Quick take: Festival pre-drinks (or "pregame", if you're in the US) means: getting the mood going at camp before you head to the stage. Here's the full setup – the right timing, the right drinks, quick games and the shared opening toast – plus how to pre-drink without hitting your limit too early.
💡 By the way: that's exactly why we built the SwigSki3000® — four people, one ski, one shot in sync. More on that below ↓
A good round of festival pre-drinks decides the whole night. If you get the mood right at camp, you walk to the stage already warmed up as a group – instead of only loosening up by the third song. This guide gives you the full pre-drinks setup: timing, drinks, quick games and the moment that brings the group together.
Pre-drinks (US: pregame) is the sociable warm-up phase before the actual event – at a festival that means drinking, playing and getting into the mood at camp or in the tent before the group heads to the stage. The goal is atmosphere, group spirit and good vibes – not being done for the night before the first act even starts.
Why festival pre-drinks are worth it
Pre-drinks are more than "drinking on the cheap". It's the part of the night where a bunch of individuals turns into a group. Three reasons it pays off:
- Mood from the start: if you're already warmed up on the way to the stage, you're in it from the first minute – no long thaw-out in the crowd.
- Save your budget: drinks from your own stash at camp cost a fraction of festival bar prices. Whoever covers most of the thirst beforehand saves the most.
- Bring the group together: a game or two and that first shared toast break the ice – especially when not everyone already knew each other.
The right timing: don't peak too early
The most common pre-drinks mistake is going full throttle too soon. Rule of thumb: plan backwards from the act you actually want to see, and start pre-drinking about two to three hours before – take it easy, don't race for a record.
The point of pre-drinking is the transition, not the peak. If you already give it everything at camp, you miss the exact thing you came for. Good pre-drinks still leave room to go further.
A concrete example: headliner starts at 10pm? Then pre-drinks start around 7pm – with a proper meal first, easy games from around 7:30pm, and the group setting off for the stage around 9:30pm. That way you're warmed up but still have plenty of energy left for the main act and the hours after it.
The pre-drinks setup: drinks, music, toast
Three ingredients turn a round at the tent into real pre-drinks:
The drinks
Keep it simple and cooler-friendly: a mix of beer, something with a bit of fizz, and a few shots for the highlights. Pre-mixed bottled drinks save effort. For more ideas, check our summer party drinks in shot glasses.
The music
A speaker and one shared playlist – that's the fastest mood-lever there is. Let several people in the group add songs, so everyone feels included.
The toast
A shared opening shot marks the official start of the night. That exact moment – everyone at once – is the one everyone remembers afterwards (more on that below). Anyone who wants the group to already look the part hands out the mini-ski shot glass necklaces beforehand – then everyone's carrying their shot ready to go.
Quick pre-drinks games for the warm-up phase
Pre-drinks don't need long tournaments – just short games that start instantly and get everyone involved. Three that fit any time slot:
- Never Have I Ever: no gear needed, playable instantly, perfect for getting to know the group.
- Captain Flunky (Flunkyball light): one can, one ball – the classic works between two tents too.
- A quick round with cards: one deck of cards is all you need for a warm-up round of King's Cup (also known as Ring of Fire).
- Who Am I?: a name on your forehead, guessed via yes/no questions – needs zero prep and pulls in the quieter people in the group too.
Rule of thumb for picking pre-drinks games: short, easy to explain, and no fuss with gear. Anything that takes more than a couple of minutes to set up, save for the campsite after the show.
Want to make it bigger? Pre-drinks can quickly turn into a full tournament – find out how in our guide to the Beer Olympics for big festival crews. And for the full lineup of games, see our ultimate list of festival drinking games.
The first toast: the Shotski moment
There's one moment that officially opens every round of pre-drinks: four people stand side by side, lift a ski-shaped object together and drink at the exact same second. No countdown needed – and the tents next door will absolutely ask: "What is that?"
The SwigSki3000® – internationally a Shotski (also written "shot ski"), in Austria and South Tyrol a Meter Ski – is built exactly for this kickoff. Modular, lightweight, no table needed, every glass detaches and washes separately. As a shared opening toast, it puts the whole group on the same level in one second.
Prefer something individual? The ski-boot shot glasses are unbreakable shot vessels in ski-boot shape – ideal for the pre-drinks round and tougher than any glass at camp.
Smart pre-drinks: so the headliner doesn't happen without you
Good pre-drinks means still being there by the end of the night. Three simple rules keep you in the game:
- Water in between: a cup of water between rounds doubles your stamina – especially in summer heat at the campsite.
- Eat first: a solid base before the first shot is the simplest trick against an early crash.
- Group pace, not the fastest person's pace: pre-drinks are a group thing – whoever keeps pace instead of racing ahead is still going strong at the headliner.
Myth check: does drinking oil beforehand actually help?
A stubborn myth keeps doing the rounds – supposedly a trick from Asia: a swig of oil before your first drink so you can handle more. The honest answer: a full, fatty stomach really does slow down how fast alcohol hits your bloodstream – but drinking straight oil barely helps, tastes disgusting, and won't make you "more tolerant". The effect kicks in a bit later at most, but you end up absorbing just as much either way. What actually helps isn't a secret trick, it's exactly what we already covered: eat properly beforehand, drink water between rounds, and stay at the group's pace. That gets you through the night relaxed – no oil bottle required.
The most common pre-drinks mistakes
Avoid these four slip-ups and you'll get through the whole festival day relaxed:
- Starting too early: kicking off at noon sounds like more fun, but ends in a nap instead of the mosh pit. Better to start later, but with a plan.
- Pre-drinking on an empty stomach: without a proper base, the first buzz hits twice as hard – and the night's over before it starts.
- Forgetting water: in summer heat at the campsite you dehydrate fast. A cup of water per round is the simplest stamina trick there is.
- Losing track of valuables: sort your phone, festival wristband and cash so they're within reach before the first shot – afterwards, experience shows, nobody thinks of it again.
More festival fun
Pre-drinks are the opening act of our festival cluster. If the night keeps going:
- Festival drinking games: the ultimate list – the 8 classics with full rules.
- Festival Beer Olympics – when pre-drinks turn into a tournament for big crews.
- Creative festival drinking games – lesser-known games for the warm-up phase.
FAQ – Common questions about festival pre-drinks
What are pre-drinks?
Pre-drinks (in the US: pregame) are the sociable warm-up phase before an event – at a festival that means drinking, playing and getting in the mood at camp before heading to the stage. The goal is atmosphere and group spirit, not being at your limit before the first act even starts.
When should you start pre-drinks at a festival?
Plan backwards from the act you want to see, and start about two to three hours before – take it easy, don't race for a record. That way you're warmed up at the stage but not worn out yet. The point of pre-drinks is the transition, not the peak.
What do you drink during festival pre-drinks?
Best kept simple and cooler-friendly: a mix of beer, something with a bit of fizz, and a few shots for the highlights. Pre-mixed bottled drinks save effort at camp. A shared opening shot marks the official start of the night.
How do you pre-drink without spending a lot of money?
Drinks from your own stash at the campsite cost a fraction of festival bar prices. Whoever covers most of their thirst beforehand at the tent saves the most – and only needs the essentials once inside.
Which games work well for pre-drinks?
Short games that start instantly: Never Have I Ever, a quick round of Flunkyball, or King's Cup with a deck of cards. For big groups, a small tournament is worth it – details in our Beer Olympics guide.
How do I avoid getting too drunk too early during pre-drinks?
Eat properly beforehand, drink water between rounds, and stay at the group's pace instead of racing ahead. That way you're still going strong at the headliner, instead of sleeping through the night at the tent.