What to Bring to Your First Rave: The Complete Checklist
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Your first rave has a short list of things that genuinely matter and a long list of things the internet insists you need. This is the short list.
Most first-timers get caught by the same two things: something in their bag that security won't allow, and no plan for finding their friends once phones die. Everything else is recoverable.
Before you leave the house
1. Read the actual bag policy
Do this first, because it decides what you can pack. Rules vary a lot more than people expect:
- Insomniac events (EDC and others): hydration packs with no more than two main compartments and one smaller compartment, empty on entry. Clear bags up to 12" x 6" x 12", or a non-clear clutch no bigger than 6" x 9".
- Lollapalooza: hydration packs with no more than two total pockets, emptied of liquid.
- Coachella: size-based — bags up to 18" x 13" x 8.5", no clear-bag requirement. More detail in our Coachella bag policy guide.
There's usually no bag check and no holding area. If it doesn't pass, it goes back to your car or in a bin. Check your specific event's published policy — it's theirs that counts and it changes year to year.
2. Bring a physical government-issued ID
Not a photo of it. Not a digital ID. Not a school ID. Most large festivals explicitly reject photocopies, expired IDs and digital versions for entry and for alcohol. This turns people away at the gate every single event.
3. Empty your hydration bladder
Nearly every festival requires reservoirs and bottles to be empty at security. Drain it before you're in the queue, then refill free inside.
What to actually bring
Earplugs — genuinely the most underrated item
Put these first because almost nobody brings them to a first event and the damage doesn't heal. Sound levels at a large stage are loud enough to cause permanent hearing loss over a long night, and the ringing afterwards is a warning sign, not a badge.
Musician-style filtered earplugs cost very little and reduce volume without muffling the music — the sound is clearer, not worse. Experienced ravers wear them. Bring a spare pair; you'll be the most popular person in your group by 2am.
Water, and a way to carry it
You'll be moving for hours, often in heat, often in a crowd. Every major festival has free refill stations. A hydration pack means the tube is right there, so you sip constantly rather than remembering every few hours — which is the actual difference between staying fine and hitting a wall. We go deeper in how much water you actually need at a festival.
Shoes you've already worn
Closed-toe, broken in, comfortable. You're standing and dancing for eight-plus hours, often on grass, gravel or dust, surrounded by other people's feet. New shoes are the second most common first-timer regret.
Layers
Daytime heat and 3am cold are completely different events. Desert venues in particular can drop sharply after sunset. Something light you can tie around your waist covers it.
Sunscreen
If any part of the day is outdoors and daylight, you will burn more than you expect while distracted.
Cash and card
Many festivals are cashless now, but ATMs run out and card readers fail. A little cash is cheap insurance.
A way to be found
Something visible — a light-up pack, a distinctive outfit piece, anything that reads from thirty feet in the dark. "I'm near the left speaker" stops meaning anything at 1am in a crowd of ten thousand.
Snacks, if allowed
Check first — many events prohibit outside food. Where it's allowed, eating matters more than people think: food replaces salt lost through sweat, and it's part of not falling apart at hour seven.
What usually isn't allowed
Varies by event, but commonly refused: glass, cans, coolers, outside alcohol, aerosols, professional cameras with detachable lenses, drones, laser pointers, large umbrellas, chairs, and anything weapon-like including small pocket knives. Over-the-counter medication is prohibited at some events, and prescription medication usually needs to be in its original labelled container.
Read the list. Don't assume.
The plan nobody makes until it's too late
Agree a meeting point and a meeting time before you go in. Pick a fixed landmark — a specific stage entrance, a particular art installation, a food stall you can both find — and a time to be there if you get separated.
Phones die. Signal collapses when twenty thousand people are on one cell tower. Group chats stop syncing. This is not an edge case, it happens at every event, and it's the difference between a funny story and a genuinely bad night.
Two more small things worth doing:
- Screenshot the map and set times so you don't need signal to use them.
- Bring a charger if they're permitted, and check the rules — some events restrict power banks.
Looking after yourself and each other
Every major festival has free medical tents staffed by professionals, marked on the map. They are there to be used, and they would rather see someone early than late. If you or a friend feels unwell, overheated, faint or confused, go — don't wait to see if it passes.
The basics that prevent most of it: drink steadily rather than in bursts, eat something across the day, take breaks in shade or cooler areas, and stay with your group. If someone in your group isn't doing well, staying with them matters more than the set you'll miss.
And the cultural bit, since it's your first: the etiquette is genuinely simple. Don't push through crowds aggressively, don't block someone's view with a totem at the front, help people who've dropped something, ask before touching anyone, and take your rubbish with you.
The night-before checklist
- Bag policy checked, bag chosen and passes the rules
- Physical government-issued ID packed
- Hydration bladder emptied and rinsed
- Earplugs (plus spares)
- Shoes already broken in
- Layer for later
- Sunscreen
- Cash and card
- Phone charged, charger packed if allowed
- Map and set times screenshotted
- Meeting point and time agreed with your group
- Something that makes you findable in the dark
Frequently asked questions
What should I bring to my first rave?
A bag that meets the event's published policy, a physical government-issued ID, an empty hydration pack or bottle, earplugs, broken-in closed-toe shoes, a layer for later, sunscreen, some cash, and a phone charger if permitted. Just as important: agree a meeting point with your group before going in.
Do I need earplugs at a rave?
Strongly recommended. Sound levels at large stages are high enough to risk permanent hearing damage over a long night, and ringing afterwards is a warning sign. Filtered musician-style earplugs reduce volume without muffling the music and cost very little.
Can I bring a hydration pack to a rave?
Usually yes, but the rules differ. Insomniac events including EDC allow no more than two main compartments and one smaller compartment. Lollapalooza allows no more than two total pockets. Coachella is size-based at 18 x 13 x 8.5 inches. Bladders must be empty at entry almost everywhere.
What ID do I need for a festival?
A physical, unexpired, government-issued photo ID. Most large festivals do not accept digital IDs, photocopies, photos of an ID, school IDs or expired IDs for entry or for buying alcohol.
What should I do if I get separated from my friends at a festival?
Go to the meeting point you agreed before entering, at the agreed time. Phones die and mobile signal frequently fails in large crowds, so a fixed physical landmark and time is far more reliable than messaging. Screenshot the map beforehand so you can navigate without signal.
What is not allowed at most raves and festivals?
Commonly prohibited: glass, cans, coolers, outside food and alcohol, aerosols, professional cameras with detachable lenses, drones, laser pointers, large umbrellas, chairs and anything weapon-like including pocket knives. Prescription medication generally must be in its original labelled container. Always check the specific event's published list.
The short version
Check the bag policy, bring physical ID, empty the bladder, wear shoes you've already worn, pack earplugs, and agree a meeting point before you walk in. Drink steadily, eat something, look after your group, and use the medical tent if you need it.
The rest is just dancing.