With the good weather and the kids out of school, summer is a popular time for festivals, parades, carnivals, and street fairs. Unfortunately, these summer events aren’t cheap.
This summer there will be tons of festivals held across the country. With the cost of tickets, transport/parking, accommodation, food, and merchandise, a person can easily spend hundreds of dollars on just one festival. Listed below are some handy festival tips that can help cut costs on your favorite summer events.
5 Budgeting Tips for Summer Festivals
- Early bird tickets. This is a well-known secret: the earlier you buy your festival ticket, the less you will have to pay. While it’s probably too late for you to buy early bird tickets for July festivals, it is the ideal time to buy tickets for late summer and fall. So, as you enjoy your July events keep your eyes open for August, September or even October festivals.
- Rethink your accommodations. Local hotel room prices tend to go up around big events such as festivals. You can save major bucks by rethinking your accommodation strategy. If you’re traveling with a buddy consider booking with Airbnb to save money or book a hotel room in a town over from the festival location. These options tend to be cheaper.
- B.Y.O.F. You’ve heard of B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Beer), but to save money at festivals you should B.Y.O.F. (Bring Your Own Food). Food at festivals tends to be overpriced, so you can save major bucks. If you’re a big fan of vendor food, don’t worry! Bring some of your own food to eat along with your vendor food and save money. For instance, you can buy that delicious burger from the food truck, but bring your own chips, soda, and dessert.
- Know when to buy. Want to catch a deal on vendors’ merchandise? Wait until the last day of the festival. Many vendors will want to sell their entire inventory before the event ends, so you could score some major deals.
- Bring cash instead of credit cards. What’s your festival budget? Decide on a solid number before you go to the festival. To make sure that you stick to your budget, bring cash instead of a credit card—this will make you a much more strategic buyer. Just be sure that you take proper precautions and keep your money secure throughout the festival.