Festival tastes of freedom.

About singing along to your favorite artist, dancing until the sun comes up and forgetting what day it is. It's about community, spontaneous experiences and memories that last long after the bracelet has been cut off.

But if your period frames in the middle of it all, freedom can quickly be replaced by a series of practical questions.

Where can I find a clean toilet?
When can I change the menstrual product?
What do I do if I suddenly bleed through in the middle of the concert?

If you've been thinking those thoughts, you're not the only one.

period fortunately does not have to put an end to the festival experience. With a little planning and the products you feel comfortable with, you can use the energy on what the festival is really about.

In this guide, we have collected our best advice to get through the festival well - even when you have period.

This article was written by Cathrine Widunok Wichmand, 
journalist + founder of flow

Why can period feel extra difficult at a festival?

There is a reason why many people think period is a bit more challenging at a festival than at home. Festivals are rarely set up according to everyday routines - and they are rarely set up especially for menstruation.

Maybe it's a long way to the nearest toilet. Maybe the line is long. Perhaps there is neither running water nor the peace you normally have when you have to change the menstrual product.

At the same time, festival life makes other demands on the body.

You often walk many kilometers every day, sleep less than usual, eat at odd times and stay in heat, dust and large crowds.

This can mean, among other things:

• limited access to clean toilets
• long queues when you need to change menstrual products
• heat and sweat, which can make the skin more sensitive
• less sleep and irregular meals
• concerns about leakage when standing close together with many people.

This does not mean that period gets worse at festivals. But the framework can make it more difficult to handle.

The good news is that much of it can be prevented with a little preparation from home.

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How to prepare from home

You don't have to pack the entire bathroom.

But it can be nice to think a little further ahead than usual.

The less you have to worry about yours period, once the festival is underway, the more energy you have to enjoy it.

1. Get an overview of your cycle

If your period tends to be fairly regular, it might be a good idea to check your cycle before you pack.

Of course, you can't plan everything. But if you know that there is a high probability that you will get period during the festival, it's nice to be prepared.

If you have an irregular cycle, it still makes sense to pack a few menstrual products. It doesn't take up much, but can save you a lot of worry.

2. Think security before minimalism

When packing for a festival, it's often about getting as much space as possible in as little space as possible.

But period is not necessarily the place where you have to compromise. Bring the products you already know and feel comfortable with.

The festival is rarely the right time to try out a new menstrual cup or a product you've never used before.

If you know what works for you at home, chances are it will also work best at the festival.

3. Pack a little more than you think you'll need

It is difficult to buy exactly the menstrual product you prefer in the middle of a festival site.

It is therefore a good idea to pack a little extra.

This applies to both:

• menstrual products
• extra underwear
• wet wipes
• hand sanitizer
• bags or a wetbag for used ones period underwear.

And who knows? Maybe you'll also be the person who saves a bystander in the toilet queue with an extra tampon or pad.

It happens more often than you think.

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period at the festival is also about comfort

When we talk about period, the focus often becomes about leakage or the possibility of switching. But comfort is at least as important. A long festival day can easily last 12-15 hours.

If you simultaneously walk many kilometres, stand up for concerts and perhaps sleep in a tent, small irritations quickly turn into big ones.

Therefore, it may be worth asking yourself:

• Which menstrual product do I feel most comfortable with?
• Do I have clothes that feel nice if it's hot?
• Do I have the option to switch if necessary?
• What makes me least concerned about leakage?

There is no one right answer.

The best menstrual product is the one that fits you, your flow and the way you would like to experience the festival.

In the next section, we review the most common menstrual products – and their advantages and disadvantages at festivals.

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Festival Hack #1

Put a small "menstruation kit" in your bag, which you always have with you on the festival site. For example, it may contain:

• your favorite menstrual product
• a few wet wipes
• hand sanitizer
• an extra pair of panties
• a small bag or wetbag
• pain reliever if you usually use it.

Then you don't have to go all the way back to the tent if your period suddenly announces its arrival.

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Which menstrual product is best at a festival?

There is no one menstrual product that is best for everyone. It depends, among other things, on:

• how much you bleed
• how often you have the opportunity to switch
• which products you are already comfortable with
• how much you move
• and how important it is to you to minimize the risk of leakage.

For many, it actually works best to combine several products.

For example, you can use period underwear as extra security together with a tampon, menstrual cup or menstrual disc on the heaviest days. On lighter days can period underwear often used alone.

Here you get an overview of the most common options:

period underwear

period underwear is a good choice if you want a solution that feels like regular underwear.

See our selection of period underwear here →

They can be used alone in mild to moderate period or as extra protection together with a tampon, menstrual cup or menstrual disk on the heaviest days.

At a festival, they can be particularly practical because you don't have to worry about small leaks while standing at a concert or walking around the square.

Benefits

✔ Feels like regular panties

✔ Provides extra security against leakage

✔ No introduction into the body

✔ Can be used alone or together with other products

Pay attention to

If you bleed a lot, it can be advantageous to combine them with a tampon, cup or disc so that you don't have to change panties in the middle of the day.

If you need more knowledge, read our Guide to period underwear  →

Menstrual cup

A menstrual cup can be a big advantage at festivals because it can sit for up to 8-12 hours depending on yours flow.

This means fewer toilet changes and less waste.

On the other hand, it requires a little more planning when emptying.

If the toilets do not have a hand basin in the stall, it may be a good idea to bring a small bottle of water so that you can rinse the cup before putting it back up.

Benefits

✔ Long time between emptying

✔ Takes up very little in the bag

✔ Can be reused

Pay attention to

Requires you to be comfortable using it from home. The festival is rarely the best place to learn it for the first time.

Menstrual disk

The menstrual disk resembles a menstrual cup, but is placed higher up in the vagina.

It can often hold more blood than a cup and, for some, can be partially emptied when you go to the toilet without being completely removed.

That makes it interesting on long festival days.

Benefits

✔ Large capacity

✔ Long time between emptying

✔ Can be practical in strong period

Pay attention to

Requires some practice to set up correctly.

Tampons

Tampons remain the most used menstrual product among many women. They are easy to carry, easy to change and familiar.

At a festival, the challenge can be that they have to be changed regularly for health reasons. If you are standing far from the toilets or in line at a concert, it can be impractical.

Benefits

✔ Easy to use

✔ Takes up very little

✔ Easy to carry

Pay attention to

Remember to change the tampon regularly according to the manufacturer's recommendations. It is important - even if the festival program is tight.

Bind

Binds can be a great solution if this is the product you feel most comfortable with.

On the other hand, some find that pads feel hotter or cause more irritation on long summer days when you walk a lot and sweat more than usual.

Benefits

✔ Easy to use

✔ No introduction required

Pay attention to

They often need to be changed a little more frequently, and some find that they become less comfortable in heat and with a lot of movement.

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Festival packing list for period

When you first stand on the festival site, it's nice to know that you have everything with you.

Here is the packing list that we would use as a starting point.

Menstrual products

✔ period underwear

✔ Tampons, pad, cup or disc – whatever you use

✔ Extra products if the period becomes heavier than expected

Hygiene

✔ Hand sanitizer

✔ Wet wipes without perfume

✔ Toilet paper or handkerchiefs

✔ A small bottle of water for cleaning the menstrual cup or disk if there is no hand basin in the stall

Comfort

✔ Extra underwear

✔ One wetbag or bag for used period underwear

✔ Pain reliever if you usually use it

✔ A water bottle

✔ Electrolytes for hot days

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Festival Hacks #2

Little things can make the festival a lot easier when you have period.

Here are some of our favorites:

• Pack a small menstrual kit that is always in your bag.
• Combine products on the strongest days if it gives you more peace of mind.
• Change the menstrual product when you have the opportunity - not until it becomes urgent.
• Keep an extra set of underwear in your bag. You hope you never need it, but it's nice to have.
• Have a little one wetbag with for used period underwear, until you can rinse them.
• If you use a menstrual cup or disc, a small bottle of water can make it much easier to flush the product between voids.

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This is how you stay healthy during period at the festival

One is the practical side to handle its period at the festival, but menstruation often comes with fatigue and perhaps mild pain.

Let's be honest: Few people feel completely refreshed after three days in a tent - regardless of whether they have period or not. When you're bleeding at the same time, heat, dust and long days can make you feel less comfortable than usual.

That doesn't mean you should strive to feel "perfectly clean" all the time. Festivals are also about letting go of everyday routines.

But some small habits can make a big difference to how you feel throughout the day.

Good habits at the festival

• Always carry hand sanitizer if there is no access to hand washing.
• Use unscented wet wipes or a damp washcloth for a quick refresh - but avoid using them inside the vagina. The vulva is self-cleaning and does not need soap or intimate wet wipes.
• Change the menstrual product when you have the opportunity - not until it becomes acute.
• Drink plenty of water, especially on hot days.
• Change to dry underwear if it gets damp from sweat or rain.

And perhaps the most important advice:

You don't have to feel healthy all the time.

You are at a festival. It's perfectly okay to look like someone who's been at a concert since two in the afternoon.

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What if you get menstrual cramps?

If you usually get menstrual cramps, it's a good idea to be prepared from home.

Pack the painkillers you usually use and remember to take them according to the manufacturer's or doctor's recommendations.

In addition, many people find that the following can help:

• to drink enough water
• to eat regularly
• to take small breaks in the shade
• to move the body lightly if it feels good.

Some also experience relief from heat. If you normally use a heating pad at home, a warming cream can be a practical alternative when you are at a festival.

Maybe is Heating Cramp Cream something for you? →

Alcohol and painkillers

Festivals and alcohol often go hand in hand.

If you are taking painkillers, it is a good idea to be aware that some types of painkillers should not be combined with large amounts of alcohol.

If you are in doubt, read the package leaflet or ask the pharmacy before you leave.

Read the article Alcohol and period – what does the research say? →

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How to reduce the risk of leakage

One of the biggest worries for many is not the period itself. It is the fear of bleeding through.

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to feel more secure.

Choose the solution that suits you flow

If you know that the first days of your period tends to be heavy, it might be a good idea to plan accordingly.

Some feel most comfortable with period underwear combined with a tampon, cup or disk. Others simply prefer to change a little more often.

The most important thing is not what others do. The most important thing is what gives you rest.

Always have a plan B

An extra pair of panties takes up almost nothing. The same applies to a wet bag and an extra menstrual product.

Hopefully you'll never need it. But if the "accident" is out, it's nice to know that the solution is already in the bag.

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Festival Hack #3

Many choose dark shorts or trousers on the heaviest menstrual days. Not because you have to hide.

But because it can provide a little extra peace of mind if you are worried about leakage. Mental security can be just as important as physical security. In a dream world, none of us connected ours period with something shameful or embarrassing and bleeding was completely natural. 

We are not there yet and until then: You do you, to give yourself security and peace of mind. 

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period at a festival shouldn't be something you have to deal with alone

Half of all festival goers menstruate.

Still, festival toilets, bathing facilities and waste solutions are not always designed with this in mind - although things are slowly getting better. Fortunately, there is also something special about festivals.

If you've ever stood in a toilet queue and heard someone ask: "Does anyone have a tampon?"

... then you probably already know what happens. Almost always someone hands one out.

Those kind of little moments actually say something pretty nice about festivals. We help each other.

And until even more period-friendly facilities become a matter of course, this is perhaps one of the most important things we can take with us.

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Enjoy the festival - on your terms

period should not decide which concerts you see. It should not decide whether you jump in front of the stage.

And it shouldn't be the reason you stay home from this year's festival.

With a little planning and the products you feel comfortable with, you can give the period less space and the festival experience more.

So pack your bag. Remember the sunscreen. Remember the earplugs. And maybe also an extra tampon or a pair period underwear.

Not just for yourself. But also for the person who suddenly stands in the toilet queue and needs one.

Good festival ❤️

FAQ about period at the festival

How to handle period at a festival?

The most important thing is to be prepared. Pack the menstrual products you feel comfortable with, as well as extra underwear, hand sanitizer, wet wipes and a small bag or wet bag for used products.

Which menstrual product is best for festivals?

It depends on yours flow and your preferences.

• period underwear provides extra security against leakage.
• Menstrual cup and menstrual disk can sit for many hours.
• Tampons are a simple and well-known solution.
• Many choose to combine products on the strongest days.

Are period underwear good for festivals?

Yes. Many use period underwear alone in light to moderate period or as extra protection together with a tampon, cup or disc heavier bleeding.

How to avoid leakage at a festival?

You can reduce the risk by:

• choose a product that suits yours flow
• combine products if it gives you more security
• switch when you have the opportunity
• carry extra underwear and menstrual products in your bag.

What to pack for period at a festival?

A good packing list can include, among other things:

• menstrual products
• extra panties
• hand sanitizer
• unscented wet wipes
• water bottle
• pain reliever
• wetbag or bag for used products.

Can alcohol or dehydration affect menstruation at a festival?

Alcohol and dehydration don't seem to change the period itself for most people, but they can affect how you feel. For example, dehydration can make headaches and malaise more pronounced, and alcohol can affect sleep and energy levels. It is therefore a good idea to drink water regularly - especially on hot festival days.

Also read Menstruating summer guide: Beach, festivals and cycle →