Festival packing list: a checklist with rules on drinks and tips for dealing with the heat

This festival packing list organises your luggage according to the campsite, the weather, sunshine and the concert area – and explains which drinks you’re allowed to take with you and where. That’s because the rules vary: at the Hurricane Festival, cans are allowed on the campsite but not in the concert area. Glass is strictly forbidden at Hurricane, Rock am Ring and Wacken.

The packing list to tick off

Campsite

• Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat
• Camping chairs, a camping table, a gazebo – at Hurricane, one standard 3 × 3-metre gazebo per campsite is permitted for around ten people
• Gas cookers using cartridges of up to 450 g instead of large gas cylinders, or disposable barbecues that sit on the ground
• Power generators must stay at home – they are banned at Rock am Ring

Weather and clothing

• Rain poncho and wellies – the organisers of the Hurricane festival say the poncho is a must-have, but they don’t sell them there
• Light, airy clothing for hot days

Sun and heat

• Apply sun cream with a sun protection factor of at least 30 half an hour before going outside
• Headwear that also protects the ears and the nape of the neck, and sunglasses marked ‘UV-400’ with side protection

Concert venue

• Hearing protection – the WHO lists the provision of hearing protection as part of its standard for safe listening at events
• Empty, foldable water bottle – permitted at Rock am Ring and Hurricane; at Hurricane, up to 1 litre
• Small, transparent bags up to A4 size – larger bags and rucksacks are not permitted on the festival grounds at Rock am Ring and Hurricane

Money and valuables

• Mobile phone and payment card: At Rock am Ring, all payments across the entire site are cashless, following registration with the payment system
• Leave valuables in a locker – available for a fee at Rock am Ring

Drinks: what’s allowed where

The information is taken from the festivals’ official websites as at the time of our research. Organisers may change their rules, so please check the latest information on the website before attending any festival.

Cans, deposits and rubbish

Cans with a deposit logo have a deposit of at least 25 cents, which you’ll get back when you return them. Any shop that sells drinks in cans must accept them back. At Hurricane, deposit-bearing containers should not be put in the bin bags provided at the entrance, but taken to the festival’s collection points.

Our products are available in 0.33-litre cans with a 0.25-euro deposit. You can find out how the deposit system works in the article ‘Can deposits explained’.

In hot weather: drink plenty of fluids, stay in the shade, take breaks

• Drinking: During a heatwave, the Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG) recommends drinking around two to three litres spread throughout the day, even when out and about. Anyone with a heart or kidney condition should discuss the appropriate amount with their doctor.
• What: Water, lukewarm to cool unsweetened teas and fruit juice spritzers are best; it is best to avoid very cold drinks.
• Alcohol, caffeine, sugar: Avoid alcohol and limit your intake of caffeine and sugar – sugary drinks do little to quench your thirst, whilst alcohol and caffeine put additional strain on your circulation.
• Sun: UV radiation is at its strongest between 11 am and 3 pm; even in the shade, around 50 per cent still reaches the skin.
• Warning signs: If you experience dizziness, weakness, extreme thirst or a headache, go into the shade, rest and drink cool, but not ice-cold, water. If the symptoms persist after an hour of rest and cooling down, seek medical assistance.

The fluid intake calculator shows how much you should drink on normal days.

Noise: Don’t forget your ear protection

The World Health Organisation estimates that, worldwide, over a billion young people are at risk of hearing damage due to preventable loud noise exposure during leisure activities. 40 per cent of 12- to 35-year-olds in high- and middle-income countries are exposed to harmful noise levels in entertainment venues. Its standard for safe listening at events includes, amongst other things, limiting the average sound level to 100 dB and providing hearing protection.

Alcohol and the protection of young people

The legal regulations on alcohol also apply at festivals; at the Hurricane Festival, children and young people found to be drunk during a youth protection check are sent home. Beer, wine and sparkling wine must not be served to under-16s – unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian – whilst other alcoholic drinks must not be served to minors at all. Rock am Ring does not allow children under the age of 8 onto the site; those aged 8 to 14 may only enter if accompanied by a parent or guardian; and those under 16 may only camp if accompanied by an adult.

According to the German Nutrition Society, there is no such thing as a risk-free amount of alcohol. You can find alcohol-free ideas in the ‘Mocktails’ section, and more occasions on the ‘Occasions & Trends’ page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Hurricane Festival (FKP Scorpio): All about the Hurricane Festival – Bring it & leave it, Camping, Waste Disposal, accessed 16 September 2026. hurricane.de
2. Hurricane Festival (FKP Scorpio): Safety & Rules, accessed 16 September 2026. hurricane.de
3. Rock am Ring (Eventimpresents GmbH & Co. KG): Terms and Conditions, accessed 16 September 2026. rock-am-ring.com
4. Wacken Open Air: W:O:A Campground, accessed 16 September 2026. wacken.com
5. Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS): Tips on UV protection, accessed 16 September 2026. bfs.de
6. Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG), Climate – People – Health portal: Recommendations for hot weather, accessed 16 September 2026. klima-mensch-gesundheit.de
7. World Health Organisation (WHO): WHO hearing guidelines implemented at major arts festival, 8 October 2024. who.int
8. Federal Law Gazette 2026 I No. 207: Packaging Law Implementation Act (VerpackDG), Section 46, published on 17 July 26. recht.bund.de
9. Federal Ministry of Justice: Youth Protection Act (JuSchG), Section 9: Alcoholic Beverages, accessed 16 September 2026. gesetze-im-internet.de
10. German Nutrition Society: ‘Best to keep it at zero per mille’ – new DGE position paper on alcohol, 2024. dge.de
11. ACQUA REAPER: Product specifications, 14 September 26.