Tired of the usual Cinco de Mayo party where people get wasted after drinking tons of Mexican beer? If you’re up for some outdoor fun why not celebrate the coming occasion on a camping trip. But before you grab your backpack and head out the door, you must know what you exactly need for your Cinco de Mayo camping weekend.
First of all, you should know where and when you’re going. Check out the Cinco de Mayo celebrations around you and you’ll surely find a music festival or carnival. There’s also the option of heading out to a peaceful campsite where you can take a break from your busy and toxic life and rejuvenate yourself.
Tent
It goes without saying that you need to pack a tent for your Cinco de Mayo camping adventure. There are lots of beautiful places you can visit and set camp in so even if you’re going in an RV, you still should bring a tent so you can enjoy the outdoors more. A tent would be perfect if you’re going to any of the Cinco de Mayo outdoor festivals or musical events.
Make sure you bring a tent that is spacious enough for everyone to move comfortably inside. That means it can fit everyone and still have enough space to move around. Plus, you should be able to stand up straight.
Don’t forget your poles, stakes and a repair kit for your tent. You should also have a tent footprint or ground cover to place under your tent. This will keep your tent from getting wet or cold from the ground.
Sleeping Bags
You should be spending a lot of time outdoors, especially if you’re at or near a Cinco de Mayo festival. Still, you need to get some shuteye at night. A place to rest comfortably when the body’s a little sore or tired would also be great. Pack sleeping bags for each member of the family or group. This will make sure that every camper gets a good night’s sleep.
Fire Starters
If you’re spending your Cinco de Mayo camping weekend in the wilderness, make sure you bring your fire starters. Pack your matches and lighters in a waterproof container such as a Ziploc bag. You should also have a flint and steel fire starter and some tinder in your camping gear. In case you forgot or lose all your fire starters, you can use a magnifying lens or a battery and steel wool to create fire. Check out this Instructable article on how to make fire using a nine volt battery and fine steel wool.
Portable Stove, Cookset and Eating Utensils
Fire is not only for keeping you warm at night, scaring away wild animals, and signalling for help in case you’re lost or in trouble. It’s also useful in cooking food and boiling water.
Don’t forget your portable stove and cookset so you can fully enjoy a hot meal and a cup of coffee. Since you’re on a Cinco de Mayo camping trip, you may want to make some traditional Mexican food such as enchiladas, tacos, and burritos.
Cooler or Portable Fridge
It’s not a Cinco de Mayo camping weekend without cervezas. Bring a cooler so you can keep your favourite Mexican beer (or any beer for that matter) cold. The children will also want their water and juice cold so make sure you have enough ice to last your trip. Speaking of water, make sure you bring at least one gallon for each camper a day, especially if there is no water source near your camping spot. You also need to keep your fresh meat and other ingredients cold to avoid spoilage so a cooler is really a must-have.
The only time you can leave the cooler behind is if you have a portable refrigerator or freezer. If you have the budget, go ahead and purchase one. You can take it anywhere, hence the “portable” part. A camping fridge does not require ice so you don’t have to worry about them.
Survival Gear and Emergency Kits
Wherever you go, you must be prepared in case things go south. If you’re on a car camping trip, make sure you have your tools, spare tire, and a car emergency kit. Aside from the usual car stuff like jumper cables, car jack, early warning devices, tire pressure gauge, emergency car battery charger, tow strap, and such, you should also have some survival gear and supplies in your vehicle at all times.
You don’t need a car emergency kit if you’re commuting or hitching a ride to your Cinco de Mayo camping spot but you should still bring some survival gear with you. There’s your usual camping gear that’ll keep you from freezing to death such as a wool blanket, Mylar blanket, and weather-appropriate clothes including raingear. You should also have items with you that could prove useful in case you need help like a signal mirror, an emergency whistle, and flares.
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 triumph of 4,000 Mexican soldiers over an 8,000-strong French force. You’re not going to war anytime soon but you should still bring some gear to defend yourself in case you’re face-to-face with a threat during your Cinco de Mayo camping trip. Pack an axe or hatchet and a survival knife. These things will come in handy when you’re camping in the wild.
Other camping or survival gear you should have in your backpack include a multi-tool, headlamp, camping lantern, compass, GPS, maps, two-way radios, battery-operated radio, extra batteries, paracord, duct tape, first aid kit, a small sewing kit, water purification tablets, water filters, sun screen, insect repellent, pen or pencil and a small notebook. Don’t forget to bring a tactical flashlight like the TC1200 from 1tac.
The items mentioned here are far from being the only ones you’ll need for your Cinco de Mayo camping weekend. We haven’t even mentioned garage bags and your hygiene kit. If you’d like to share what you would bring if you were to go on your own Cinco de Mayo camping trip, please feel free to do so in the comment section. If you’re looking for more camping tips and tricks, go ahead and visit The Gentleman Pirate.
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