Festivals on a budget:
Events
24/3/2009, Liz Patton
Everybody wants to save every penny they can, especially with the current economic troubles. So after seeing the costs at the recent
North Texas Irish Festival I decided to share the tips and tricks I use to go to festivals without breaking my budget.
1. Volunteer – with organizations (like Scottish clan groups), or with the festival itself. If you help them man a tent you often will
get a ‘vendor’ pass. With a ‘vendor’ pass, or an equivalent, you generally don’t have to pay for parking or admission, which adds up
quickly if you go for several days. Besides, you might find people of like minds to hang out with and meet some of the people behind the
festivals.
2. Carpool or take public transportation. How do you get around paying $8 per car for parking? Share the cost – or better yet, ride the
bus or train/subway.
3. Pack snacks. You’ll want a bag or purse anyway to carry your camera and any items you purchase, so stick a few snack bars or crackers
in it to keep from nibbling on expensive (and not particularly healthy) festival food.
4. Save your water bottles. If you can’t bring in a water bottle, then buy one bottle of water and re-use it by refilling at water
fountains or faucets. Not just does that help reduce trash, but also it can save a lot of money while keeping you hydrated at hot and
sunny festivals, like Texas’ legendary roaster the Texas Scottish Festival in June.
5. Don’t drink alcohol. Yes, I know, a large part of festivals involve getting drunk, but it’s so much cheaper to buy beer or alcohol
from a liquor store and enjoy it at home. Not to mention alcohol dehydrates you, and the calories don’t fill you up which are both not
desirable for resisting temptations.
6. Limit your spending money. Yes it is very tempting to buy the knick-knacks on sale at all the vendors, but they’re not always good.
Try not carrying a lot of cash, or credit cards. Instead of buying at the festival try getting their business card and shopping online.
This is how I resist the cross-stitch and book vendors that go to a lot of the festivals I do.
7. Spend what money you have allotted where it best supports the festival and musicians. If you’re going to the festival, then pay the
admission fee – don’t find a hole in the fence and slip in. If you’re going to buy CDs from musicians, then do it at festivals, not
stores. They generally earn a much higher percentage of the cost from CDs sold at festivals than through retailers like Amazon.com or
iTunes.
8. Avoid hotels. This is the biggest cost for festivals at any distance from your house.
- a. Make flying trips. You’d be amazed how many festivals are within a three or four hour drive of your house. With a little
planning it’s possible to drive down, enjoy the festival, and drive back in one day. This is easier for individuals or couples than
families.
- b. Stay with friends and family near the festival. My family knows to expect a visit from me whenever there is a festival nearby.
- c. Camp out. Some of the big renaissance festivals are known for the night life at their camping grounds if you’re willing
to brave the weather, people and camping fees.
I hope this has given you some ideas on how to save money at festivals, and that you don’t have to break the bank to go to one.
About the Author
Liz Patton is the founder of Celtic Music Nations, an avid Celtic musician and fan. She has played guitar and bass for over a decade, and occasionally dabbles in other
Celtic instruments like mandolin, bodhran, fiddle and tin whistle. She wrote and edited for the University of Texas at Arlington's student paper for two years.
She has an Associate's in Commercial Music from South Plains College, and a Bachelor's of Music from UT Arlington.
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