The Austin City Limits Music Festival, set to feature headliners like Dua Lipa, Tyler, The Creator, and Pink, showcases the essence of modern music festivals in Austin, Texas. Scheduled for October 4-6 and October 11-13, 2024, the festival occurs when the average temperature in Austin is around 28°C (82°F), emphasizing the need for sun safety.
While the festival offers the thrill of experiencing live performances in the vibrant atmosphere of Zilker Park, it also presents health risks due to prolonged exposure to the sun. Whether you’re attending for the first time or a seasoned festival-goer, taking the right precautions against the sun is essential. Here are vital tips to ensure your festival experience is as safe as memorable.
Wear Sunglasses
At a music festival, you’ll likely be spending hours under the sun, which can take a toll on your eyes without the right protection. Prolonged UV exposure can cause issues like eye sunburn or even increase your risk of developing macular degeneration and cataracts. To keep your eyes safe, sunglasses are a must-have for a music festival.
A pair with 100% UVA and UVB protection blocks the sun’s rays, keeping your eyes safe so you can enjoy the sets without fuss and maintain healthy vision for longer. If you need vision correction, you don’t have to sacrifice clear sight for protection. Prescription sunglasses can help you see clearly while staying safe, allowing you to watch your favorite acts without squinting or straining.
They don’t compromise on style either; models from top brands like the Ray-Ban Clubmaster Classic and Oakley Holbrook come with the option to add your prescription. You can also consider wraparound styles to block UV rays, dust, and dirt from entering the eye or polarized lenses to block glare from reflective surfaces.
A pair of shades are more than a trendy accessory; they’re crucial for enhancing your visual clarity and comfort for a better music festival experience.
Apply Sunscreen Regularly
Like your eyes, your skin is incredibly vulnerable when you’re under the sun. You can suffer from premature skin aging and sunburns, and if you’re a constant music festivalgoer, you’re at a higher risk of skin cancer. Applying sunscreen can keep your skin safe from UV radiation, especially if you’re diligent about reapplication. Some sunscreens will offer more protection than others.
One that has an SPF of 30 or higher will prevent painful burns for longer. But even with a high SPF, your sunscreen should be broad-spectrum to guard against both UVA and UVB rays, as conventional ones only protect the skin from UVB rays. Reapplying every two hours is the standard, but since you’ll likely be sweating during the festival, you should reapply more frequently.
Consider a sweat—or water-resistant sunscreen if you don’t want to keep track of reapplying during the festival. The Shiseido Ultimate Sunscreen products offer optimal protection under various conditions and can even become more effective when you encounter heat, sweat, and water. Choosing the right sunscreen and regularly reapplying can keep your skin healthy during a music festival.
Stay Hydrated
Between jamming out during performances and walking around in the heat, music festivals can be taxing on your body. Without the proper hydration, you can start to feel tired as even mild dehydration drains your energy. You can also suffer from heat stroke if the temperature is high. Hydration is essential for a music festival, allowing you to stay safe and energized so you can spend the day having fun. While bottled water is usually sold at music festivals, it can be pricey.
Bringing a reusable water bottle can be a cost-effective and waste-free solution. You’ll likely have to bring it inside the venue empty, but you can fill it up when you arrive for on-the-go hydration. Insulated bottles also keep your water cool for hours, and options like the Owala FreeSip or Hydro Flask are easy to bring around and won’t spill, making it one less thing to worry about when you’re at the festival.
