What you need to know about Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores: Fashion, safety, what to bring

By MELANIE LECROY
Lifestyle Editor
melanie@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 4/21/23

Do you have a countdown to Hangout Music Fest? No worries because Gulf Coast Media is on top it. Just four more weeks until we are all rocking out on the white powder sand in Gulf Shores.

The 2023 …

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What you need to know about Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores: Fashion, safety, what to bring

Posted

Do you have a countdown to Hangout Music Fest? No worries because Gulf Coast Media is on top it. Just four more weeks until we are all rocking out on the white powder sand in Gulf Shores.

The 2023 lineup is extensive and covers a wide range of genres. There are numerous artists on the list I am not familiar with, but that is about to change. The Hangout Music Fest – Official Playlist has been added to my Spotify rotation. Have you added it to your daily listening schedule? Just log in to Spotify and search Hangout Music Fest. The playlist is long and hits every artist appearing in Gulf Shores this year.

Hangout Fashion

Last year was my first time at the Hangout Music Festival, and I was shocked at the incredible ensembles. I was more concerned about function than fashion, but this is your chance to step out of the box and go big and sparkly. Last year, I saw everything from sequins and speedos to butterfly wings and boots. Anything goes, just make sure your sunscreen is in proportion to the flesh you are showing.

Safety

Speaking of sunscreen, let’s talk safety. The Gulf Shores Fire and Emergency Services Chief of Staff Melvin Shepard said the department had 1,200 patient contacts throughout the 2022 Hangout Music Festival weekend. Only 12 were transported to the emergency room. Most cases were the result of dehydration, sunburn and festival goers needing their feet bandaged up due to walking around barefoot.

The festival area is comprised of three different surfaces: sand, concrete and grass. Several days of walking on hot sand and concrete can be very rough on feet. Make sure to wear shoes that will work on all three surfaces and are comfortable.

Festival organizers ran reminders to apply sunscreen and hydrate throughout the 2022 festival. Heed these reminders. Water stations are available and festival goers are encouraged to bring a non-glass reusable water bottle to the festival.

What to bring

The thought of spending an entire day at the beach gets me a bit anxious when thinking about all the things I might need. But when it comes to going to the Hangout Music Festival, you are limited in terms of the amount of stuff and the size and type of bag you bring into the festival grounds. You must pack like you are flying on a budget airline and only bring the essentials.

Suggested items to bring include:

  • Credit card
  • Clear backpack, bag or purse that is no larger than 12 inches by six inches by 12 inches.
  • Liquid sunscreen in non-aerosol containers of 3 ounces or less.
  • Bug spray in non-aerosol containers of 3 ounces or less.
  • Empty, non-glass water container up to 2 liters in size
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat
  • Beach towel
  • Fanny pack

The festival operates as a cashless event, so make sure to have a credit or debit card with you for purchasing everything from drinks, cocktails, food and merchandise. But you will need cash if you are one of the risk-takers that are hoping to find parking in Gulf Shores instead of buying a shuttle pass. Any business offering parking is cash only and they are not cheap. Pack at least $50 in cash if you are looking for parking. Want to skip the headache of hunting for parking? Purchase your Hangout Shuttle Pass now. Gulf Shores Police Department will be out in full force so do not park illegally.

Check back next week for another countdown to Hangout Music Festival 2023. If there is anything you want to know before coming to Gulf Shores, email melanie@gulfcoastmedia.com.

Gulf Coast Media is your go to source for the 2023 Hangout Music Festival. We will be covering the event from start to finish. For more coverage, visit www.gulfcoastmedia.com/hangout/.

For more on the 2023 Hangout Music Festival, visit www.hangoutmusicfest.com.