Ten Things To Pack For Black Deer Fesitval 2022

If you're off to Black Deer festival this summer, then here's our Holler guide for what to bring with you and what to expect when you get there.

Chilli eating competitions, songwriter sessions, cocktails, barbecue, axe throwing, old cars, live performances and late-night DJs.

It’s all going on at Black Deer. It’ll be the first time the festival has been on since 2019, so even if you’ve been before you might want to have a quick run through our Black Deer essentials check list. Better safe than sorry.

Our 10 tips for packing for Black Deer will help you be as prepared as possible. This way, you can just enjoy the music and festivities, instead of worrying about getting sunburnt or soaked through.

We know it’s obvious, but there’s always one. So, don’t forget your ticket! If you’ve been sent an E-Ticket then Black Deer recommend printing a copy or downloading it to your phone.

You don’t want to have to drive around the Kent countryside looking for an internet café, while the rest of us are tucking into cheese stuffed jalapenos and listening to Caroline Spence.

If you still haven’t got a ticket you can get one here

After all, if you’re going to be unwinding with some good old fashioned axe throwing, then you really ought to look the part.

Please don’t bring your own axe. Black Deer will provide you with one when you get to the axe throwing area.

In fact, no weapons are allowed into the festival at all. Or air horns, klaxons or megaphones. Don’t worry, there are plenty of other ways to unwind.

DON’T bring cash to the festival! Unless you just like having it jingling around in your pocket to make you feel like a baller.

Black Deer will once again be using cashless wristbands. It’s the most secure and easy way to spend your money during the festival. That means no coins, notes or drinks tokens to weigh you down.

Make sure you are festival-ready and pre-register HERE to avoid queues when you arrive on site, and don’t forget you’ll still need to bring a bank card to top up your wristband.

Any questions you have will be answered there. Unless you have a really stupid one like, “what should I do if someone cuts off arm while my wristband is still on it?” Although with all these axes flying around, maybe it’s not so silly.

Be prepared for the best and the worst of the British weather and make sure you have all the possibilities (and your head) covered come rain or shine. The same goes for clothing.

Pack for all weathers, and don’t forget it can get chilly at night out in the Kent countryside! So even if it’s been glorious sunshine all day you’ll still need to wrap up warm at night.

There’s no time to lie in at Black Deer, and that especially includes Sunday. Their traditional Gospel Brunch is just one reason to set the alarm and get up early on Sunday morning.

Sunday isn’t a day of rest at Black Deer after all, it’s a day for great food and righteous music!

The Gospel Brunch will open up the Live Fire stage on Sunday while you treat yourself before and during the show to southern style, sweet and spicy-hot grilled chicken thighs, delicious grill-toasted waffles and lots of maple syrup to make you feel like you’re brunching in Memphis 1968!

If you’ve got kids - or even you want to just borrow someone else’s for the weekend - then Black Deer is the perfect place to bring them.

There are activities galore all weekend especially for the young folks. There’ll be tree climbing, a zip wire, a climbing wall, spoon painting, skate boarding workshops, crafting, a silent disco, slacklining (whatever that is) and guitar, ukulele, and harmonica lessons.

Woodland Tribe will even be on hand to promote the best kind of adventure play – allowing children to safely use hammers, saws, drills, nails, screws, rope, netting and a huge quantity of wood to build the playground of their dreams.

They’ll be so busy all weekend! Maybe this is your chance to casually wean them off that evil little witch Peppa Pig once and for all.

We’re not kidding, the food is so delicious you need to be properly prepared to eat all weekend long. Black Deer is a three-day celebration of outdoor cooking and the lifestyle that surrounds it.

Much of the inspiration behind the food at Black Deer hails from the States. Yet their ethically sourced produce is resolutely British.

Expect to be transported to the Smokehouses of America’s Deep South and get down and meaty with ribs, pulled meats, brisket, rotisserie chicken, smoky scents and sweet sauces.

Cooking ‘slow and low’ in custom made smokers, is always the order of the day – with skilled chefs taking primal pleasure in live-fire cooking.

Coal-roasted aubergine, cheese stuffed Jalapeno’s, and charred corn tacos will prove that smokehouse cooking needn’t be all about the meat.

There'll even be celebrity chefs showing off all weekend!

If you still haven’t wound down after all that axe throwing maybe it’s time to head back to the campsite for a little refreshment. Alcohol can only be brought into the campsite by those aged 18 and over.

However, please note that all alcohol must be in cans, plastic bottles or bag-in-box as no glass is allowed on site. Each person is allowed enough for personal consumption.

Once you’re in the arena you don’t have to worry about refreshments. Black Deer take their drinks just as seriously as the music. With the best craft beers, artisan ales, fine wines, and barrel-aged smooth tasting spirits, all on show.

Away from the alcohol, expert Baristas will be on hand to serve you up a carefully prepared brew to give you your morning fix, or your afternoon lift.

Plus, there’s also a range of natural juices and delicious smoothies to wash everything down with.

With all the incredible music going on all weekend you're going to need at least one pair of your best dancing shoes. Don't worry if you're not a natural either. You can take dance lessons when you get there!

Don’t just throw your empty cans in Ross' tent when he's not looking. Help keep Black Deer litter free and pick up all your rubbish and dispose of it properly.

For more information on tickets and for other country festivals set for 2023 and 2024 - head here.

For more on Black Deer Festival, see below: