Live music, everyone with the same shared love coming together and an incredible atmosphere – there’s nothing quite like Download Festival.
When you live with a stoma, the thought of long days on your feet, outdoor toilets, unpredictable festival food and constant walking can trigger a lot of anxiety. I’m Amy, and as a girl with a stoma navigating life with Crohn’s disease, I know first-hand how intimidating big events can feel. But that doesn’t stop me.
Life is for living.
Having attended Download Fest for two years now with my stoma, I wanted to share my experiences and tips.
My hope is that this blog post helps you feel confident enough to grab those tickets and enjoy making memories!
Why attending Download with a stoma matters
Living with a stoma shouldn’t mean pressing pause on the things that bring you joy. Music festivals are all about freedom and connection, but fear of poor hygiene, festival toilets, output changes and festival food can sometimes stop people attending (and that’s without a stoma, too!).
By sharing our experiences and practical solutions, we can help take the fear and anxiety out of events like these.
Knowing what to expect and how to plan for it empowers us to step outside our comfort zones, while keeping our peace of mind intact.
Going to Download two years in a row
This has definitely helped my confidence to grow.
The first year I went for a day, staying in a local hotel and taking the shuttle bus in and out. If you’re feeling particularly anxious about attending a festival with a stoma, I highly recommend starting with a day ticket! It’s the perfect way to test the waters, get a feel for the crowd and layout and practice using the facilities without the pressure of a full weekend (or camping).
By my second year, I was ready to tackle three full days (the weekend arena). We opted to stay in a hotel rather than camping, taking a 30 to 45-minute shuttle bus ride to and from the festival.
Having that clean, comfy and quiet hotel base was a complete game-changer for me.
It meant starting each day with an unhurried, private stoma bag change and having a sanctuary to return to at night.
The daily shuttle bus required planning the extra time into our schedule, but having an accessibility pass on site made getting into the festival much easier, with less of a wait, and also navigating the toilet situation and festival more smoothly than I feared. I didn’t have an access pass first year, and got on fine, but definitely needed it for the toilets as the queues were crazy!
Top tips
1. How I packed and prepped my supplies
Staying off site meant I had to be strategic about what I took with me each day. Luckily, with an access pass, you do get permission to take in a bigger bag if needed to carry in your supplies, and an extra fluid allowance too.
I kept my main supplies at the hotel and packed enough for 3 bag changes in my bag that I took to the festival, along with extra packs of tissues, hand sanitiser, and stoma deodorant drops. All my bags are pre-cut by Respond, so this really helps.
2. Emptying my bag and using accessible toilets
Managing emptying my bag on site was my biggest worry. Securing an accessibility pass prior to the festival really helped with this.
I got to use the accessible toilets which were, on the whole, clean and had plenty of toilet roll.
The only down side to the experience with this was on the last night we were there near the main stage. Nearly all the accessible toilets had full waste tanks and I had to wait much longer to the point where my bag was beyond full.
I went to the front of the queue and explained the situation and thankfully, I got into a toilet to empty my bag five minutes later.
I did feel quite a lot of anxiety surrounding this, but worst came to worst I’d have just changed my bag in the toilet if I couldn’t empty it, but I wouldn’t have felt super comfy doing it.
Otherwise, I was glad I had water in my backpack with me to help rinse my ostomy waste down the toilet where sometimes the portaloos didn’t fully do it. The portaloos for a bit of a squeeze, but thankfully there were bigger toilets too if needed, although these were quite few and far between in comparison.
3. Managing food and drink throughout the weekend
Festival food can be delicious, but some rich and greasy options or sudden diet changes can impact your stoma output.
It’s so important to:
- Prioritise hydration: With all the walking and dancing, this can be a real risk. I kept a refillable water bottle with me and electrolyte tablets/sachets and also took a sealed Lucozade Sport in with me and a sealed bottle of Coke Zero too. I also took some loperamide in my kit to help slow my bowel down and thicken up my output if needed.
- Stick to your safe foods: If in doubt, save experimenting with new or rich foods for when you’re at home. Lean on caterers with good reviews that you know provide things you can eat. Download always release their caterers in good advance before the festival, so you can explore options and do your research before you go.
- Pace alcoholic drinks: If you choose to drink alcohol, alternate drinks with non-alcoholic options to prevent dehydration and high, loose output. Remember that fizzy drinks such as beer or lemonade, for example, also can cause bloating and wind.
I also took a few sealed snacks with me for each day, and a meal deal in one day too.
Festival challenges and how I overcame them
One of my biggest hurdles over the 3-day weekend was the physical toll of the long days. Walking miles across the festival in warm weather meant I was worried about dehydrating and falling poorly.
I prepared for the hydration, as mentioned above, and me and my husband also took our own lightweight foldable chairs which definitely helped to be able to sit and rest. Thankfully, the weather was dry for all three days, but I’m not sure how we’d get on with chairs if it was super wet and muddy! I guess I’ll find out one year.
Whenever I felt fatigue and aches setting in, I gave myself permission to step back, find a spot away from the busy crowds, hydrate, get food if needed and take a breather. It’s so important to listen to your body to help you make the most out of the weekend!
My top 3 confidence boosters
If you are on the fence about attending a festival with a stoma, my biggest piece of advice is: Don’t let fear make the decision for you.
You absolutely can do a festival with a stoma!
- Start small: Start with a day pass if the full weekend feels overwhelming and get a feel for the experience.
- Apply for accessibility facilities early: Accessibility pass applications usually open around November and it’s an easy process to follow. Download have clear instructions on their website. Apply for accessibility as soon as your ticket is confirmed for peace of mind.
- Wear what makes you feel comfy: High-waisted garments and my stoma support wear are my go-tos!
FAQs
Is it difficult to get an accessibility pass for festivals like Download?
In my experience, not at all. Most major festivals have dedicated accessibility teams. Typically, you need to submit a short form online along with standard supporting documentation (like a doctor’s letter or PIP award letter) well in advance of the event.
What happens if I get a bag leak?
Head straight to the nearest accessible toilet block or medical tent. Having your on-the-go kit means you can be prepared and handle a change on site without having to trek back to the hotel and miss a big chunk of the festival. Always take 2×3 times the amount of spares you think you might need. I took 3 bags, 5 barrier wipes, 5 adhesive remover wipes, dry wipes, disposable bags, a small bottle of ostomy deodorant drops and hand gel.
