It is upon us, the weekend of the year that so many of us look forward to the moment after the final sunset over the Harbor casts its golden rays on the Fort stage. I have been fairly lucky in not forgetting too much over the years but there is always the one thing you find yourself saying “man, I really wish I had X right now”, so we thought it would be nice to share a few of those items with you here before you head on over on the ferry, pedaling your way in or carpooling with friends and family to the Fort tomorrow morning.

Here they are:

–Shield Yourself! Fort Adams is a beautiful spot, sun shines down and a gentle breeze off the water can keep you cool if you head over to the beer pier and dip your feet in the ocean lapping against the planks, but its SUNNY and while the Quad and Harbor has some good shaded options it can get pretty warm and you can get baked under the sun’s rays without realizing it (note: my incredibly awkward sunglass/raccoon eyes sun burn from 2013). So think ahead. Bring a hat, sunglasses and of course, for your fairer skinned Irish descendants like myself: plenty of sunscreen. You will be thanking yourself on Saturday and Sunday by wiping on a quick bit of lotion on Friday. Trust a guy who knows all too well!

-Shield Yourself…AGAIN! It wouldn’t be Newport without at least a scare of a rain storm rolling in. I bring plastic bags for my camera bodies and my pack has a pull over water proof cover to keep all my lenses safe and dry but I always seem to forget a simple, plastic, 99 cent poncho you can grab at any gas station. Do yourself a favor and if only for piece of mind bring one for yourself if you are like myself and try to travel light. If you are a “pack it all in and set up shop at the Fort or Quad” type, then toss a rain jacket in your bag. Its light and will jus sit there all day anyway…plus you could always put it over your head in a tent like fashion and double it up as sun protection if need be!

-LOW PROFILE chairs If you must bring a chair, make it low profile. C’mon, don’t be a jerk.

-A reusable water bottle Mine has a little carabiner that clips right onto my camera pack. I fill it up a few times a day, keep hydrated and keep happy! Newport has a ton of water refilling stations all over the Fort for your convenience. Its never tough to find one.

-Battery recharger Whats worse that having your phone battery go dead, having panic ensue and being unable to rejoin or find your friends for a ride back to town to catch an after part? I’m not sure, but I sure as heck ain’t going to find out. I have one from Brunton that is sleek and can slip right into your back pocket…just make sure you recharge it! If not, bring your phone charger. Last year there was power available on location and there are always the few outlets in the Museum that folks seem to utilize.

-Cash It makes things easier! Buy a Del’s (or 17 of them), Beer and Wine tokens, Food, Newport Folk swag or some of the incredibly wonderful work from the vendors on site and make it easier on everyone by having some cash on hand. Those little Square things only go so far and work on occasion, so bring a wad of cash…and spend it. Give back to local folks making art and delicious food.

-An Open Mind Here is your most important thing to bring. No matter how hard you plan, that plan is going to go sour at some point. With pop up performances, who knows that the Motel Song Swap will entail, unannounced acts in the Late July tent, the super cool sessions in the SquareSpace ruins…I mean, you can’t possibly plan your weekend. The best thing is to let that ocean breeze take you to wherever it whims you to be and catch something new. It may end up being your favorite thing of the weekend.

See you at the Fort!