How to Enjoy/Survive a Big Event

 

Being a traveler means seizing rare opportunities when they are available. Often, when such wonders come up, they tend to be expensive, but once in awhile a miraculous occurrence takes place that allows you to take part in these events, free of charge; (and it isn’t just locals who enjoy saving a pretty penny, but the Northern Wander Women like to be thrifty too). On the most recent occasion, I was able to take advantage of this in my own country as it celebrated its 150th birthday. That’s right, I was in Ottawa, on Parliament Hill for Canada Day 150! I was blessed enough to get special passes from my boss that allowed me an easy access to the hill so that I could take full advantage of the festivities. Though not everyone had that luxury (and though I rarely get that luxury too), here’s how to survive this hectic events, Wander Women style!

• Time is of the essence. We usually try to suggest that when traveling, it’s best to find a balance between “get r done” and “stop and smell the roses”. With big, once in a lifetime events, there is no such thing as balance. Often, you need to plan a minimum of 2 to 3 hours ahead of time to wait in line before actually making it to the event. The only reason I made it on the hill on Canada Day by arriving at 9h30 instead of 6am, was because I had a special pass. There were some people who waited 5 hours before giving up since they had barely moved in the queue. The earlier, the better when it comes to lining up for these events

• Transportation information. It’s also necessary to decide ahead of time how you plan on getting to the event. Local transit is always the best option, regardless of how busy and crowded it will be (toughen up and enjoy the ride). This will most likely be the least of your worries during one of my most chaotic yet rewarding days of your life. Bus or trains (should they be available) are the most convenient ways to go about it. If you insist on taking your own vehicle, make sure to park far enough away and walk to the event. Be warned, parking anywhere will be ridiculously expensive.

• Research, research, research. It is imperative that you know what you’re getting yourself into. Check to see where the entrances will be to the event. Canada day had one entrance, and one official queue while fake lines were being created; this meant that some people waited in the wrong line for hours since they didn’t do their research, and never bothered to ask one of the officials. Know where you’re going. Know how to get there. Have a backup plan ready, and don’t be afraid to use it!

• Food, oh glorious food! Sometimes, (but not all times) there won’t be any sustenance inside the event parameters. Learning that the hard way, on Canada day, there were no food carts, snacks stations of any sorts inside the site. They existed outside of the gates, which forced you to exit with no chance of returning. This again, is where researching the details of the event is important. Though you still have to go through security, some people showed up with mini coolers filled with food and refreshments. There were however water refill station which were convenient (if you had an empty reusable bottle - handy tip), but nothing else to sustain your appetite throughout the day. If you don’t want a cooler, bring snacks. Fruit that won’t spoil, or even protein bars if you have them; extra energy, filling and it doesn’t take that much room. Just get ready to binge eat when the day is done.

• Comfort over Cute. Your outfit means nothing if you can barely stand within the first hour. Your shoes are the most important part of your outfit. Wear sneakers, comfy sandals or flats. Do not by ANY MEANS wear heals. Dr. Scholl's will not help you when you’re closing in on hour 6 and you’ve moved just a few meters in the line; plus your heels don’t look great when half of them are stuck in the mud and/or dirt. No matter how much you want it, don’t do it. Just don’t.

• There is always more. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t get on the main site of the event. More often than not, there are secondary locations, hidden events and personal gems that are tucked away in certain corners, providing the best experiences, or the most wonderful views. The city of Ottawa was littered with these locations because it became obvious early on that not everyone who was making it downtown could actually fit on the Hill. If you want to stay at one place throughout the day, that’s great, and if not, go explore and see what’s out there.

• Take a chance! Like I mentioned, I was blessed to be able to score a VIP pass to have access to the hill. I was brought to a special area that was roped off, which allowed me to spend the whole day there. A friend of mine was working the event, and had the same clearance as I had, so we were able to spend time together. That being said, try your luck and ask around. There might be people looking for a plus1, or there might be contest offering up the opportunity to get a more in depth experience to these events. The chances are sometimes slim, but what do you have to lose?! Try it and see what happens. There is always more than one way to experience something.

So now that you know the basics of how to attend a "once in a lifetime" event, go out there and find one to test it all out. It’s absolutely amazing and mesmerizing when you get to be part of such a staggering historical event, that promises good times and good change.

And if you were one of the many thousands of people who showed up on the hill for Canada's 150th birthday, feel free to leave a comment, or to post a pic about that amazing day!

Kyla