If you think music festival season is reserved for scorching summer months or desert locales, you’d be sadly mistaken … and totally missing out. Some of the best festivals occur well after Labor Day, allowing you to frolic and dance without interruption (read: regularly dousing yourself with ice water or hunting for a patch of shade). From Philly’s Made in America Festival and Tennessee’s Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival in September to LA’s The Growlers and Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in October, there are plenty of opportunities to get your music fix this season. This also means you can trade in that go-to festival ensemble of cutoffs and a crop top for essentials that are bit more practical and with less ventilation. Not sure where to begin? Take a gander at the five key pieces needed for any fall music festival—yes, they’re both grass- and dance-friendly.
Your Fall Festival Checklist
Solid Footwear
No matter what area your festival lands in, chances are there will be grass, dirt and general non-concrete terrain involved—so a solid and stylish boot is crucial. The classic work boot style from Frye strikes the perfect balance thanks to its sturdy feel and elevated silhouette (we're loving that heel).
A Warm Jacket
Fall nights are no joke, so be sure to bundle up once the sun sets with a cozy, on-trend shearling jacket.
A Practical-Yet-Trendy Bag
Unique and eccentric shapes are all the rage in the handbag world this season, so show off your savvy aesthetic with an of-the-moment bucket bag that also proves practical while holding your phone, water and everything else that will get you through the long festival days.
A Movable Ensemble
Since you'll be doing a fair amount of dancing, walking and the like, you need an outfit that will move with you. A floaty, easy dress with a fun print is a fail-proof option and will look just as good layered over a long-sleeve tee if it's chilly.
Sunnies
Just because the temps are dropping, it doesn't mean the sun has ceased to exist. Protect your peepers—and look mysteriously cool in the process—with sunglasses that feature a classic, versatile frame.
