What to Buy for a Metal Festival

A metal festival needs more than drinks and a stage. This shopping list covers the practical supplies behind a working event: reusable cups, catering tableware, bar equipment, tents, seating, sound gear, lighting and cable management. Use your guest count to scale consumables, then confirm technical quantities against each artist’s rider. Order wristbands, rented equipment and weather cover early, because replacements are difficult to arrange once the festival build has started.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

High tablesqty 12
Beer tablesqty 10
Benchesqty 12
Bar matsqty 3
Folding chairsqty 40
Party tentsqty 4
Stage sectionsqty 12
Back wall panelsqty 4

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 500
Wine glassesqty 80
Coffee cupsqty 100
Platesqty 300
Cutlery setsqty 300

Equipment

PA speakersqty 4
Subwoofersqty 2
Mixing console
Microphonesqty 6
Microphone standsqty 6
DI boxesqty 4
Guitar amplifiersqty 4
Bass amplifiersqty 2
Drum kit
Monitorsqty 4
XLR cablesqty 20
Jack cablesqty 16
Cable traysqty 12
Cable reelsqty 8
Coolersqty 8
Refrigeratorsqty 3
Cash registersqty 2
Card machinesqty 3
Walkie-talkiesqty 10
Extension cordsqty 12

Lighting

LED spotlightsqty 12
Light barsqty 4
Light standsqty 4
Mood lightingqty 8
Flashlightsqty 8

Decorations

Festival Flagsqty 20
Bannersqty 6
Directional signsqty 12
Stage drapesqty 4
Wristbandsqty 400

Kitchen

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 4
Serving plattersqty 12
Pitchersqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 4
Cooler cratesqty 8

Catering

Groceries
- Beer - 240 cans
- Alcohol-free beer - 48 cans
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- Cola - 24 bottles
- Cola Zero - 18 bottles
- Orange soda - 12 bottles
- Ice tea - 12 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 60 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 24 bottles
- Energy drink - 48 cans
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Orange juice - 8 packs
- Coffee - 6 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Ice cubes - 30 bags
- Hamburger buns - 250 pieces
- Vegetarian Sandwiches - 60 pieces
- Beef burgers - 220 pieces
- Vegetarian burgers - 60 pieces
- Vegan burgers - 40 pieces
- Vegetarian sausages - 40 pieces
- Sausages - 100 pieces
- Chicken burgers - 60 pieces
- Fries - 35 kilograms
- Onions - 8 kilograms
- Tomatoes - 8 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 6 kilograms
- Lettuce - 12 heads
- Pickles - 6 jars
- Ketchup - 6 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 6 bottles
- Mustard - 4 bottles
- Garlic sauce - 4 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 4 bottles
- Chili sauce - 3 bottles
- Salt - 2 packs
- Pepper - 2 jars
- Paprika powder - 2 jars
- Garlic powder - 2 jars
- Oil - 10 liters
- Hamburger cheese - 8 packs
- Vegan cheese - 4 packs
- Paprika chips - 12 bags
- Plain chips - 12 bags
- Tortilla chips - 10 bags
- Salsa - 8 jars
- Peanuts - 6 bags
- Cashews - 4 bags
- Apples - 15 kilogram
- Bananas - 10 kilograms
- Grapes - 8 kilograms
- Cookies - 10 packs
- Brownies - 150 pieces
- Bread - 12 loaves
- Hummus - 10 tubs
- Vegan spread - 8 packs
- Cheese - 6 kilogram
- Ham - 4 kilograms
- Eggs - 10 cartons
- Yogurt - 8 kilograms
- Gluten-free sandwich rolls - 30 pieces
- Vegan mayonnaise - 3 bottles
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Napkins - 1000 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Baking paper - 4 rolls
- Straws - 500 pieces
- Stirrers - 500 pieces
- Coffee filters - 2 boxes
- Garbage bags - 120 pieces
- Small trash bags - 60 pieces
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Disinfectant spray - 4 bottles
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Hand soap - 8 bottles
- Paper towels - 12 packs

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 20
Waste sorting binsqty 6
Broom setsqty 4
Floor squeegeesqty 2
Bucketsqty 6
Cleaning glovesqty 12

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
Safety vestsqty 12
Crowd barriersqty 20
Fire extinguishersqty 6
Emergency lightsqty 6
Flashlight batteriesqty 24

Office

Clipboardsqty 8
Ballpoint pensqty 30
Printer paperqty 2
Tapeqty 8
Markersqty 12
Lanyardsqty 40
Name badgesqty 40
Receipt rollsqty 12

Other

Tool casesqty 3
Hand trucksqty 2
Ratchet strapsqty 12
Cable tiesqty 500
Duct tapeqty 8
Umbrellasqty 6

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per guest for the first hour, then one to two drinks per guest for each following hour. Add water separately and keep a reserve for crew and artists.
Use reusable cups for the main bar and keep wine glasses, coffee cups, plates and cutlery sets separate for catering and artist hospitality. Order at least 10% more tableware than your confirmed headcount.
Match PA speakers, subwoofers, monitors, microphones, DI boxes and amplifiers to the technical rider before placing the order. A missing DI box, microphone stand or XLR cable can stop a set even when the main system is complete.
Count every cable run before the load-in: XLR and jack cables, cable trays and cable reels should cover the full distance from stage to mixing position, with spare capacity for safe routing. Keep cables away from public walkways.
Buy or reserve party tents, benches, folding chairs and high or beer tables based on the forecast and your site plan. Have weather cover ready before doors open, not after the first rain shower; also keep extra wristbands for staff, artists and replacements.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks should I buy for a metal festival?: Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour and one to two per person for every additional hour. Add bottled or served water separately, and keep a 10% reserve for crew, artists and unexpected demand.
How much extra tableware do I need for a festival?: Order around 10% more cups, plates and cutlery than the confirmed guest count. For a 300-person festival, that means planning for roughly 330 place settings where full tableware is needed.
When should I order festival wristbands and rented equipment?: Order wristbands at least three to four weeks before the event so there is time to check the delivery and replace errors. Confirm sound, lighting, stage sections and cable equipment as soon as artist riders are approved, preferably four to six weeks before build day.
What should I buy for a festival in rainy weather?: Arrange party tents and other weather cover before the final week, and check the forecast at least 72 hours before the event. Protect the bar, catering area, mixing position and cable routes; keep a dry reserve of wristbands, tableware and staff clothing.

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