Foods to take to a festival
Get festival ready with our guide to some of the best foods to take with you.
Heading off to one of the UK’s festivals this year? If you’re camping, taking some of your own food is a great way to save money, avoid long queues and fuel your day for maximum enjoyment. It doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the food available at the festival, but packing a few snacks or meals can reduce how much you need to spend on food each day.
Our list of essential camping foods is a great place to start, but here we’ve also rounded up some of the best foods which are particularly handy for festivals.
Top tip: A camping stove isn’t essential, as many of these foods can be packed and eaten as they are. However, a small stove can expand your options.
Easy festival breakfasts
- Overnight oats. Prepare individual servings in separate jars before you leave, and then keep them in a cooler. This is a filling breakfast which should keep for a few days chilled. You can top with fresh fruit, nuts or cereal for variety.
- Instant oat cups. You’ll need boiling water, but these are a great option for a few quick breakfasts, or towards the end of your festival when your cool box is empty.
- Bagels or toast. If you’re taking your full camping kitchen and can toast bread, you can enjoy avocado and bacon bagels, peanut butter and banana on toast, or any of your other favourite combinations.
- Eggs. Omelette, fried, soft-boiled, hard-boiled, the options are endless.
Sustaining snacks
- Homemade energy balls. Easy to make before you leave and filled with goodness to keep you full.
- Granola/cereal bars. Make your own or buy them, they’re great to keep in your bag as you’re moving around the festival in case a snack is needed.
- Fresh fruit. Bananas, apples, kiwis and any of your favourites are great to have on hand.
- Nuts and seeds. Homemade trail mix or small snack packs.
- Sweet treats. You can buy them or make them before you leave, but you’ll appreciate having something to curb any sweet cravings when they hit. Flapjacks and cookies are great options.
- Popcorn. Packets of popcorn are light to carry, filling, and high fibre.
Pack and go lunches
- Insta-worthy layered salads. Packed in individual jars, salads keep well in a cooler for a few days and are a great way to keep veggies in the mix.
- Pre-made sandwiches. Easy to pack in your bag and carry all day.
- Pasta salad. Another filling way to get some vegetables in during the day.
Lots of our picnic food ideas are great for packing for a festival.
Fuss-free dinners
- Pre-cooked pizza. You can’t get much simpler than a few slices of cold pizza.
- BBQ if permitted. Check out our BBQ recipes for ideas.
- Beans on toast. Quick and filling.
- Microwave rice and a canned curry or tinned fish.
- If you’re looking to put more time into your evening meal, check out some of our easy camping dinner ideas.
Don’t forget your drinks
- Tea and coffee
- Reusable water bottle
- Electrolyte powders. A great addition, especially if the weather is set to be hot or you’ve had one too many drinks while enjoying the festival.
- Make sure you check individual festival rules on taking in alcohol before you go.
Remember, this is just a starting point for building your perfect festival food list. Use it as inspiration with our festival essentials checklist to make sure you have everything you need to enjoy your trip to the fullest.