Alright, so. For all you alternative junkies out there, summertime doesn't mean going to the beach and getting a tan.. It means Warped Tour! I've been going every year since 2006 (yes, sadly I missed the amazing 2005). To a lot of you, half of your music taste comes from the compilation that comes out every year! I myself got into a lot of new talent fresh off the Warped Tour stages.

However, it is now long past our summertime music festival with another one on it's way next July. What better time to prepare? This hub is all about must-haves for surviving the brutal environment of Warped Tour.

Now for my essential items to bring to Warped Tour list:
Sunblock. (Don't burn to a crisp and die. Seriously, it is insanely hot there even in SF. No joke.)
A backpack. (Don't bring a purse or anything you have to hold on to because you will get tired and if you go into the large crowds in front of a stage, if your bag isn't strapped on your back, it will be hard to hold on to it. There is also a lot of stuff you'll want to get there)
Money. (Warped Tour does have ATM machines now, but they charge a fee, so cash is better. Just make sure it's in an extremely safe place)
Shoes. (Not flip-flops. Seriously. Make sure you wear shoes that have shoelaces that tie tight to your feet! Your shoes have a danger of being stolen and thrown up in the air in the large Warped Tour crowds. Sounds weird, but believe me)
Stuff to get signed. (Band members are walking around all over Warped Tour. Plus, every band there has their own booth and the bands have signing times when they'll be there to sign and take photos. Maybe even bring a sharpie for a random encounter.)
Camera. (Document your Warped Tour experience! Tons of stuff happens there! It's fun. A disposable is probably safer than a digital, but if you have it on you safely, it's fine. I personally bring my digital camera every time, and I think I'm going to shoot for a press pass next year.)
Water. (Again, it's hot. You will get overheated and possibly pass out if you just go through the straight day without any. Find out if your Warped Tour venue allows you to bring in water, because if you can, you should stock up on it. The water inside the place is dang pricy, like $3.00 each. So yeah.)
Notepad. (This is to write down the schedule. First thing you should do!! Find the huge schedule they set up that says where each band is playing and what time. Write this down! So you know where you are going and notice that you have to make choices on either seeing one band or another at one point!)

And that's really all you need. Don't bring a lot of unnecessary stuff. Or any. What I just told you is really all you need. And if you're in a group, only bring one designated backpack unless you are planning on breaking off soon.

And that's really Warped Tour for you. Follow those rules and you'll be having some good times!