charming Montreal), so chances are your hotel or motel or Airbnb probably isn’t far from really, really good local dining.

Nobody Dances After A Burrito

At the festival itself, however, it’s good advice not to eat too…heartily. Especially if you plan to move. Sure, if you’re at Newport Jazz (or Folk), chances are the most you’ll be doing is some heavy swaying. But if you’re enjoying a higher energy performance, say, The xx at Outside Lands (San Francisco, August 7-9), or just digging so deep back into Digable Planets at We Out Here (Dorset, England, August 20-23), the rule of thumb is don’t eat foods that might, well, not want to dance with you. Maybe skip that burrito or extra ice cream scoop before you hit the mosh pit.

Hydrate (But Don’t Overhydrate)

Whether your music festival is sun-bathed, sun-baked, or sun-bleached―in fact, even if it’s not―responsible hydration is key. If you’re a seasoned festival-goer (seeing The Smashing Pumpkins perform at Lollapalooza for the billionth glorious time), you probably already know the importance of balancing water, electrolytes, and nutrition against all that other stuff. For the rest of us, don’t forget (it’s easy to do!) to interrupt the energy drinks and alcohol with hydration, electrolytes, and rest. FYI, drinking too much water is also dangerous. 

The Only Thing That Should Drip Is Your Fit

Maybe it’s the way our arms look so right waving back and forth in curlicues of sizzling heat, but summer just fits with music festivals. What doesn’t? Any. Food. That. Drips. Unless you’re food truck-proximate, picnicking at Wales’s electrified Tolkien festival aka Green Man (August 20th-23rd), or thought ahead and packed a LOT of Wet Wipes, avoid sticky foods, melting things (no matter how delicious)―pretty much anything that requires regular access to a, well, regular bathroom.

Don’t Freak Out At Food Truck Workers

Speaking of food trucks―if you’re lucky enough that your festival has them, or the stationary equivalent, do yourself and everyone a favor and treat them very, very kindly. Just like you, they’re out there in the heat―very likely more of it, thanks to the close quarters and all that cooking and “The Bear”-esque Yes, cheffing! More food truck etiquette: if they provide a menu, read it while you’re waiting in line so none of us miss a (literal) beat.

Oh, and for the love of Charlie XCX, don’t forget to tip.