How to have sex at a festival

Competition season is formally upon us. Glastonbury is true across the nook. And as we head into the peak of summer season, there will likely be a pageant just about each different day. 

If you happen to’re a pageant ticket holder this 12 months, there are in all probability a number of stuff you’re planning on doing: having a number of drinks, consuming some nice meals, seeing a few of your favorite bands, attempting not to consider the actual fact you’ll be sleeping on the bottom for a weekend. And, in fact, having intercourse. 

In line with analysis from intercourse toy firm Lovehoney, 39 p.c of Brits have had intercourse at a pageant. This determine grows amongst youthful individuals, too. Over half (55 p.c) of these aged 18 to 34 have had intercourse at a pageant sooner or later. But, pageant intercourse is an entire ache within the arse. Or the genitals. Or wherever else you propose on having intercourse. Actually, solely 12 p.c of these surveyed mentioned that pageant intercourse was nice and 12 p.c saying it was ‘simply okay’. So, what is going on unsuitable?

Sure, pageant intercourse is enjoyable, and it’s virtually a ceremony of passage, however it’s an entire nightmare to facilitate. You’re undecided if you’re going to get a correct, sizzling bathe (even should you’ve paid for the bougie pamper cross upgrades), you’ve typically drank a lot you’re undecided should you actually ought to have intercourse however you’re nonetheless attractive, and the one place it’s a must to carry somebody again to is a tiny pop-up two-man tent tightly filled with all of your belongings, and presumably your mate having a sleep. 

It’s inevitably going to occur although. So, we spoke to the consultants in addition to those that love shagging at festivals to see methods to do it greatest. 

Put together for pageant intercourse earlier than you head off

The primary a part of getting ready for intercourse comes earlier than the pageant even occurs. Ask your self, are you in all probability going to have intercourse at this pageant? Are you single? Bringing your companion with you? Have you ever had intercourse at a pageant earlier than? Take into account whether or not you’re more likely to have intercourse and in case your reply is even a “perhaps,” it’s best to take it as a “yeah, in all probability” and put together totally. 

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Earlier than heading to the pageant, be sure you take an STI take a look at so you already know the place you stand sexual health-wise. Whereas buying a tent and stocking up on provides could be on the forefront of your pre-festival guidelines, it is important to prioritise getting an STI take a look at, particularly if it’s probably you’ll be doing it with a brand new sexual companion and even should you plan on utilizing a condom. 

Pippa Murphy, intercourse professional at condom supplier condoms.co.uk says this may “not solely safeguard your future companions but additionally offer you peace of thoughts, permitting you to completely benefit from the second whereas being intimate.”

“Though some festivals, like Glastonbury, distribute free condoms, shopping for and bringing your individual is smart to make sure you’re ready.”

And talking of condoms, you’ll must carry loads of these — or no matter your most popular barrier contraception technique is — even when you’ve got a constant sexual companion. “Though some festivals, like Glastonbury, distribute free condoms, shopping for and bringing your individual is smart to make sure you’re ready,” Murphy says. 

“That is particularly essential when you’ve got a latex allergy and want a non-latex different. Even should you or your common companion are utilizing different types of contraception, I’d nonetheless suggest that you just carry condoms as naturally having intercourse in a small tent could make for a messy job — and it’s at all times in probably the most awkward of instances the place you realise you forgot to carry something that may assist clear up the mess.”

28-year-old Ella* says pageant intercourse is her “favorite form of intercourse” and recommends stocking up on the morning after tablet before-hand if attainable, too. “I attempt to simply handy and oral intercourse at festivals as there’s much less likelihood of STI or being pregnant mis-haps, however I’m additionally sensible and know that, after a number of pints, I’m gonna desire a full-on fuck,” she says. So, she brings alongside some emergency contraception simply in case. 

“Condoms simply rip generally, man. Or they fall off otherwise you neglect to place them on if you’re being silly. The very last thing you need is to be in the course of a discipline pondering ‘oh my god’ if you’ve had an accident, so I carry a morning-after tablet with me.” Ella provides that condoms additionally cut back “mess” throughout intercourse for the receiver, so that they’re a win-win. 

“The very last thing you need is to be in the course of a discipline pondering ‘oh my god’ if you’ve had an accident, so I carry a morning-after tablet with me.”

For these within the queer group, it’s additionally price taking Pre-Publicity Prophylaxis (PrEP) with you to festivals. As Murphy notes, generally drunk pageant go-ers skip previous the necessary pre-sex conversations the place STI standing can be disclosed, and generally condoms get forgotten within the warmth of the second. If there’s any likelihood you can ever be prone to contracting HIV, PrEP reduces your likelihood of transmission down by 99 p.c and it’s out there without cost on the NHS. Although, understand that it doesn’t defend in opposition to every other STIs, and it’s best to nonetheless get examined after each new companion even should you’re on PrEP. 

Whereas we don’t suggest having any unprotected intercourse at a pageant, these measures may have your again if accidents occur. Needless to say LARCs (Lengthy Performing Reversible Contraceptives) just like the implant, tablet, injection or coil don’t defend from STIs and a condom ought to be worn with new sexual companions. You may get the morning after tablet from Superdrug, Boots, and most pharmacies each in-person and on-line.  

Take into account post-sex packing too

You know the way, after intercourse, there is usually a little bit of… mess? On you and on the mattress? Now think about that in a small tent with restricted entry to good showers! Yeah, you’re going to want to pack some objects for after intercourse as properly.

It could be price upgrading your ticket to at least one that features heat bathe entry should you’re a high pageant shagger. However whether or not you’ve got entry to post-sex clean-downs or not, Murphy says moist wipes, hand sanitiser, and a towel are price packing to maintain issues clear. 

Yeah, you’re going to want to pack some objects for after intercourse as properly.

“It’s necessary to practise hygienic intercourse to forestall an an infection. If you happen to’re tenting, it’s best to take hand sanitiser to maintain your arms and fingernails clear for foreplay, and common skin-to-skin contact,” Murphy advises. 

You also needs to pack fragrance-free moist wipes that are perfect for cleansing your self pre- and post-sex (together with further underwear which you’ll be able to by no means have an excessive amount of of while at a pageant). The “perfume free” a part of the wipes is necessary, significantly for individuals with vaginas, as some fragrances and chemical compounds can alter the pH stability of the vagina and lead to circumstances like thrush, UTIs, or BV.  

One other good moist wipe pageant hack: take them, or your individual rest room paper, with you to the bathroom at festivals (both discover flushable perfume free wipes, or maintain maintain of non-flushable wipes and eliminate them afterwards). As a girl, it is important to carry rest room paper and vagina-safe moist wipes with you when going to the bogs to have a wee. Ladies are at a better threat of growing UTIs at festivals because of the “shaking clear technique” typically employed once they uncover an absence of bathroom paper. To stop this, utilizing vagina-safe moist wipes and bathroom paper is the simplest strategy, as each supply a extra thorough cleansing. This reduces the chance of infections and helps preserve general genital hygiene.

“Altering your underwear commonly can assist preserve good hygiene and forestall discomfort from sweat and dust, particularly should you don’t have entry to any showers,” Murphy says, so carry a great deal of clear pants. 

“I’d additionally suggest bringing a small, light-weight towel or blanket to put on throughout intercourse. This gives a barrier between you and the doubtless soiled floor, guaranteeing a cleaner and extra comfy expertise so you may keep inside the second,” she provides. 

What to do should you’re on the tablet at a pageant

If you happen to take the contraceptive tablet, set an alarm so that you don’t neglect to take your contraception on the identical time every day. Festivals typically contain packed schedules, late nights, and quite a few distractions. Amid the joy, it may be straightforward to neglect about taking your contraception, particularly should you’re ingesting alcohol or taking different substances as this will impair your reminiscence and decision-making abilities.

“Setting a reminder or alarm will guarantee you do not miss a dose as even one lapse in your routine can result in an unintended being pregnant. Additionally, realizing that you’ve a reminder set can alleviate nervousness about forgetting to take your contraception. This peace of thoughts lets you absolutely benefit from the pageant expertise with out pointless fear,” Murphy says. 

If you’re on the tablet and occur to neglect, Murphy says to take it as quickly as you bear in mind. And should you miss two days, test the directions included in your tablet packet and observe their suggestion. 

Do not forget that should you lose your contraception through the course of the pageant, plenty of festivals now have contraception tents arrange the place you may entry condoms and the morning after tablet. Some even have HIV and different STI testing areas, that are price utilizing should you ever have any considerations. 

What to think about earlier than having intercourse at a pageant

Earlier than getting intimate at a pageant, there are a number of components to think about to make sure a secure, comfy, and gratifying expertise for each you and your companion — particularly if one or each of you’re excessive or drunk, which tends to occur lots at festivals. 

Murphy says there are 4 components, particularly, that want looking for: 

Consent

Intoxication can impair an individual’s means to present knowledgeable and enthusiastic consent. Be sure that each you and your companion are sober sufficient to supply clear and ongoing consent all through the encounter. If it’s not an enthusiastic ‘sure!’, it’s a no.

“In case your companion is intoxicated, prioritise their welfare over your sexual frustration and wait till they’re sober sufficient to present clear consent,” says Murphy. Perhaps you may meet up one other time when your heads are extra clear. You’ll be able to learn Mashable’s information to drunk intercourse and whether or not it’s ever okay right here. 

Communication

Alcohol or drug use can have an effect on an individual’s means to speak successfully, which is important for discussing boundaries, preferences, and any considerations. “These ought to be mentioned if you’re sober sufficient to have a dialog about the entire above,” Murphy says. 

Security

Intoxication can enhance the chance of partaking in dangerous behaviours or making poor choices, resembling not utilizing safety or partaking in unsafe sexual practices. Hold every part you want for secure intercourse in an easy-to-grab bag in your tent or in your individual with objects like safety and lube to make it simpler to entry every part you want. 

The place to have intercourse at a pageant and methods to navigate it should you really feel awkward

One phrase we’d by no means use to explain pageant intercourse: discreet. If you happen to’re somebody who prefers privateness for intercourse, festivals could make that tough. You may need to only settle for that your tent goes to wobble and folks may hear you (it’s all a part of the pageant vibes, actually!) however should you do need discretion, there’s some issues you may strive. 

Murphy says “Having intercourse at a pageant may be an thrilling and distinctive expertise, nevertheless, should you’re walked in on or noticed having intercourse, it may flip an adrenaline-pumping expertise into a clumsy one. With this in thoughts, the perfect place to have intercourse is someplace that provides privateness, consolation and security — which is more likely to be your tent.” 

So, make certain your tent is pitched flat and is prevented from shaking an excessive amount of. “Uneven floor could cause your tent to wobble extra simply which can trigger undesirable consideration. To stop this additional, I’d additionally suggest putting heavy objects contained in the corners of your tent to weigh it down to scale back the shaking much more,” Murphy recommends.

22-year-old Tammy* is a frequent pageant goer and self-confessed “high pageant shagger”, and he or she recommends bringing a transportable speaker alongside for intercourse, too. “Transportable audio system are a should at festivals anyway for preparing vibes and campsite events, however they’re additionally good to have in your tent or simply outdoors of it throughout intercourse to drown out any intercourse noises,” she tells Mashable.  

“You may also shag through the daytime or when one of many predominant acts you don’t care about are on as there received’t be that many individuals within the camp website,” she provides. 

Murphy recommends on the lookout for “sit back zones” the place intercourse may be extra non-public, too. “Some festivals even present designated areas for rest and intimacy. These areas are usually extra secluded and may supply a extra comfy surroundings for intercourse.” In case your pageant isn’t offering these, you may discover some areas that make for a pure chill-out zone after some exploring.  

As for when to have intercourse, it’s in all probability greatest to have it sooner relatively than later. After all, you may have intercourse everytime you like however contemplating the shortage of cleansing services and the final grubbiness of festivals, you may wish to shag early into the pageant. 

Murphy says, “Because the pageant goes on, your tent is extra more likely to get dirtier as you head out and in of it, or should you solely have moist wipes to scrub your self. Secondly, while festivals are enjoyable, they’re additionally bodily demanding so you could lose your libido and power for intercourse as the times go on,” she says.   

Do not forget that festivals are all in regards to the enjoyable and spontaneous environment, and also you’re higher off embracing this than attempting to have “excellent” intercourse (unimaginable at the perfect of instances, not to mention at festivals). If you happen to take the distinctive setting and awkward moments into your stride and discover methods to chortle collectively, the stress will diffuse and also you’ll have a way more relaxed time. 

This text was first revealed in 2023 and republished in 2024.