The Ultimate Winter Festival Packing List: Essentials to Stay Warm and Cozy
Winter is here – it's time to bundle up and hit the outdoor winter festivals! Before you pack your bags, let's make sure you're armed with the necessary essentials to stay warm and cozy so you make it through the night.
1. Layering for Winter Festival Warmth:
First things first, let's talk fashion. Yes, you want to stay warm and comfy but you can still keep it cute with a three-layer system. The base layer should be a thermal/wicking shirt that will hold in your natural body heat. Adding a cute cardigan, fleece or chunky sweater on top provides a middle later. Wool will be best for this layer if it is especially cold and a synthetic fabric will help with moisture management if you’ll be active. Wearing a waterproof, windproof shell will help you stay warm at a winter festival. At the heat of the day, you can peel layers off, but you’ll be ready for when the sun goes down.
2. Keep Your Fingers and Toes Warm for Hours:
First, grab a hat, scarf and glove set to keep your digits warm and hold in your head’s heat. Also bring some hand warmers and heated insoles if your hands and feet get cold first like me. I wear a regular pair of fuzzy socks to help my toes stays warm and break out the Uggs or knee-high boots to keep you lower legs covered as well.
3. Seating and Comfort:
Don’t let uncomfortable seating ruin your day. No matter the temperature it is, at the very least bring a waterproof layer. A water-proof blanket can both keep you warm and if the ground has any moisture, it will keep you dry. If you don’t have one, this blanket has great reviews. At the very least, grab a shower curtain or table cloth from a dollar store to make sure you stay dry. These options will work for sitting on the ground or a bench. To maximize comfort, you may want to also bring a padded stadium seat or insulated cushion.
4. Hot Sips: The Best Drinks for Cold Weather Tailgating:
If the event organizers allow outside drinks, make cocoa, coffee (or a hot toddy 😉) at home and put it in the best thermal cup you own. If you’re shopping for new drinkware, be sure to grab a vacuum-sealed double-wall stainless steel mug. Yeti mugs and the uber-popular Stanley cups are two options that are readily available. These help keep your drink warm, no matter the weather and preserve the flavor so your drink tastes the same as when you poured it all day. If outside drinks aren’t allowed, usually there will be a hot chocolate booth so people can stay warm.
5. Glow Gear and Visibility at Night:
It’s going to get dark early so toss some glow gear in your winter festival packing list. When I used to take the minis to Disney World I’d pop into Dollar Tree and grab glow bracelets, necklaces and whatever else I could find. You could also wear an LED beanine, a blinking cowboy hat or glow-in-the-dark jewelry from Dollar Tree. This way it’s easy to find your crew and it’s just fun. I started getting glow necklaces at Dollar Tree when the boys were younger so I could find them at Disney World during the night. Now, it’s a part of my year-round fest kit. Doesn’t matter if they’re 5 or 35, when the sun goes down it’s nice to be able to easily find your people.
There you have it, Festies – your go-to guide for staying warm in the winter wonderland. Pack these essentials and you'll be singing, dancing and grooving with the best of them. Winter festivals, here you come! For info on what to bring for festivals of all seasons, check out the Essentials to Pack for Your Next Festival article.
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