Attending a Festival ALONE? How much fun is that?

Not every time,

“Honey take me out na, let’s go for that festival.”

“Baby, when last did you take me out?” or

Girls’ trip! Boys’ trip!

Sometimes take yourself out; go out alone.

Reasons why;  

It affords you the liberty of doing what you want to do without considering another person’s idiosyncrasies.

You’ll have the opportunity to meet new people and spontaneously try new things.

It gives you the chance to be independent and enjoy your own company.

It’s like walking into a strange beautiful room with blindfolds on….not a dangerous room biko…. there are possibilities of the unexpected which is what life is generally about.

It would teach you to stand on your own and be comfortable with your decision and watch the outcomes unfold.This is not really just about a festival. It’s about your life.

It can be therapeutic. Can help you find yourself too, in case you are the type that is easily knowingly or unknowingly influenced by your surrounding (friends)

Hope with these few points of mine, I have been able to convince you and not confuse you on going out alone; for a festival to be precise.

The key to almost every information in life is social media…..so go online and check for information on festival dates in your city. Save the date and prepare for it.

The next thing to do is, check for affordable hotels near the venue. You know why? For most festivals, the real “gbedu” begins when the sun goes down, and you don’t want to miss that part.

Another thing you don’t want to do is, go home with a stranger. Or go home really late and risk waking everyone up.

So the best bet is just to book a hotel closest to the festival and have an amazing, rest of the morning there.

You also don’t want to drive to a festival because of parking and car safety issues in Nigeria. So just take a cab or uber to a hotel. Book a room. Go for your festival. And come back to relax in your hotel room

About dress code;

Depending on the theme of the festival, make sure to wear something you will be comfortable in for hours….don’t go and snatch your waist then you cannot now breathe or eat as you like….

There’s something called “eating cloth”….It is defined as any cloth you wear that enables you to eat even an elephant without your belly expansion being noticed in the said cloth.

So yes, wear an eating cloth because there will be a lot to eat and drink…

That doesn’t mean you should wear “agbada” o. Wear something comfortable, funky and fun at the same time. Because as much as you are here to enjoy yourself alone, you are also here to meet amazing people so let the cloth you wear be an expression of your true person inside, remember your friends are not here to cajole you so express your true self in your clothing. So you can attract your kind of person.

Wear a welcoming smile. I’m guilty of this. I recently found out that I walk around with a really serious face…my motive being to ward people off…..who knows maybe that’s why I’m still single

Don’t be like me. You are here to have fun so wear a fine real smile.

Explore!….don’t seat in one spot through the night. Make sure you go round all the vendors and see what they are selling….buy the interesting ones and ignore the ridiculously pricey ones…..try new drinks…not the one that will make you purge o….and new snacks too…don’t eat a full plate of food oh…because there will be no space for other things….just eat bits and pieces like the grilled protein, small chops…..cocktail drinks….alcohol shots….etc

Take pictures….go with a selfie stick so you don’t have to give a stranger your phone who might end up running away with it…these pictures will serve as memories…

There will be activities like dancing, drinking, games, etc,….make sure you participate in at least one of them…..don’t be shy…no one there is paying your bills

On meeting new people, don’t wait to be walked up to….if you see someone you like, walk up to the person and introduce yourself….make sure not to go with the mindset of meeting your husband or wife there…you are just there to have fun and make platonic friends…let that guide your decisions…talk a bit about yourself and your passions…if you’re a business person, talk about your brand…you just might get a business deal there

Don’t go home with a stranger….man or woman….it may end in tears

You are most likely going to meet some of your old friends there….don’t stick with them throughout, say your hellos then branch out and explore and meet new people….don’t go home with these your friends too…you are here for you…enjoy your time alone.

Lastly, money

This venture is about you…so carry enough money to lavish on yourself….just imagine someone was in need, you’ll give that person all the help you can, right?….double that energy for yourself….you are in need….spend your money well on this experience…

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One safety tip, carry a really small bag slung across your shoulder or waist with just your money, your ID card and your phone…be conscious so you don’t get robbed.

At the end of the night, go home to your hotel room and relive the moments in your head on your cozy bed. And wake up to a new work day.

That is how to enjoy going for a festival alone.

You can drop comments on what you think or send me an email at deighavic@gmail.com

Love Deedee. XOXO.