Your Guide to Nocturnal Wonderland September 2-4th

Time flies, right? It seemed like just the other day my friends and I were sitting around wishing for it to be Nocturnal Wonderland. Summer has been pretty boring for us so far so it’s all we could think about! With all the commotion and excitement we sometimes forget all the basic stuff we don’t think about with going to a festival. We remember the important stuff usually, but since Nocturnal is a huge festival and a lot of people are going for their first time, we wanted to write an article to all to go over every detail of what you could possibly need for it! So we’re gonna start with some tips for newbies about planning where to meet, food & water, and any other odds and ends stuff you may want to know as well as a list of some stuff you may want to bring into the festival with you!

Things to Know

Educate Yourself

Familiarize yourself with festival policies so you know what not to bring into the festival. It’s important to know what you should bring along for the ride, too. Good staple items include sunscreen, the ever-magical thing we call ChapStick (sealed), hats, shades—basically anything that’ll help you in the war against the California heat.

Wear Comfortable Clothing

While gorgeous costumes, headdresses and crazy fur booties are to be expected, there’s nothing worse than heading back to the hotel at the end of the day with sore, achy feet. Wear something that’s equal parts gorgeous and comfy so you don’t miss out on all the fun. If you can’t find comfy enough shoes, remember that gel insoles are definitely your friend.

Keep Hydrated

Dehydration can be serious business, especially when you’re dancing out in the middle of the California desert. It’s a good idea to bring either an (empty) CamelBak or (empty) Insomniac water bottle. You can also snag a water bottle inside and fill it up at one of the many free water stations.

Stay Safe

While the temptation to dance until you drop may be irresistible, it’s important to keep an eye out: If someone looks sick or seems to be in distress, don’t hesitate to get them to the nearest medical tent or Ground Control for help. Safety crews like Ground Control are trained to be there for you no matter what, no questions asked.

Familiarize Yourself With Your Surroundings

There’s a whole slew of fabulous amenities available, so familiarize yourself with the festival map to know where to find ATMs, food, charging stations, lockers and more. You can also download the Insomniac app to have the map, set times and other helpful goodies always on hand.

Establish Your Meet-up Spot Early On

Choose a fixed place and time to meet your friends so you’re not wandering around aimlessly, or send a Snapchat of your location to reconnect with missing members of your party. Be weary of cell service though, with that many people in one area sometimes the signal can get weird.

Take Care Of Yourself

We know the temptation to party on (duuuuude!) all weekend long is strong, but do your body a favor and treat it well. Sleep regularly, eat well, pace yourself, slap on some sunscreen, and maybe even throw some vitamin C and other minerals in the mix. You’ll thank yourself later.

Things to Bring

• ~Small bags, single compartment backpacks, plush backpacks, & purses (maximum 12″×12″)
• ~Official Insomniac water bottles—must be empty upon entry
• ~Hydration packs with no more than two main compartments and one smaller compartment—must be empty upon entry
• ~Cell phones and portable chargers/external batteries
• ~Wet Wipes(To wipe down the toilets cause they get gross!)
• ~Fanny packs
• ~Sunglasses & hats
• ~Lighters and sealed packs of cigarettes
• ~Earplugs
• ~Sealed lip balm & gloss
• ~Powder makeup and sealed tampons
• ~Glowsticks & glowing/illuminated costumes or jewelry
• ~Sealed packs of gum
• ~Flags/banners or handmade signs (no corporate/company branded and no hard flag poles)
• ~Non-professional flash/still cameras, handheld video devices under 6” (sony action cam, GoPro, etc.), and GoPro extendable poles
• ~E-cigs/vapes (refillable liquid chambers OK, must be empty upon arrival)

Things to Not Bring

• ~Illegal substances
• ~Drugs or drug paraphernalia
• ~Pets
• ~Massagers
• ~Laser pointers and air horns
• ~LED gloves or LED microlights used for light shows
• ~Pacifiers, dust masks or gas masks
• ~Eye drops (available inside festival at the general store)
• ~Over-the-counter medication
• ~Liquid makeup or unsealed tampons (upon entry)
• ~Glass, cans, cups or coolers
• ~Markers, pens or spray paint
• ~Large chains or spiked jewelry
• ~Stickers, flyers
• ~Balls or Frisbees
• ~Tents, large umbrellas, chairs or blankets
• ~Bota bags
• ~Large purses, bags or backpack (over 12″×12″)
• ~Stuffed animals or dolls
• ~Open packs of cigarettes (upon entry)
• ~Outside food or beverages (including alcohol and candy)
• ~Weapons of any kind (includes pocket knives, pepper spray, fireworks, etc.)
• ~Professional photo, video, or audio recording equipment (no detachable lenses, tripods, big zooms or commercial-use rigs)

All in all of course, PLEASE have fun! There are not many opportunities you get to go to the oldest festival in the United States so no matter what keep a positive mindset, a good heart, and meet all the wonderful faces you can while here.

If you want you can buy tickets for Nocturnal Wonderland right here! Furthermore, give them a follow on their social media accounts below to stay up to date with all their news and announcements.

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