What to buy for an electronic music festival

An electronic music festival needs more than drinks and snacks. You also need reliable power distribution, spare audio connections, cable protection, lighting controls and practical supplies for the bar, crew and guests. Use your confirmed attendance to scale food, drinks and wristbands, then add backup items for the equipment most likely to fail. Buy chilled drinks and portion snacks close to opening time, and keep all technical and emergency supplies together for fast access.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 3
High tablesqty 12
Beer tablesqty 8
Benchesqty 12
Pop-up tents for the barqty 2
Bar stoolsqty 8
Stage sectionsqty 12
Dressing room tablesqty 2
Changing room chairsqty 8

Equipment

DJ table
DJ controller
CDJ playersqty 2
DJ mixer
Main microphoneqty 2
Speakersqty 4
Subwoofersqty 2
Monitor speakersqty 2
Mixing console
DI boxesqty 4
Spare headphonesqty 2
Power stripsqty 12
Extension cordsqty 16
Cable traysqty 10
Cable reelsqty 4

Lighting

LED light barsqty 8
LED spotlightsqty 8
Strobe lightqty 2
Light standsqty 4
Mood lightingqty 12
Flashlightsqty 6

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 300
Wine glassesqty 40
Platesqty 180
Cutlery setsqty 180
Serving bowlsqty 20
Serving spoonsqty 12
Bar measuring cupsqty 4

Kitchen

Coolersqty 8
Ice containersqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 4
Pliersqty 8
Frying pansqty 2
Food warmersqty 4
Refrigeratorsqty 2

Decorations

Festival Flagsqty 20
LED garlandsqty 10
Stage drapesqty 4
Welcome sign
Site signsqty 12
Directional signsqty 10
Wristbandsqty 250
Ticket boxesqty 2

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 12
Waste binsqty 4
Broom setsqty 4
Mopsqty 4
Bucketsqty 6
Dustpan and brushqty 4
Cleaning glovesqty 12
Paper towel dispensersqty 4
Hand soap dispensersqty 6
Toilet brushesqty 4
Disinfectant spraysqty 6

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
Fire extinguishersqty 4
Reflective vestsqty 12
Bollardsqty 20
Barrier tapeqty 6
Walkie-talkiesqty 8
Emergency lightsqty 6
Earplugsqty 250

Catering

Groceries
- Beer - 240 cans
- Alcohol-free beer - 48 cans
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Rosé - 8 bottles
- Prosecco - 6 bottles
- Vodka - 4 bottles
- Gin - 3 bottles
- Tonic - 36 cans
- Cola - 36 bottles
- Cola Zero - 30 bottles
- Orange soda - 24 bottles
- Ginger ale - 18 bottles
- Ice tea - 24 bottles
- Energy drink - 48 cans
- Spa Blauw - 180 bottles
- Spa Rood - 48 bottles
- Fruit juice - 24 cartons
- Lemonade syrup - 4 bottles
- Lemons - 5 kilo
- Limes - 4 kilos
- Fresh mint - 6 bunches
- Ice cubes - 40 kilos
- Coffee beans - 3 kilo
- Tea bags - 200 pieces
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Sweeteners - 200 pieces
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 8 liters
- Stirrers - 300 pieces
- Coffee cups - 300 pieces
- Paprika chips - 12 bags
- Plain chips - 12 bags
- Tortilla chips - 10 bags
- Nacho cheese dip - 6 jars
- Salsa - 6 jars
- Olives - 6 jars
- Salted peanuts - 8 bags
- Cashews - 6 bags
- Pretzels - 8 bags
- Popcorn - 8 bags
- Apples - 10 kilos
- Bananas - 8 kilos
- Grapes - 6 kilos
- Cucumbers - 5 kilos
- Carrots - 5 kilos
- Cherry tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Hummus - 12 tubs
- Baguettes - 20 pieces
- Wraps - 120 pieces
- Falafel - 8 kg
- Chicken breast - 8 kilos
- Slices of cheese - 5 kilos
- Vegan cheese - 2 kilo
- Arugula - 3 kilos
- Lettuce - 4 heads
- Tomatoes - 6 kilos
- Red onions - 3 kilos
- Peppers - 4 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 4 bottles
- Ketchup - 4 bottles
- Garlic sauce - 4 bottles
- Chili sauce - 3 bottles
- Olive oil - 3 bottles
- Salt - 1 kilo
- Black pepper - 500 grams
- Paprika powder - 250 gram
- Garlic powder - 250 grams
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Baking paper - 3 rolls
- Napkins - 1000 pieces
- Cocktail picks - 500 pieces
- Paper straws - 500 pieces
- Cardboard snack trays - 400 pieces
- Cardboard pizza plates - 250 pieces
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Compostable trash bags - 50
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Liquid hand soap - 6 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 8 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 6 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 4 bottles
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- Sponges - 20 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 30 pieces
- Rubber gloves - 24 pairs
- Stain remover - 2 bottles

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then about one drink per person per hour after that. Add water separately, especially for a long dance event or warm weather.
Buy at least one spare set of headphones and several spare audio cables or DI boxes for the DJ and stage setup. A single failed connection should not stop the program.
Match extension cords, cable reels and power strips to the site map before shopping. Add cable trays or covers for every route that crosses a walkway, rather than improvising after guests arrive.
Order wristbands and tickets for the full registration list, plus at least 5% extra for replacements, damaged bands and late corrections. Keep them with the run sheet and crew materials.
Set aside flashlights, first-aid and emergency supplies where the crew can reach them within 1 minute. Check batteries and test the lighting, speakers and power distribution before loading the vehicle.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks do I need for an electronic music festival?: For the first hour, allow 2 to 3 drinks per person. After that, budget about 1 drink per person per hour, and provide water in addition to those figures.
How much extra should I buy for festival wristbands?: Order enough for every registered guest and add at least 5% extra. For 400 guests, that means preparing at least 420 wristbands.
How many spare cables should I bring to a festival?: Bring at least one spare for each critical audio connection, plus several spare extension cords and power strips. Test every cable before departure and pack the spares separately so they are easy to find.
When should I chill drinks and portion snacks?: Chill drinks on the day before the festival if storage allows, then top up the bar 2 to 3 hours before opening. Portion snacks during the final 1 to 2 hours, keeping backup stock sealed until needed.

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