Ten Things You Should Before Attending Hinterland!
Hinterland Music Festival is nestled right outside of downtown St. Charles, Iowa. Surrounded by the friendliest herd of cows, only a 32 minute drive from Des Moines Iowa, and a 4 hour drive from Minneapolis — Hinterland stands as the perfect midwest indie festival for you to attend this summer. Last year especially was a big year for Hinterland as they worked to apply crowd feedback and expand their festival grounds to make it more accessible and provide festival go-ers with more to explore. Now this year, Hinterland is back and better than ever with a refined layout that provides attendees with the perfect viewing of the stage no matter where your hanging out and the ultimate hint of cozy midwest charm. With one central stage, attendees won’t need to make the tough decisions on which artists to see in addition to zero need to fight to see your favorite artist’s set. One stage, top tier talent. Now, as someone who has attended Hinterland twice, I feel as though I’ve gathered the ultimate list for first time attendees.
You can dress cute AND comfortable! The Iowa country gets HOT in early August and so to avoid overheating and a day of discomfort, prioritize a comfy base of light breathable fabrics and spice it up with some fun accessories. In addition, hydrocolloid blister patches are your friend! If this is your first festival, I understand being heavily influenced by the Coachella outfit trend, but I promise you a flowy skirt and tank with a bolo tie or bandana is perfect for Hinterland. My rule of thumb for weather is to take the temperature from the weather app and add 10 degrees to account for humidity!
You’re allowed to rest and relax! My biggest piece of advice to you is make sure you listening to your body and your mind! There is nothing wrong with pitching a blanket and watching the clouds or artists you maybe hadn’t heard of before. In addition to this, drink water!! Hinterland has free water refilling stations scattered throughout the festival grounds so make sure to bring an empty/collapsable water bottle with you to ensure prime hydration. Staying hydrated and prioritizing moments of rest will make your Hinterland experience that much better.
Don’t forget to register your wristband! Like most music festivals, Hinterland offers a cashless feature that allows you to upload your card or bank to your wristband so you can easily tap your wristband at any pay counter. Additional information regarding festival wristbands can be found here.
Stock up with festival essentials! Regardless of what music festival you’re attending this year, heres what I have on my MUST PACK list for every music festival:
Flushable wipes: It gets DUSTY and also there’s nothing worse than using a port a potty with no toilet paper! Plus these are so easy to throw in your bag.
Mini hand sanitizer: Festival flu is NO JOKE!
Mini electric fan: As someone who cannot handle summer heat in the midwest, this has been game changing.
Power bank: Hinterland is an all day festival packed with photo opportunities and killer artists, a charged phone is a must.
Electrolyte packets: I mentioned above but the goal is to avoid dehydration, keeping up on electrolytes will ensure you make it through all four days.
If your going with friends, map out a meet up point. With Hinterland being a larger festival in the countryside, cell service gets spotty. To avoid relying on slow reception, arrange a agreed upon meet up spot ahead of time to meet your friends at if you get split up.
Take advantage of all Hinterland has to offer! While music is the main attraction, Hinterland offers attendees more than a top tier line up, I highliy suggest you check out all the market & art vendors, White Claw hammock hang for a bit of relaxation, Miniland for all the littles, and yoga at the Campfire Stage. Hinterland also has an amazing food vendor lineup that is worth checking out and grabbing a bite to eat.
Make yourself aware of key accessibility accommodations available! Hinterland Music Festival has made sure that the people’s needs are accounted for. Make sure you check ahead of time if accommodations are needed. Hinterland offers a medical device charging station at ADA services, sensory supportive space, and accessable first aid tents. Hinterland also has a 90 Degree Guarentee clause that is further described here.
Festival etiquette is cool! While Hinterland is a fast growing festival, the overall vibes are relaxed and friendly. Festivals in general create such an amazing community and peace and respect are key aspects of that. I completely understand the overwhelming sense of joy and excitement that comes with seeing your favorite artist live, but it’s important to remember that there are other people around you who are sharing that excitement and also deserve a positive experience as much as you do.
Plan transportation accordingly! While Hinterland offers attendees with single day, 4 day, and premium parking — spots fill up fast but don’t fret! Hinterland offers a shuttle from Des Moines and St. Charles to and from the festival! If you do snag a parking spot, remember that if you’re staying till the end of the headliner, have patience with your exit! Festival staff and working hard to ensure safety for everyone exiting. If you’re looking for a more lowkey parking lot exit, I recommend skipping some of the headliners set!
Have an open mind and enjoy this experience! I think the influence of social media creates a lot of expectations for anyone attending a music festival, from what I’ve learned, take other’s experiences with a grain of salt. Everyone has different needs and wants when it comes to large events like this and it’s hard to create expectations based on other’s experiences. I strongly advise any music festival attendee to go into this experience expectation free and take in the magic of Hinterland and the community it has created. Talk to those around you, jump and dance to your favorite songs, explore all the festival has to offer, and enjoy your own personal Hinterland experience without the opinions of other attendees - this is YOUR experience!
