What to Bring

As I said multiple times before, my friends and I went into our first Bonnaroo with few of the proper things - no alcohol, a tiny tent for three people in the heat, etc. - but I want to prepare you for your first time. Through our own experience and through talking to more experienced Rooers, we were able to learn some genius items that we may have never come up with on our own, but we will be extremely happy to have for the following years. ...Now, let's just see if I can remember any of those:

• Baby Wipes: You don't have a child? Yeah, these aren't for them anyway. Portajohns are not the cleanest restrooms and you won't have a real shower for days. 
• Portable Shower: Our neighbors had one - we didn't. Unfortunate for them.
• Clif Bars: It is almost too hot to eat, but Clif Bars are a snack to give you energy and keep something in your stomach between meals. Be aware that ice will melt very quickly, so any food that has to be kept cool, may not actually be kept cool.
• Personal Fan: Remember those personal fans your grandma or sports team used to have? The ones that squirted water in your face while simultaneously moving around the air. These might be something to look into, if you wouldn't mind carrying it around.
• Battery operated Fan: This one should be for your tent. It is the only way that you will sleep through the heat.
• Bandanas: And you will need more than one. 
• Sunscreen: This is very important. The sun is hot and it is out all day. 
• Blankets: Not for sleeping under, but for sitting on during some of the more relaxed shows. 
• Umbrella: Though it may not rain (even if you are wishing it would, just for five minutes), it is a great way to ensure that you can stay out of the sun.
• Rain boots: ...No not for that rain you are praying for, but for the mud.
• Aluminum water bottles: !!! This is the most important thing on this list. It is incredibly important to stay hydrated throughout the four days. Bonnaroo offers multiple free filtered water stations throughout the park at which you can fill up your water bottles at any time of the day. The lines may be long, but you should constantly be drinking water. Once you thought you had enough, have another bottle, or two - especially if you are planning on consuming alcohol.

That is all for now! I will keep you updated, but keep on the look out for experienced Rooers - I'm sure each one has a genius item to share that I have yet to encounter!

Vendors

Bonnaroo is a great place for all different types of vendors. As a music and art festival, most of the patrons have a genuine appreciation for art. The vendors support the green initiative promoted by Bonnaroo, a cause shared by many of the Rooers. Vendors range from shoe salesmen, to art vendors, to clothing, to sunglasses, to candles, all the way to things as well known as Ben and Jerry's.

Last year, Ben and Jerry's offered free samples of their special 'Bonnaroo flavored' ice cream - which was a great treat in the eat and delicious. Unfortunately, this flavor was no where to be found, until recently!:

Now this post kind of strays from my original purpose - that is, offering all you future Rooers tips. So here goes:  As I said, there are vendors that sell sandals. This came in handy for my friend Danielle, who lost a sandal in the intense mud that forms at Bonnaroo over the course of the festival. With so many people filling up their water bottles, dumping their warm water, and the fountains, giant mud puddles form that are sometimes difficult to avoid, especially in the dark. Some people recommend wearing rain or mud boots and others say just to wear sandals, but to bring an extra pair. Personally, I agree with the latter, as it is far too warm for knee high boots! The thought of socks is sickening. Anyway, Danielle's 'new kicks' may not be the most trendy, depending on your definition of the term, but they are long-lasting, stayed on her feet, and most importantly kept her from being shoe-less for a few days. 

Danielle's New Sandals - Courtesy of the Vendors

Moral of the story, be aware of the mud! and bring an extra pair of shoes or boots. Oh! and just in case, make sure you have some spare money, in case you run into an emergency like poor Danielle.

Drug 101

Drugs are prevalent at Bonnaroo, as with most festivals, but here are some key things to know before attending:

1. Balloons. 

If someone asks you if you want a balloon - no, they do not mean a neon colored, rubber, helium filled balloon. They are referring to a little container of nitrous oxide, yep - laughing gas, that is a sure fire 'pick-me-up'. Though you may see actually carrying balloons filled with nitrous.

2. Molly.

Pure MDMA, similar effects to ecstasy. Molly is extremely common at Bonnaroo and it is often not clarified before offered. "Hey, lick my hand."

3. "Shakedown Street."

Prime location for any drug you could ask for, so obviously a shady area late at night. Consequently, 'Shakedown Street' is not on the actual map. This street is for the non-licensed vendors and you can actually find anything here - from food, to alcohol, to drugs, to clothing. 

There are other drugs present, obviously, and it is your choice whether to do or to not do them and the couple mentioned. There is plenty of space at Bonnaroo and it is easy to walk away. If you are highly anti-drugs and still interested in Bonnaroo, Roo offers a group that commits to staying sober throughout the festival, so do not feel like you are alone!

We were lucky to have 'Drug 101' with our sweetheart of a neighbor.

Late Night Bonnaroo

Alright, time is creeping by and there are only 57 days until the festival! A lot has happened since I last blogged:  a Bonnaroo friend came and went, tickets have been purchased, new cars (that will be making their way to Tennessee) have been purchased, acts have been added, and just recently, Late Night Bonnaroo has been announced. Last year, Late Night Bonnaroo was my favorite part of the festival.  Though difficult to stay awake for after a day in the heat and running on two hours of sleep, it provides some of the best performances. It is also nice to be out of the Tennessee sun.

Night Time at Bonnaroo

Up this year: Lil Wayne, String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, Girl Talk, Dr. John with the Original Meters and Allen Toussaint performing Desitively Bonnaroo, Pretty Lights, STS9, Gogol Bordello 
Big Boi, Scissor Sisters, Ratatat, Bootsy Collins & the Funk University, Shpongle Presents Shpongletron Experience, The Black Angels.  

Recently, Danielle had a great experience seeing Gogol Bordello in Boston that only enhanced our excitement when Late Night Bonnaroo was announced.

However you have to do it, I advise you to stay up for all the shows you can. What's that saying? You can sleep when you are home and not at a four day music festival? Something like that. Anyway, Bonnaroo provides many means of staying awake - though some more expensive (and legal) than others - it all depends on your preferences. Personally, being around all of the people, the music, some beers, and a Red Bull sufficed to keep me up until six in the morning. Others take a different approach - just a tip:  if you aren't into drugs, think twice before acting when someone asks you to 'lick their hand.' Most likely, they are offering you Molly, a pure form of the drug MDMA that is bound to keep you awake, as well as put you in a great mood. 

Bonnaboozing and What Not To Do

My friends and I traveled innocently to Bonnaroo- no drugs and no booze. As we were under twenty-one on the time, we feared the dreaded search upon entering the festival. Even more so, we feared being pulled over on the drive, since we had heard that Rooers were often targeted by the police. As it was, we did get pulled over on the way to Tennessee and our car was searched upon entering the festival. The car search was no more than a quick look over and we were not even asked if we were twenty-one, so I would advise future Rooers not to fear the car search as I did. The important thing is to avoid glass bottles and other things on the list of 'what not to bring,' but there are far too many cars coming through the entrance for thorough searches.

The traffic that went on for 8 hours in two directions.

As we entered Bonnaroo, we were eager, excited, and stone cold sober.  It was only about ten in the morning, but many of our fellow Rooers had been drinking on the side of the road (I'm not sure if you should worry about the legality of that statement..). We parked our car, set up our tent, and began to plot. Where were we going to get any alcohol? It is fair game to come and go through the festival gates, but we were unlucky enough to be boxed in by other cars (and still not twenty-one years old). Beer at Bonnaroo costs an unbelievable $87 at the 'General Store' for a thirty rack - that is something I just cannot buy. The store is handy for little things you may have forgotten or need, such as duct tape or band-aids, but those will still run you at least double the usual price. Pack light, but pack anything and everything you need. The three of us, inexperienced first timers came beer-less, fan-less, but each having at least two sweatshirts.
You will not need a sweatshirt for Bonnaroo. Heck, you will not need a shirt for Bonnaroo. Pack very little clothing. For this upcoming year, I plan on having a backpack equipped with two pairs of shorts, a few bathing suit tops, and maybe, maybe a t-shirt.
Anyway, back to the alcohol situation. Lucky for us - people were friendly, beer booths did not card, neighbors came in clutch, and all went well. Like I said, socializing is important!