8 car hacks to make festival life at Creamfields easier

The festival, which is held in Daresbury, Cheshire, takes place from 24 – 27 August.

Creamfields North starts today, Thursday 24 August, meaning right now festivalgoers will be trying to figure out how to fit their festival essentials including bags and tents into their car while still leaving room for passengers.

Creamfields has blazed the trail for electronic dance events since the late ‘90s. Renowned for attracting the biggest names in electronic music as well as its huge production design and ambitious staging, each year features over 300 artists performing across 30 stages throughout the weekend.

The line-up this year includes Tiesto, Calvin Harris, and Swedish House Mafia!

Motoring experts at Vanarama have shared eight ingenious hacks to make the most of your car at Creamfields. Including a pillowcase hack that maximises storage space while keeping you comfortable during the car journey and festival.

Stuffing pillowcases with clothes

Maximise space and comfort during your long car journey by creating a makeshift pillow stuffed with coats, blankets and other soft, bulky items. Not only can you enjoy the journey without taking up valuable boot space with a suitcase, you can continue to use it throughout the festival.

Utilise hidden space in your car

When packing your car, make the most of overlooked spaces like side pockets and under-the-seat gaps to accommodate items such as wellies, bulky boots or if feasible, a camping chair.

Keep it minimal with passengers and luggage

Consider how much luggage each passenger will bring in the car and how comfortable you and your passengers will be. If heading to a festival in a five-seater, have a maximum of four people in the car. If you have a four-seater, stick to a maximum of three people. The extra space ensures you aren’t overpacking the boot, thus blocking the view of your rear view mirror, and passengers will be more comfortable.

Pack your car evenly

When packing your car heavily, one thing to be aware of is how balanced your packing is. Distribute your heavy gear across the car evenly if you can. An uneven distribution of weight can affect a vehicle’s stability and make handling unpredictable. Also, heavier loads reduce fuel efficiency, so try to avoid packing unnecessary weight.

Water and snacks for festival parking queues

Festival car parking queues can be lengthy, often stretching up to two or three hours. Considering the possibility of hot summer weather, pack a supply of water and food to ensure you’re maintaining your energy in order to make the most of the festival from the moment you arrive.

Ensure you can find your car again

When you park your car, capture images of your surroundings on your phone like a unique tree or distinctive flag. After several days of festivities and a large number of cars departing the festival simultaneously, locating your car again might become challenging. By documenting notable features around your parking spot, you’ll have visual cues to assist you in finding your vehicle.

Avoid mass queues by enjoying festival fun for longer

Headline events at festivals usually wrap up by midnight and this can cause a flurry of cars leaving the car park at this time. However, by embracing the late-night events that go into the early morning after the headline acts finish (if you can manage to stay awake!), you not only get to enjoy the festival for longer but you could also evade heavy queues.

Take fresh shoes and clothes for driving back in

Taking a fresh pair of socks, shoes and clothes for the return leg is the easiest way to make your journey home that little more luxurious after a few days camping. Additionally, when driving back, remember to take regular breaks and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. You mightn’t feel fully rejuvenated by the time you’re home, but it’ll help!