How to Survive An Outdoor Wine Festival at 98 degrees

The Reggae Wine Festival at the Linganore Wine Cellars in Mount Airy Maryland is one of the premiere summer events in the DC metropolitan area. Some great local reggae artist perform and my favorite DJ of all times Sprang International spins as well. I have missed it every summer for the last several years so this summer I was determined to attend. My parents hail from Tobago the sister island of Trinidad, and I grew up listening to and loving Soca and Reggae music. So I bought my ticktets to the festival early (it sells out every summer) and I was so excited about attending with my cousins until . . . . I heard the weather forecast a couple days before the event. The weatherman announced that Sunday, July 19 would be the hottest day of the summer to date. They called for weather close to 100 degrees. Anyone who knows me knows how much I HATE hot and humid weather. Despite living in Trinidad for seven years as a child, I do not like heat and humidity. So I really debated weather I should attend. But since I had paid for the tickets and promised my cousin I would go, I decided to put my big girl panties on and saddle up! But if I was going to do it, I knew I needed to be PREPARED especially as a Baldie girl. Having the hot son beating down on your bald head is not the way to go. I made sure I applied a 45 SPF sunblock (I opted for Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen). I packed up a portable chair and a large beach umbreller (never go out on a hot day without those two things). My Umbrella is by Tommy Bahama and I swear by it. (purchase here). But my bigger concern was how to stay comfortable at the festival on such a hot day. Pictured below are the items that I found the most helpful at the festival.

1) This straw cowboy hat was purchased at the Festival. It was a game changer as soon as I put it on! Purchase a similar one here. 2) Linganore Wine Cellars Mango Sangria which on ice almost made me forget how hot I was! Link to their wine selection here. 3) This clutch/cross body City Slim in Natural Botanical worked so well with my romper (more on that below) and held the essentials (my Iphone, money, ID). Purchase here. and 4) Last but not least this O2 Cool Fan was the MOST important Item I took with me. Powered with 8 D batteries it ran for over four hours and never ran down. If you are going to be outside in 100 degree weather this is a MUST HAVE. Similar here.

Romper is from H&M. Purchase here. Jewelry & Purse is from Stella & Dot (link above). Necklace is the Rebel Cluster. Sandals are from Urban Outfitters (no longer available). Hat details above.

#stelladot #cityslimclutch #winefestival #staycooloutdoors