I wish I packed that...! 🤔 (The YDF Dance Festival Ready Guide)

You booked the pass. You reserved the hotel. You told yourself you’re definitely going to make it to the early morning classes at this festival 😂

Now it’s time to pack.

Dance festivals are their own little ecosystem. You’re packing for classes, socials, outfit changes, sweaty clothes, sore feet, late nights, early mornings, and approximately seventeen situations you didn’t realize you needed to prepare for.

After enough festivals, you start figuring out which things are actually worth the suitcase space and which tiny items can save your entire weekend.

Here’s the YourDanceFriends guide to what you’ll be very happy you packed.

👟 More Dance Shoes Than You Think You Need

Obviously, bring your favorite dance shoes. But if you have the room, bring options.

Different floors can completely change how a shoe feels. A pair that feels perfect on one floor might be way too sticky or slippery on another. Your feet may also appreciate switching heel heights or shoe styles after several hours of dancing.

Consider packing:

🪭A Fan

This is not an accessory. This is life support.

Festival ballrooms get HOT, especially when hundreds of people are dancing in the same room. A folding fan takes almost no space in your bag and becomes one of your most valuable possessions by midnight.

If you’re extra (like me) or a raver bring multiple to match each fit 💁♀️

🧴 Your Mini Hygiene Kit

You’re going to sweat. Everyone is going to sweat. We’re dancers. We’ve accepted our fate.

Keep a small bag with things like deodorant, body wipes, gum or mints, travel-size perfume/cologne, anything else that helps you freshen up between workshops and socials.

Your dance partners will appreciate your efforts.

👚 More Outfit Changes Than You Think You Need

A fit that survived one workshop may not survive five.

Pack extra tops, socks, underwear, and social outfits. Even if you don’t normally change clothes throughout the day, having the option feels incredible when the outfit you’ve been dancing in for three hours has officially reached retirement age.

A small laundry or plastic bag for sweaty clothes is also a lifesaver. You do not want those fermenting peacefully beside your clean festival outfits.

For a 3 day festival consider packing:

🩹 Foot Rescue Supplies

Your feet may eventually file a formal complaint.

Bring Band-Aids, blister patches, moleskin, toe cushions, or whatever products work best for you. If you feel a hot spot developing, deal with it early instead of waiting until it becomes a full blister.

Also consider bringing a small massage ball for rolling out sore feet at the end of the night.

Future-you will be extremely grateful.

💧 A Refillable Water Bottle

Hydrate.

Then hydrate again.

Between workshops, socials, alcohol, travel, and very little sleep, it’s surprisingly easy to realize you’ve been dancing for six hours and have consumed approximately three sips of water.

Bring a reusable bottle you can refill throughout the weekend.

Ice chest is a must if you are staying all weekend and it’s close enough to pack that way. You’ll save some money bringing your own drinks and your friends will appreciate you contributing. I usually bring a 24 pack of white claws, 4pack of celsius, and a bottle of whatever you feel like taking shots of (this is a must) you’ll be rushing to the next thing and want a quick drink, shots are the star ⭐️ of drinking at a festival!

🍌 Snacks

Festival schedules have a funny way of turning “I’ll grab dinner after this workshop” into “Why am I eating cool ranch Doritos in my hotel room at 4:17 a.m.?”

Pack easy snacks that don’t require much effort: protein bars, fruit snacks, nuts, crackers, electrolyte packets, or whatever you’ll actually eat.

🔋 Portable Charger

Between filming workshops, taking photos, posting stories, texting your friends, checking the festival schedule, and trying to figure out which ballroom the bachata social moved to, your phone battery is fighting for its life.

💊 Your Personal “Just in Case” Kit

Think about the little things that could make your weekend dramatically more comfortable.

Pain reliever, antacids, allergy medication, period products, safety pins, stain remover, contact solution, eye drops, and any medications you normally take are all worth thinking about.

You probably won’t need everything.

But when you do need something at 1 a.m., you’ll be very happy you brought it.

👜A Small Dance Bag

Bring a small backpack, tote, or dance bag that can hold your shoes, fan, water, charger, hygiene supplies, and whatever else you want nearby during workshops and socials.

The goal is to have everything you need without becoming the person dragging a carry-on around.

🩴 Slides or Easy Shoes

There is a very specific moment at every festival when you are completely done dancing and the idea of putting your regular shoes back on feels deeply offensive.

Slides/crocs

Pack them!

💤 And Maybe… Some Self-Control?

I know… I said SOME 😂

You paid for the festival. Your friends are still downstairs. Your favorite DJ just started playing. Someone said, “Just one more dance.” Suddenly it’s 5 a.m. and you have a workshop at 10.

Don’t burn yourself out night 1. It’s a marathon, not a race. Go to bed early….ish night 1. You’ll want to make it night 2. Trust me!

The Things You’ll Be Glad You Packed

There’s no perfect festival packing list because every dancer has their own essentials. But the best things to bring are usually the ones that keep you comfortable enough to actually enjoy the weekend and at least 1 special fun thing that everyone will compliment you on.

Bring the extra shirt. Bring the backup shoes. Bring the charger. Bring the Band-Aids.

And seriously.

Bring the fan!

See you on the dance floor.