Watch the local customs
Notice how the locals behave: where people stand, where they sit, whether it's fine to sing along at a parade or photograph the participants. If in doubt, just ask.
On site
Local guide
A celebration in an unfamiliar city always comes with slightly unfamiliar rules. In some places people dance in the street, at some fairs haggling is expected, and the locals have long known the best spots by the stage. The more closely you watch, the easier it is to join in the mood without getting in your hosts' way. This section covers how to handle a festive crowd, where to find food and water, how not to lose each other and what to do if the day doesn't go to plan. We don't recommend specific venues or services, only habits that work anywhere.
Visitors leave, but the city stays. Leave behind clean grass and a good impression of the people who came.
How this section works: it gathers tips that suit any festival, fair or city celebration. We do not recommend specific cafes, venues or services.
How to behave at a celebration
Simple habits that make the day more pleasant for you and those around you.
Queues without stress
Queues for entry, for water and for the toilets are part of any big event. Arrive early, keep your ticket ready and don't try to jump the line.
Take your litter with you
A small bag in your pocket helps when the bins are overflowing. Many sites sort their waste, so make use of it.
Noise and neighbours
In the evening, celebrations often take place near homes. On the way back to your accommodation keep your voices down and don't linger as a noisy group under people's windows.
Respect for the people working
Performers, stallholders and volunteers are working while you relax. A polite word and some patience get you further than an argument at the barrier.
Food and water at the event
How to avoid going hungry or overheating during a long day.
Water throughout the day
Drink a little and often, even if you don't feel thirsty. Find out whether the site has drinking fountains, and bring a flask if you're allowed to take one in.
Eat before the peak
Queues at the food stalls grow towards lunchtime and before the headline act. Eat earlier or later than the main wave.
Your own snacks
If the rules allow, bring nuts, fruit or cereal bars. They'll save you when the queue stretches out.
Heat and sun
A hat, sunscreen and breaks in the shade. If you feel dizzy, get into the shade straight away and ask for help at the first-aid point.
Staying in touch and a meeting point
How not to lose each other when the crowd around you is huge.
An easy-to-spot landmark
Choose a meeting point nobody can mix up: the information tent, a signpost, a tower. Say it out loud to the whole group.
A time to meet
Agree not only on a place but on a time: for example, meet there every few hours, even if everything is fine.
Charging
A power bank and a short cable are the most important things after water. In power-saving mode your battery lasts noticeably longer.
Children and a note
Put a note with your phone number in your child's pocket and explain what to do if they get lost: stop and go to a security guard or a volunteer.
If something goes wrong
- Lost each other: go to the agreed meeting point and wait there rather than running around the site
- Lost your phone or wallet: tell security or the information point; big events usually have a lost property office
- Feeling unwell: go to the first-aid point or find volunteers, and in an emergency dial 112 (in Russia and the EU) or your local emergency number
- Part of the programme cancelled: watch for announcements from the stage and on the event's official page
- Missed your transport back: return to the meeting point and calmly choose a walking route or the next service
Related sections
- Routes
Three sample routes: a festival weekend, a fair with a walk around the centre, an exhibition and a museum in one day.
- Sights
How to combine an event with sightseeing, and why you should only go up to rooftops and viewpoints through official access.
- Questions
Short answers about tickets, travel and accommodation on event dates, and about the day on site.
Sources
- EMERCOM of Russia — safety advice for mass events
- Official websites of cities and events
Information is correct as of the date it was prepared. Event programmes, entry rules, ticket sale and refund terms and holiday transport services all change, so check them on the official websites before you set off.