FEST 101: Beating the heat at Alberta, BC summer festivals

With that in mind, here are our top tips to keep you cool in the summer heat at festivals.

FEST 101: beating the heat at summer festivals 

Okay, it's mind-altering hot, but you have a festival to attend. Here's how to keep your cool.

1. Grab your festival weather forecast 

First step, know what to expect for weather. Our ZenSeekers correspondent Kyle Brittain, expert weather reporter @BadWeatherKyle, delivers regular updates on the weather ahead to help you plan. 

Here's a taste of what's ahead, from Kyle's latest ZenSeekers weather update: 

"Long range forecast models across the board continue to forecast warmer and drier than average conditions through July and August across BC and Alberta. In BC, there could be periods of true, hot weather throughout the interior and South Coast. In Alberta, periods of hot, humid weather could be possible thanks to the transpiration of maturing crops following the wet conditions in recent weeks." 

Long story short: the heat is here and it ain't going anywhere, so best be ready for it. (But bring a rain jacket just in case.)

Short story long: read Kyle's full weather report on ZenSeekers.com.

2. Stay hydrated... obviously, but 

Can we speak moistly for a second? Hydrating is easier said than done at festivals, where gate check often restricts what you can bring in. Here's how to be a boss hydrator. 

Pre-hydrate, pre-hydrate, pre-hydrate. Drink water the morning of, and break your fast on fruits and vegetables (high in water content). Minimize caffeine consumption.

Check the approved items list. Most fests will post a list of items that are allowed in the gates, which may or may not include water bottles, coolers and ice packs (with some guidelines to restrict outside alcohol). 

Bring a refillable water bottle. While some fests may not let you bring filled bottles through the gates, there are almost always water stations.

Here's a cool tip (no pun) we came across: wear a buff or bandana and wet it from the cold taps or sprinkler. For extra cool, put some ice in it to wear around your neck or use as a modified ice pack if you can score some.

Avoid over-consuming alcohol, as it leads to dehydration.

3. Limit exposure to the sun 

How you dress and shelter is key, and you can do it all in style while staying cool.

Bring a hat, sunglasses, umbrella and/or sun shade. Pro tip: if you're bringing an umbrella, call it a parasol for extra cool factor (again, double check acceptable items to know how big an umbrella or shade is allowed). 

Wear lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing to reflect sunlight and allow for better air circulation.

Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, and reapply it every two hours, or more often if you're sweating or swimming. 

Find shady side stages, and take cooling breaks as needed—many festivals will set up a water sprinkler or two. Or imagine this set up in Kaslo, where you can watch bands while taking a dip in the lake! 

4. Keep each other safe 

Watch for signs of sunburn, heat exhaustion or heat stroke in your festival attending friends, old and new. A festival is always more fun when we look out for each other.