TDLR; Check out the YouTube video

Too often, recovery means an end to partying. 

But I’m a party girl–I built my entire identity around it, and not drinking alcohol shouldn’t interfere with my ability to have an explosively good time.

So, I’ve become a sober festival chaser. 

It wasn’t always that way:  there was a time when my addiction to drugs and alcohol was inextricably tied to my love of music and my passion for camping. I could never have imagined then that I would one day return to the same festivals I used to haunt with an entirely different spirit. 

Today, I have way more fun at festivals than I used to–partly because of the strategies I’ve outlined below.

So read on to learn more about navigating festivals sober (or sober curious). 

Make a Plan 

Preparation is the best defense against the unexpected.

My passing whims and impulses entirely dictated my life in addiction. I never planned anything. Besides, if I had something to drink, everything else would be fine, right?

Except it rarely was. I lived my life in a perpetual state of chaos and confusion. Bad things seemed to “just happen” to me all the time. And because I was drunk, they seemed only to get worse.

Since I got sober, I’ve learned the merits of making a plan. Don’t get me wrong–I’m still impulsive–but I try to minimize my exposure to the unexpected today. 

Festivals are high-intensity environments. It’s a survivalist mindset–you’re out in a new and crowded place, surrounded by intoxicated people, and subject to the crazy things they do. For this reason, I always come up with a plan of action.

What works best is coming up with coping skills and contingency plans I can use on the fly. I typically make a note on my phone that I can check anytime. 

Here are some questions to help guide you:

1. What will you do if the urge to drink or use strikes? I like to list 3-4 coping skills I can use on the go. 
2. How can you set up an exit strategy in case things go haywire? I typically tell my friends the truth–that my sobriety comes first–but you can make up a situation back home that may require your attention. When the time comes, you have a ready-made excuse.
3. Who can you reach out to in a moment of crisis? I make a list of 4-6 people I can reach out–two people I’m with and two people back home. 
4. What will you do if you get lost or separated from your friends? I generally set up a “meet-up spot” ahead of time. Alternatively, I just go back to camp to reset.
5. What will you do if your friends trigger you? I like to say I’m going to the bathroom and doing some mindful breathing. I also want to read my phone note affirmations and mantras. 
6. What items can you take along that bring you comfort? I like to get stuffed animals, my favorite book, some affirmations and mantras, and my Luft Breathing Necklace to reduce anxiety on the fly. 
7. Where are your resources? Locate the medical tent, water station, and food vendors.
8. What would you say if someone offered you drugs or alcohol? I like to tell people preemptively that I don’t drink or use, but you can also say something like, “trust me, you don’t want me drinking,” to lighten the mood :) it’s a matter of personal preference! 

• Which acts do you want to see? What activities do you want to do?

• If you’re in a program, will you need a meeting? Some festivals have meetings! Alternatively, you can do one online.

When compiling your contingency plan, remember to account for your triggers. Ask yourself what makes you uncomfortable or eager to throw your recovery away–and devise a plan for that!

Have Something To Do 

I can’t stress this enough: having something to do while you’re at the festival is crucial. Whether taking pictures, handing out candy, or playing with a flow toy, anything you can do to keep yourself busy while others are intoxicated is a great idea. 

My life changed completely when I picked up a flow toy. Flow toys are objects that encourage movement and dance. If you’ve ever seen someone playing with a hula hoop, poi, or a whip, you’ve seen a flow toy! 

Although I have been flowing since I was 11 years old ( I learned from Chinese YouTube, tying two shoestrings to dollar store glow sticks), I didn’t commit to it until well into recovery, when I picked up the hoop for the first time (for videos of me hooping, check out my Tik-Tok or YouTube channel: @recoverycoachcamille). 

My hoop has changed the name of the game. Whether it was warranted or not, I felt awkward at events after I got sober. I found myself checking my phone, fidgeting, and thinking about drinking. 

Having something to do is essential–and I highly recommend something physical.

Consider getting an LED flow toy! Many people start with a fiber-optic whip (image below)--a gorgeous string of LED fibers that looks incredible with NO flow experience. You can also try an LED hula hoop—my personal favorite. Lastly, LED Poi Balls are a relatively easy skill to pick up—and the equipment is cheap at just $17! 

If you do start flowing, tag me in your videos and comment below! I love meeting new flowmies.

If flow is not for you, try one of the following:

• Hone your dancing skills – try YouTube University! 
• Take top-quality pictures–bonus points if you bring a hat or pair of sunglasses and encourage strangers to participate.
• Make candy bracelets or small clay figures to hand out to your fellow festival-goers.
• Bring an LED fidget spinner!

Show Up Prepared 

I used to show up to the festival with myself and a copious amount of “party favors.” Thankfully, I learned my lesson pretty early after a heat stroke in the Mojave desert in 2013. Since then, I’ve learned the value of showing up with the things I need to keep myself comfortable. 

But sober festivals are an entirely different situation. Without the oblivion and disinhibition that alcohol offers, the minor inconveniences of a festival—say, sleeping in a tiny, insulated tent in 100-degree weather–can get a lot more inconvenient. 

I’ve learned that if I can account for those discomforts and inconveniences, I can minimize my urges to fall back into old behavior. To that end, I show up prepared. And I mean ready. 

I’m essentially a glamper at this point (glamorous camping). It’s not that I’m bougie–it’s that I protect my comfort these days. I’ve saved up over the years to buy a heat-refracting tent and portable air conditioners, a shower and shower stall, and a shade structure that protects me from the hot sun. I even have a solar charger and generator—to charge my flow toys.

You don’t need to invest as heavily as I have. Many people don’t have the privilege to do so. But come prepared with the things that will keep you comfy! Here are my favorites:

• Canvas Tent ($399)
• Portable Air Conditioner ($39 – works well!) 
• Two Rechargeable Head Lamps ($20) 
• Inflatable Air Mattress ($39)
• Two Solar-Powered Lamps ($18.90)
• Hand-Held Mini Fan ($18) 

Be a Support to Others

One of the best parts of recovery is being present for others.

I know, I know, it sounds cheesy. But service is an integral part of most recovery programs for a reason. 

Being sober means that you are likely one of the most responsible people at the festival. How does that feel? I once hated it–until I realized how much power that gave me to bring joy and comfort to people.

There is ample research to support the role that helping others plays in happiness.

I offer my help wherever I can:

• Helping people set up camp
• Comforting someone through a difficult moment
• Guiding others through a bad trip 
• Buying someone food or fetching water 
• Assisting people to do their makeup or look their best
• Giving out candy or other fun trinkets
• Taking pictures of people
• Bringing joy and laughter wherever I can!

Give Yourself Permission to Do Your Own Thing 

It’s no secret that sobriety changes everything. 

Suddenly, your whole world has shifted, and you’ve become someone you don’t recognize–in a good way. 

But it’s crucial that you not pressure yourself into having the same experience as everyone else. If your friends are drinking and using–and you’re not–you likely won’t want to do the same things all the time. Permit yourself to do your own something.

Additionally, don’t put pressure on yourself to try and do everything. I can be a real stickler to my setlist. I try to make every single show and ride every carnival ride. But it puts a ton of pressure on me, and I sometimes miss out on real fun because of my mandatory fun. 

So just try to, you know, surrender (as they say in AA). Allow yourself to just experience whatever comes your way–and don’t beat yourself up if you miss a set or two. You’ll catch it at the next one! 

Before You Go 

Being sober is just as fun–if not more–than drinking and using.

If that sounds far-fetched, that’s because we live in a consumerist society that tries to tell us otherwise. 

But it’s the truth! 

The best part of going to festivals sober is that I remember everything. I revisit the good and learn from the bad. It’s just one of the many gifts of recovering.

And if you’re struggling to stay sober—or you simply want to practice moderation–please feel free to book a free discovery recovery coaching session with me :)

Comment below with your thoughts, and let me know how it goes!! 

Peace, love, unity, respect.