Last Updated on 23 March 2026 by Colette
You all know that I think family festivals are brilliant – they have become a huge part of our summers and core memories. Festivals can be loud, muddy, exhausting, unpredictable and occasionally overwhelming. The difference between a festival that feels magical and one that feels like hard work often comes down to what you bring with you (and your attitude if I’m honest!)
You do not need loads of expensive kit, but a few well chosen gadgets can make a huge difference to comfort, energy levels and general family harmony. I’ve pulled together a list of the bits of kit we would not want to be without at a festival . . .
1. Portable Power Banks
If there is one non-negotiable festival gadget for me then it’s a power bank. Your phone does a lot of heavy lifting at a festival from your online tickets to a festival app with all the set times on, photos and videos of your festival memories, sorting out meeting points (What3Words is a lifesaver), staying in touch with teens and friends – you really don’t want to be without your phone if you can help it.
Of course, you’re highly unlikely to have access to electricity (even if you’re glamping!) so a decent power bank that can charge your phone multiple times over is going to mean you’re not going to spend the weekend worrying about your phone battery. Look for one that can charge multiple devices and will last at least a full day.
2. Reusable Water Bottles
Festivals involve a lot of walking and standing around in all weathers. Refillable bottles save money, reduce waste and stop constant queueing for drinks – increasingly family friendly festivals now have water refill points, making this one of the easiest wins (though I speak from experience when I tell you the water from that refill point won’t always be cold!) Insulated bottles are especially useful as they keep drinks cold during the day and warm in the evening.
It’s worth noting that rules around taking drinks into festivals vary between events – some will only let you take in a sealed bottle of water, others an empty reusable bottle to be filled on site whereas there are some that are quite happy for you take your own drinks (including alcohol) into the arenas so it’s definitely worth checking and planning ahead for this one.
3. Foldable Camping Chairs
Standing all day gets tiring quickly, especially for kids and teens. A lightweight foldable chair gives everyone a guaranteed place to sit, rest and recharge however different festivals have different rules on seating and whether you’re allowed to take it into the arenas or not. I have mixed views myself on this one as people setting up “camp” in front of the main stage with all their chairs and picnic blankets really winds me up, but I do also see the benefit of having somewhere to sit down between acts (especially if standing / walking around all day is painful for you!) We have always avoided taking chairs into arenas but are super glad of them when we get back to the tent.
If you are going to take a folding camping chair into the main arenas – check first of all that you are allowed and then secondly, look for chairs or stools that pack down small and are easy to carry.
4. LED Tent Lights
Festival evenings get dark quickly and trying to find things in a tent using phone torches is frustrating – I personally really like to have a really good hand held torch for when we’re out an about on site but LED tent lights can be super useful when it comes to getting kids settled at night, finding clothes and shoes (I do recommend keeping your festival tent as tidy as possible during the day and getting your pjs out ready while it’s still daylight to make life easier at the end of the day) as well as just avoiding trips and falls (so says she who fell flat out over some guy ropes at a festival a couple of years ago!).
When it comes to choosing lights for your tent, rechargeable options are a good idea!
5. Head Torches
I’m going to be honest here and say that on the whole, I hate head torches – I tend to find they don’t really illuminate where I need to see (the floor!) and they are basically shining at head height and blinding everyone you look at. However, head torches are genuinely useful for family festivals because they free up your hands making them very useful for night-time toilet trips, helping kids to find their way and just generally sorting things out in your tent after dark. Kids always love a head torch too which is handy!
6. Small Day Backpacks
Everyone having their own small backpack makes festivals much easier, especially with older kids and teens – lots of festivals have rules around the size of bag you’re allowed to carry in now so making sure everyone has their own small bag means they can be responsible for their own water bottle, hoodie and / or waterproofs, phone and charger etc. This takes pressure off you and helps them feel more independent – though do prepare for the fact that bag might get lost somewhere . . . an air tag or tile might be a good idea for peace of mind!
7. Ear Defenders or Reusable Ear Plugs
Festivals can be noisy, even during the day. Ear defenders are essential for younger kids, but older kids and teens often appreciate reusable ear plugs too. Ear defenders or ear plugs can help with loud acts, overwhelm in crowded spaces and perhaps most importantly sleeping at night – there’s always noise at night from late night performances to noisy snoring, crying children, drunk adults . . , do not go to a festival without ear plugs.
They are a small thing that can make a big difference to comfort.
8. Power Strip or Multi USB Charger
If you are camping with electricity or have do access to charging points (many festivals will have charging lockers for hire), a power strip or multi USB charger is incredibly useful.
Instead of everyone fighting over plugs, you can charge several devices at once. This is particularly helpful for families with teens.
9. Waterproof Phone Pouches
Rain, mud, spilled drinks and sudden downpours are all part of festival life. Waterproof phone pouches protect phones while still allowing you to use them for photos, messages and maps. They are cheap, light and worth packing even if the forecast looks good. And if you’re not using a waterproof phone pouch, I do highly recommend having your phone on a lanyard for ease of access and so that it can’t just be lifted from your pocket in a crowd.
10. Picnic Blanket With Waterproof Backing
A decent picnic blanket gives you a dry, comfortable base anywhere on site – we personally like to use our sit mats as they fold up super small, can be used individually and are really easy to wash after the event.
A picnic blanket or sit mat is useful for day time lounging, watching performances, having somewhere to sit and eat.
Waterproof backing is key, especially if the ground is damp – we definitely recommend taking a look at Pacmat for this.
What You Really Do Not Need
It is easy to overpack for festivals in the hope of being prepared for every eventuality but in reality you won’t need most of it and are just making your life harder by having to carry it everywhere. The bottom line is fewer gadgets often means less stress.
You do not need expensive specialist kit (if anything you want to be prepared for your stuff to get lost or broken!), you definitely don’t need multiple versions of the same thing or anything too precious to get muddy. Comfort and practicality are more important than perfection in this situation.
Family festivals are about flexibility, shared experiences and rolling with whatever the weekend brings. The right gadgets will not make everything perfect, but they can make things calmer, more comfortable and much more enjoyable. A few thoughtful choices can save your sanity and help everyone focus on the fun.
Have a read of some more festival tips and information in our Guide to Festivals.
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