It does not matter if it’s a small-town street festival or a big commercialized musical event, I’m always among the crowds having a blast. You can usually spot me by the stage singing my heart out as I sway in my wheelchair at the Baton Rouge Blues Festival or the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. And I eat until I pop at food festivals.
I’ve been enjoying the festival atmosphere my whole life. I was only a few days old when I went to my first one, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. And when I was the ambassador for the Very Special Miss Louisiana, I was a guest judge for a couple of crawfish contests. There, I learned that grilled pineapple goes great with crawfish at the Crawfish and Roses Festival in Covington. When I was a judge at the Bo’s Extravaganza Pinchin’ Tails for TARC Crawfish Cook-Off last April, I got to meet John Schneider, and he liked the same spicy crawfish I did.
Even if the level of accessibility at some of these events isn’t great, I’m always still able to have fun. Over the years, I’ve learned the best ways to navigate our state’s vibrant festivals as a disabled individual and have turned every setback into a valuable tool. Here are some of my do’s and don’ts.
Even if the forecast looks perfect, always bring a raincoat or poncho—and not just for yourself, but for your equipment. I highly recommend bringing extra protective coverings for motorized wheelchairs. Blazing sunlight can be as annoying as rain clouds. Sunscreen should be your best friend even if it’s breezy. Put it on as soon as you get to the grounds and reapply it every three hours. I can’t tell you how many times I have faced random showers on a sunny day or a painful sunburn on a chilly day.
Local musical events usually provide covered accessible seating areas. If you or your disabled companion prefer sitting up and away from the crowds, take advantage of these areas, which usually offer shade and peace. The view is not always great, though, and many commercialized festivals only allow one companion to sit with disabled attendees. For this reason, I prefer sitting down in general admission with my group. Set an alarm on your phone as a friendly reminder to give you enough time to get to your next performance or contest. If you have time to kill between headliner acts, check out the local performers. You might get to see the next superstar of the music scene—smaller local events are where many started.
Make a checklist for yourself so you don’t forget important items like anti-nausea medicine, disinfectant spray/wipes, bug spray, or Band-Aids. Be sure to also bring a hat, portable fan and water bottle to keep you cool and hydrated, as well as a portable phone charger in case of emergencies.
Skip the bulky laptops and iPads, and if you communicate with a speaking device, make sure you hide the technology in a safe place whenever you get out for a carnival ride.
Festivals are amazing opportunities for meeting new people, so don’t be afraid of doing some solo explorations. Use a sticky note or notebook to record emergency contact information in case your phone dies. Write your own number, name and/or location down for disabled children or adults in your group to hold onto, as well. You can also write the same information inside their shoe or on their shirt. If you do travel in a group, designate meeting areas.