Do festivals need portable shower hire?

Festivals are synonymous with freedom, music, and an unrelenting sense of adventure. Whether it’s Glastonbury, Reading, or a smaller, independent festival in the countryside, the experience is about letting go of everyday routines and diving into a few days of wild enjoyment. However, with that freedom comes the undeniable challenge facing festival-goers – how to keep clean. And at the heart of this dilemma lies the age-old question – do festivals need showers? We’ve decided to look at the pros and cons of having mobile shower units at your next festival.

The benefits of festival shower hire

Hygiene - the most obvious argument in favour of showers is hygiene. Festivals, especially those that last several days, can lead to a level of grime and discomfort that’s hard to ignore. From the mud of a rainy festival to the sweat of dancing in the sun, there’s no escaping the fact that you’re going to get dirty. For many festival-goers, taking a shower is a basic part of self-care that makes the overall experience more enjoyable. It helps refresh, re-energise, and allows for a better night’s sleep, so they can enjoy the music without feeling sluggish or grimy. Having access to shower facilities will also lead to a drop in the use of baby wipes which are non- biodegradable and the go-to for festival-goers to freshen up.

Sense of community - the communal aspect of showers can be a social activity in itself. Queues at the festival showers can foster conversations between strangers and build a sense of camaraderie. It’s not just about being clean – it’s about the shared experience. After all, everyone at a festival is in the same boat, so why not bond over a shared experience of waiting in line to rinse off the sweat and mud?

Home-from-home experience – festival-goers who might be sleeping under canvas for the duration of the event will appreciate some home comforts, and our mobile shower units offer just that. With showers set to an ambient 38° C temperature, the individual, lockable cubicles offer privacy and a generous changing area with a clothes hook and mirror.

Increase in attendance numbers - for the diehard ‘wild camper’, the whole point of the festival experience is to experience a more carefree, authentic atmosphere. A lack of showers forces festival-goers to embrace the gritty, unrefined nature of festival life. However, for those who don’t want to immerse themselves quite so much into this way of life, showers will encourage them to stay for the duration of the event. Many festival-goers cite a lack of washing facilities as the main reason they leave a multi-day event early, so providing portable shower units incentivises them to stay longer.

Is festival shower hire just a luxury?

At some festivals, mobile shower units are offered as an optional luxury, often in VIP areas or as part of “glamping” packages. These showers offer a compromise between comfort and festival authenticity, providing festival-goers the opportunity to freshen up if they want to, while those preferring a more ‘authentic’ experience can pass them by. 

Ultimately, the question event organisers should be asking isn’t whether festivals need showers but whether they can afford not to offer them to attendees, to give them the best experience possible?

Portable shower hire from Fortis Hire

Our range of portable showers for hire includes a 4-bay shower unit, a 6-bay shower unit, a disabled shower unit, and a luxury disabled toilet and shower combi, all of which are available on short- or long-term hires. The shower blocks are gas powered and they do require a water supply – where none is available, we can provide an IBC (intermediate bulk container) and pump, plus a grey waste tank where necessary. Where event organisers do have access to a mains water supply, we can provide and install all required pipework. 

To discuss your festival requirements, send us a few details to sales@fortishire.co.uk or call the team on 01525 643850 to find out how we can help.