Music festivals sure are fun. But what’s not so fun is the limit on what you can & can’t take, beyond the obvious rules about no glass bottles. We looked at a few music festival rules. Here are twelve unusual things that are not allowed past the gates. Which one surprised you the most?
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Pineapples at Reading & Leeds (2017)
Fruit can be surprisingly controversial. In 2017, Reading & Leeds festivals actually banned pineapples, although not necessarily because of the juice. This was tied to the Glass Animals’ song “Pork Soda.” Fans had started waving pineapples at shows, so the festival decided to ban the fruit. Security seized them at both sites.
Feather headdresses at Bass Coast (2014)
Bass Coast in British Columbia banned feather headdresses in 2014. According to the organizers, this is because the event’s held on Indigenous land. They didn’t want regalia-style headpieces in the crowd & they even asked on-site vendors not to sell them. Essentially, it was a full stop from the entry gate to the merch stand.
Selfie sticks at Coachella and Lollapalooza (2015)
Selfie sticks haven’t been popular for a long time. But when they were all the rage in 2015, both Coachella & Lollapalooza banned them. Lolla also included monopods & GoPro poles. They made these rules rather clear on their websites, so there was no excuse for those who showed up with one. Security either turned them back or confiscated the sticks right there.
Smelling salts at Coachella
Why anyone would want to take smelling salts to a music festival is a mystery. Yet Coachella still banned them. It doesn’t matter if you want to take them for pranks or actual use. They’ll get pulled during bag checks, although they’re not exactly a common thing to pack.
Stuffed animals inside Coachella
But that’s not all for Coachella. You’re not allowed to take plush toys inside the venue, but the policy doesn’t explain why. The rule applies to the main festival area. That means anyone hoping to watch a headliner with a giant teddy bear is straight out of luck. How unfortunate is that?
Inflatable furniture at Electric Forest
Electric Forest tells all festivalgoers to leave the inflatable furniture at home, including big loungers & couches. They do make one exception. “WindPouches” or similar that don’t need a pump are allowed. But anything bulky or that needs air from a machine isn’t welcome. It’s not clear why you’d want to bring any of that stuff anyway.
Paper lanterns at Glastonbury
Glastonbury has a strict no sky lanterns rule, paper or otherwise. It’s part of a wider ban list. This also includes fireworks & kites, as well as wax candles. The festival posts every year that people aren’t allowed to bring them. Still, there are some festival attendees who insist on bringing theirs.
Personal generators at Shambhala
You’re not allowed to roll up to Shambhala with a personal generator. Doing so means you’ll be told to either leave it in the car or at home, and even built-in RV ones aren’t allowed. Anyone who wants to charge their phone will need to visit Shambhala’s General Store instead.
Totems and signs at Coachella
Coachella sure does like to ban things. This includes signs & totems, which are expressly forbidden alongside foam hands on poles and pool noodles with flags. You’re not allowed anything that could tower over people’s heads. The event’s website even gives examples of what counts.
Plastic glitter across 60+ U.K. festivals
In 2018, more than sixty U.K. festivals teamed up to ban plastic glitter. This rule covers both craft glitter & cosmetic types made from plastic. Any glitter that’s not biodegradable is out, and the goal is to keep things safe for Mother Nature.
Metal tent stakes
Showing up with metal tent stakes is a fast way to lose them at some music festivals. Instead, they tell campers ahead of time to go for plastic or wooden ones. They even mention it in the camping guide. But plenty of people still forget that they’re not allowed to bring them. Gate staff check camping gear, and any metal stakes won’t make it inside.
Pressurized whipped cream cans
Who would’ve thought pressurized whipped cream cans could be so bad? Many festivals include them on a list of banned stuff that also includes the refillable chargers that go with them. If security finds any, you won’t see them again. They’ll throw them out.
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