Tips From the Bonnaroo Dept. of Health
Leave No Friend Behind
Some of us move fast through the fest. Others move slow and a few of us stumble into trouble. Make sure you keep an eye on your fellow fest-goers, and nudge a friend if she isn’t drinking enough water or he’s not carrying himself like a gentleman (this is The South). You know your people best. If you think they might need help, they probably do.
Stay Hydrated
You’ve heard this before, and you’re gonna hear it again right now: drink water. Lots of it. Dehydration is the number one cause of unhappiness at Bonnaroo. Water makes your body work. Make sure you drink more than you think you need.
See It, Say It (Worry-Free)
You can’t get in trouble for anything you say to medical or safety staff at Bonnaroo. That’s the deal. So if a friend needs help, please stick around and help fill in the blanks. No one will hassle you. And if you think you might need assistance, don’t worry, speak up. Bonnaroo staff are here for you and no one else.
It’s Hot In Here
Tennessee swelters in the summertime. Even when the sun hides, there’s a good chance you’ll feel like a Moon Pie dipped in hot chocolate sauce. Protect yourself. Pack a hat, breathable clothing, and plenty of water. And don’t forget to apply sunscreen early (before you roll out of your tent) and often. Otherwise risk surrendering your Day 4 to the dogs.
Avoid a “wasted” weekend
There’s one easy way to wreck your weekend (and your friends’): Drugs and alcohol. Drugs raise your body temperature (sometimes fatally) and drain H2O from your cells, while alcohol dehydrates you. Under the brutal June sun, you can fry way too easily. And the dangers of combining substances are only multiplied in this environment.
Have fun, responsibly.
Medical Emergency Services
WHERE: In the Main Venue the tent is located near the bleachers. There are two Medical tents located in Centeroo: one located to the left of the Ferris Wheel and one located between the Cinema Tent and This Tent. Also, Each campground POD has medical staff on duty 24 hours a day, look for the balloon.
Medical tent locations are as follows: In the Main Venue there is one location located behind the bleachers. Each campground pod also has medical staff on duty 24 hours a day.
Things happen: bee stings, arm-wrestling injuries, face rocked off. That’s why the Main Venue, Centeroo and every POD is home to a Bonnaroo medical tent, staffed around the clock with Bonnaroo medical staff. For your safety, the medical tents area all staffed with licensed professionals. The Centeroo medical tent is staffed with nurses and physicians along with roaming medical staff in the concert venue.
In an emergency, if you’re not near a medical tent, find a staff person with a radio, or notify the nearest security personnel.
Tip: If you’re not sure whether it’s an emergency, assume it is and get help right away.
Safety Staff
WHERE: You can find our safety staff roaming through every campground, at every POD, at the entrance to Centeroo and the Main Venue and at all the stages, as well as throughout all of Centeroo and the Main Venue.
Our safety (aka, security) staff is trained to help make sure everyone has a good time and stays safe. If you have a security issue in the campgrounds, each POD has a security station open 24 hours. Mounted security patrols (yes, on horseback!) roam the campground areas at all times and can assist as well. Lasso one if you need help.
All vehicles will be searched on entry to the festival at the Toolbooths (which you should definitely keep in mind when deciding what to bring). And prepare to be (politely) searched each time you enter Centeroo or the Main Venue. Find out what you can and can’t bring in here.
Food Safety
Please don’t buy from unlicensed vendors. We work hard to ensure all official food and drink is good and safe. And really, if you buy something from an unlicensed vendor, you have no idea what you’re getting. There are lots of great stuff to buy from official Bonnaroo vendors, who deserve your business, not least because they have made a real commitment to support Bonnaroo.
Emergency Vehicle Access
Our roads might not look like city streets. But for emergency and maintenance vehicles, they do the job as long as you keep them open. Which is what we ask you to do. Please park in designated areas and don’t drive around the site. Walk on the sides of the roads, and please let all official vehicles through.
About Alcohol
The sale of alcohol is strictly prohibited. If you’re legal, you can bring it for your own enjoyment only. But, there is a limit to what you may bring.
- You may bring: 2 cases of beer per person per car, and one (1) 1.75 liter of hard liquor per person per car, and 2 boxes of wine per person per car. (Really, that’s plenty for a weekend, don’t you think?) Anything more than that will be confiscated when we inspect your vehicle on arrival.
- No glass containers of any kind are allowed into the campgrounds or concert areas.
- No kegs are allowed into the festival.
- No outside alcohol is allowed into Centeroo and the What Stage Venue.
About Drugs
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival stands squarely against drug use. First, It’s dangerous to your health, especially in the June heat. Second, it can ruin the weekend for you and those around you. And last but not least it’s against the law: If it’s illegal outside the festival, it’s illegal inside, too.
If you see someone who is sick, upset, scared or clearly having a bad experience, get help. Find a medical tent or festival staff member. Provide all the information you can to safety or medical staff our “no questions asked” policy means neither you nor the sick person can get in trouble when you seek help.
Our number-one concern is the well-being of all Bonnaroovians. By steering clear of substances and getting help for those who need it, you are contributing positively to the Bonnaroo vibe, and the entire community thanks you for that.