Festival Flags: How to Fly a Flag at a Camping Festival

Festival flags help you find your tent in a field of thousands and give your group a rallying point in the crowd. The usual set-up is a lightweight 5ft x 3ft flag on a telescopic pole, held up with a ground stake and a couple of guy lines at the campsite, plus a smaller flag on a handheld pole for the arena if the festival allows it. Before you pack, check your festival's rules: many limit pole heights or ban flags and poles from front-of-stage areas.

Why fly a flag at a festival?

• Finding your tent. By day two, every campsite looks the same. A flag several metres up is the easiest landmark there is, especially in the dark.
• Finding your friends. "Meet at the flag" is far easier than describing a spot by a burger van.
• Showing where you're from. County flags, home nation flags and the flags of your heritage are common sights, and often start conversations.
• Making it yours. A custom flag with an in-joke, a group name or a photo becomes part of the festival tradition for your crew year after year.

Check the festival's flag rules first

Every festival sets its own rules, and they can change from year to year. Before you buy a pole, look on the festival's website or app for the list of prohibited items and any guidance on flags. Things to look for:

• Maximum pole height in campsites, and whether poles must be collapsible.
• Whether flags are allowed in the arena or in front of the main stages. Some festivals allow flags only on handheld poles; others don't allow them in front of stages at all, because they block the view of people behind.
• Restrictions on flag content, such as offensive or political material.
• Rules about fixings, for example whether you can drive stakes into the ground in certain areas.

If in doubt, contact the organisers. Stewards can confiscate items that don't meet the rules, so it's better to find out before you travel.

Choosing the right pole

Our telescopic flag pole extends from 3m to 12m and packs down small, so it fits in a car boot or on a rucksack with a festival trolley. Choose a length that matches the festival's limits, and remember you don't have to extend every section. For arenas and walking about, a 1.2m handheld telescopic pole or a 6ft handheld pole from our handheld flagpoles range is easier to manage in a crowd. For more on matching flag and pole sizes, see what size flag for your flagpole.

Choosing the flag

For festivals, a lightweight printed polyester flag is usually the best choice. It flies in a light breeze, it's easy to carry and it won't put too much strain on a tall, thin pole. A 5ft x 3ft flag is the most popular size for campsite poles; an 8ft x 5ft flag catches a lot of wind and is usually too much for a festival pole.

Ideas for what to fly:

• Your county flag or home nation flag.
• The flag of your family's country of origin.
• A fun design from our celebration flags, or a pirate flag, which never goes out of fashion.
• A custom flag with your group's name, a running joke or a photo. Custom flags are typically ready in around 7 working days, so order a few weeks before the festival to allow time for artwork approval and delivery. Our custom printed flags guide explains how to prepare your design.

Bright colours and bold, simple designs are easiest to spot from a distance. Fine detail and small text disappear at 50 metres.

Putting it up securely

1. Pick your spot. Keep well clear of overhead power lines, lighting rigs and fire lanes, and don't put the pole where guy lines will trip people walking past at night.
2. Drive in the ground stake firmly and slot the pole base onto it. A large stake grips better in soft or sandy ground.
3. Attach the flag to the top section while the pole is collapsed.
4. Extend the pole section by section, locking each one as you go.
5. Add guy lines. Tie two or three lines about two-thirds of the way up and peg them out at an even angle. On a tall pole this is essential, not optional.

Mark guy lines with a strip of reflective tape or a glow stick so people don't walk into them after dark.

Wind, weather and taking it down

Wind is the biggest risk to a festival flag and pole. If the forecast is for strong gusts, collapse the pole by a few sections or take the flag down altogether. A flag flying in a gale puts heavy leverage on the top of a thin pole and can bend sections or pull out the stake. Lower it when you leave the campsite for long periods too, if you can.

At the end of the weekend, collapse the pole from the top down, wipe off mud before the sections dry, and dry the flag before storing it. Our guide on how long a flag lasts has tips for keeping it in good condition for next year.

Festival flag etiquette

• Lower your flag when people behind you can't see the stage.
• Don't wave a pole in a packed crowd, and never use it as a climbing aid or a prop to lean on.
• Keep flags clear of campfires, stoves and barbecues; printed polyester is not fire-retardant.
• Take everything home with you. Abandoned poles and flags add to the clean-up.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take a flag to a festival?

Most UK camping festivals allow flags in the campsites, but rules on pole height and on flags in the arena vary. Check the festival's prohibited items list on its website or app before you go.

What size flag is best for a festival?

A 5ft x 3ft lightweight flag is the most popular size for campsite poles. For handheld poles in the arena, a 3ft x 2ft or 18in x 12in flag is easier to hold up.

How tall should a festival flagpole be?

Tall enough to clear the tents around you, which in practice means about 4 to 6 metres. Don't exceed any limit the festival sets, and guy a tall pole securely.

How do I stop my festival flagpole blowing over?

Use a ground stake and two or three guy lines tied about two-thirds of the way up. In strong winds, collapse a few sections or take the flag down.

How long does a custom festival flag take?

Our custom flags are typically ready in around 7 working days, plus delivery. Order a few weeks before the festival to leave time for artwork approval.

Getting ready for festival season? Browse our telescopic flagpoles and stakes for the campsite, or design your own custom festival flag so your group can always find its way back.