How to prepare for a very wet and cold Riot Fest

Mother Nature has presented quite a challenge for the thousands of people attending Riot Fest in Humboldt Park this weekend, but it’s nothing we can’t handle as long as we come prepared.

Being wet and cold can seriously ruin your fun.  Considering the forecast today it’s imperative that you wear or pack the following things into your backpack:

• Zip lock bags (for your phone, camera and any other items you want to stay dry)
• Fingerless gloves to keep your hands warm but allow for texting and picture taking (if you don’t have any, you can make some – click HERE for easy instructions)
• Rain coat or poncho.  Umbrellas are not permitted.
• Rain boots.  It’s already rained, it’s already muddy, don’t bother with your Toms they will be destroyed!
• Layers of clothes.  The forecast for Humboldt Park indicates it won’t even hit 60 degrees and will drop into the 40’s tonight.  You seriously would be fine wearing a winter jacket, particularly if it’s water resistant (like a light ski jacket).  A hat would be helpful to keep you warm, too.
• Extra cell phone battery.  Sure, there’s a charging station but it’s much easier to have the ability to charge your phone on you so that you don’t miss any of the concerts.
• Money for food and ID if you plan on drinking beer.
• Fanny pack or small purse/wallet with a wrist or shoulder strap. (if you are wearing a backpack it’s incredibly inconvenient to take it off every time you want to buy a beer!)
• Empty water bottle or camelback.
• You won’t need them today but hopefully over the weekend sunglasses.

Here’s the official list of what you can and cannot bring from the Riot Fest website:

ALLOWED:

• Empty plastic water bottle
• Standard sized backpacks, bags, and purses
• Non-professional cameras and digital cameras
• Cellphones
• Rain coats
• Bug spray in non-aerosol containers
• Sunscreen in non-aerosol containers
• Hats
• Earplugs
• Reasonable number of beach balls (seems a bit silly, leaning toward removing)
• Prescription and OTC medications subject to specific conditions*
• CamelBak-style water bladder systems subject to specific conditions**

NOT ALLOWED:

• Large bags or backpacks (no internal frame or camping-style backpacks)
• Tents, umbrellas or temporary structures of any kind  
• Video equipment of any kind (including personal camcorders and GoPro cameras)
• Audio recording equipment of any kind
• Portable audio equipment of any kind, including portable “boom box” stereo systems
• Professional photo equipment (SLR cameras, detachable/removable lens cameras)
• Lawn furniture
• Coolers of any kind, including hard-sided and soft-sided coolers
• Glass of any kind, including glass bottles
• Metal containers of any kind, including metal cans and reusable metal water bottles
• Outside beverages of any kind
• Outside food
• Narcotics, medical/recreational marijuana, and other illegal substances
• Drug paraphernalia
• Bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters
• Weapons, knives, or firearms of any kind
• Fireworks or incendiary devices
• Soccer balls, footballs, frisbees, or other projectiles
• Focused-light devices, including laser pointers
• Air horns
• Megaphones
• Items intended for sale/promotion
• Water guns, water balloons, and/or any other kind of water projectile 
• Pets (except service animals with a current rabies certification)
• Any item that can be used as a means to disturb the peace, endanger the safety of the crowd, and/or inflict damage to people and goods