ROMP 2023 is right around the corner, so there’s a lot to get excited about! And while you’re making your plans for this four-day outdoor Bluegrass festival, we wanted to break down a list of some of the must-haves you’ll need when it comes to packing and preparing for it.
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year, ROMP will be held right when the weather starts to really get warm – June 21-24. That means you should pack lots and lots of water. Whether it’s bottled water, water by the gallon, or water in your tumbler, staying hydrated is one of the keys to keeping your spirits up during those hot summer days.
Speaking of summer, be sure to pack sunscreen and chapstick with SPF protection. Trust us, the days will be mostly sunny and even if you don’t feel like you’re getting a sunburn out there, you’ll feel it later. The area in front of the stage doesn’t provide a whole lot of shade, so it’s important to protect yourself. We also suggest wearing a hat when you can. And if you don’t bring your own, you can buy one at the ROMP merch tent!
Bring cash for food trucks and other activities that will be available during the festival. While most food trucks take credit cards, it’s not a guarantee, and craft and clothing vendors may or may not accept credit cards. So, better safe than sorry.
Chairs. This is a big one! ROMP is a bring-your-own-chair festival, and while we totally recommend doing as much dancing in the grass as possible, it’s inevitable that, at some point, you’re going to want a place to sit down and take a breather.
Bug spray is another big one. Kentucky can get pretty hot and humid, and the mosquitos will likely be making an appearance at ROMP.
Your pets! ROMP is a pet-friendly environment, so be sure to bring your dogs and any other pets that would enjoy the outdoors and loud music.
Comfortable shoes. Most of the activities will take place either on grassy landscapes or slightly hilly walkways. We suggest leaving the high heels at home for this one.
A fanny pack, backpack or easy-to-carry purse or satchel. If you’re camping, you may have a place to keep your ROMP merch and other belongings. But if not, it will be nice to have a place to store all your belongings so you don’t have to walk back and forth to your car.