Scrolled to top

Special Section // Summer Recreation

concert

© benny hawes / shutterstock

Music immersion

Costco can help outfit you for your next festival

by KIRSTI SHARRATT

From the fabulously named Lolla-palooza, which takes place in Chicago in August, to events that encourage camping—like Bonna-roo, in Manchester, Tennessee (June)—the U.S. music scene has festivals to suit different tastes and preferences. And they are certainly popular! Last year, more than a quarter (26%) of Americans planned to attend a summer concert or festival, according to finance firm LendingTree.

Whether you choose to sleep under the stars at a multiday extravaganza or spend a few hours at a small family-focused gathering, Costco warehouses and Costco.com can help you get ready with a wide range of useful items at incredible value.

Set up home base

Costco offers a variety of tents that accommodate one to 10 people, making concert attendance much more comfortable for families or groups of friends.

“Our tents can be set up in minutes, some have integrated lighting and all parts fit in the included carry bag,” says Costco sporting goods buyer Chris Taylor. He also recommends bringing along a cooler that can keep food and drinks cool for multiple days; one with a handle and wheels will also make it easier to transport, and Costco has options that fit the bill.

Once your temporary lodging is set up, break out a compact table for a snack setup or makeshift bar. Relax in a folding chair and snuggle under a beach or picnic blanket, including versions with a water- resistant shell to keep you dry.

Liquid assets

Most festivals prohibit glass, but cans are allowed. Seasoned festivalgoers should check the drinking policy at each new festival they attend. Some allow alcohol and food at campsites or in designated areas. If your festival allows it, it pays to stock up on canned beer, hard cider or seltzer and energy drinks before you go, and decant spirits and food from glass into plastic containers. Again, be aware of where you can and cannot consume food and alcohol.

Speaking of plastic, single-use plastic bottles tend to be banned, but visitors are often able to take reusable water bottles and fill them for free on-site. Costco carries several reusable bottles, including leakproof varieties with foldable handles.

Keep charged

For everything from keeping in contact with friends to posting pictures on social media, a mobile phone is widely regarded as a festival essential. Many events offer charging stations, but to save any queuing, a handheld power bank can provide many hours of extra battery life and charge multiple devices.

Festivalgoers often put their phone in a zip-close food bag to protect it from the elements and use a belt bag to keep their valuables safe.

Freshening up

With limited access to showers and washing facilities at festivals, hand sanitizer and moist wipes are convenient alternatives. “Wipes are great for keeping fresh during a festival,” says Costco health and beauty buyer Jessica Rodgers, who also suggests dry shampoo and facial cleansing wipes as quick solutions to the challenge of staying clean without hot water.

The eyes have it

Contact lens wearers hoping for a clear view of the show can find daily disposables from top brands in the Optical department, which also carries big-name fashion and prescription sunglasses in a variety of styles.

Other festival must-haves include antihistamines for hay fever. “I would also advise [attendees] to stay protected with sunscreen and keep hydrated with a hydration supplement,” adds Rodgers. Extra-large trash bags can be used as a poncho and to sit on, as well as for garbage, so pack them too. And, rain or shine, don’t forget toilet paper—probably the most essential festival product of them all.

Says Rodgers, “We’ve got just about everything you’ll need to make your next concert or festival a great experience.”


More essentials

Preparation can be invaluable when it comes to attending concerts and festivals. These additional items can make your time that much more enjoyable: sleeping bags, binoculars, flash-lights, bug spray, lip balm, a daypack, rain gear, hats, umbrella, earplugs, electrolyte powder (to stay hydrated), a photo ID, debit card and extra cash, a physical copy of your entrance ticket (if anything were to happen to your phone), marker or pen, hair ties, deodorant, first-aid kit, a headache reliever and face masks.—Dan Jones


camping equipment

© Kate K. / Stock.adobe.com

From the trenches

Mac Benedict, a Costco assistant buyer, has been a regular at music festivals since he was 18. He says that even though he already owns most of the camping gear, he starts preparing for a festival about three months in advance. But he likes to be flexible too.

“Organizing with friends can come together at the last minute. Last year I went to a festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington state with my high school bestie, but an hour before we got to the gate, our old friend reached out to us. Suddenly we were camping with about 20 other people.”

Benedict considers eyedrops, a bandana (to mitigate dust), an umbrella and sunscreen, a reusable water bottle and sunglasses essential items.—Will Fifield


woman's head

Mike Pearcy

Kirsti Sharratt fills this issue’s consumer reporter slot with this behind-the-scenes look at a variety of Costco products. Email questions about this article to connection@costco.com.

Cascade mountain tech double travel hammock. Click here
Neutrogena beach defense sunscreen spray. $4.50 off. 5/8/23-5/21/23 | Limit 5. Click here. Not avilable in Hawaii.