Long Beach Warped Tour Bag Policy

Picture this: it’s the peak of summer in Long Beach, the sun is trying to melt your face off, and you’re about to see twenty punk bands in one day. You’ve got your ticket, your friend’s car AC is busted, and your cargo shorts are packed with everything you own. Then you hit the Warped Tour gate, and some smiling teenager with a clipboard asks to see your bag.

The Great Purse Purge of 2024

The first surprising fact: Long Beach Warped Tour has what I call the “hostage negotiator” bag policy. Your bag must be clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC, and it can’t be bigger than a 12” x 6” x 12” sandwich. That’s about the size of a frisbee or a moderately angry cat. If your bag is bigger than that, you’re either leaving it in the trunk or paying $10 to a random guy with a sketchy locker van.

And no, your “cool” mesh fanny pack from 1998 does not count. Security will look at it like it’s a contraband banana and send you back to the car. I saw a grown man cry over a Jansport backpack—true story (okay, maybe he just yelled at a pigeon, but still).

What Can You Actually Bring?

You can bring one sealed water bottle (plastic only, like a sad little orphan bottle). But here’s the twist: once you’re inside, you can fill it at hydration stations—which is fancy talk for a hose with a fancier pipe. Bring a reusable plastic water bottle, but not metal. Metal bottles are considered weapons, because apparently you could bludgeon a drummer with a Hydro Flask during the breakdown. You can bring snacks, but only in clear ziplock bags. If you show up with a granola bar in its original foil wrapper, security will assume it’s a bomb made of oats and betrayal.

Also, bring a portable charger, but it must be under 20,000 mAh. Why? Because if your battery pack is too beefy, they think you’re powering a secret robot mosh pit. Honestly, I’m not sure they’re wrong.

The Wildcard: CamelBaks Are Your Friend

Here’s the surprising fact: empty CamelBaks (those hydration backpacks) are allowed, but they must have only two pockets. Three pockets? Too many secrets. You are allowed to bring a small, clear clutch for your phone and cash, but your phone must fit in a clear case if you want to use it near the stage. Yes, they’re serious. I’ve seen a girl turn her iPhone upside down like a hostage photo just to prove it wasn’t hiding a flaming bag of chips.

Sold Out 30-Year Anniversary Vans Warped Tour in Long Beach Proves the

And before you ask: no, you cannot bring a selfie stick. Apparently, you can take a crowd surfer to the face, but you cannot take a photo of your own face above the crowd. Priorities.

The Final Pro-Tip: Embrace the Chaos

My advice? Buy the smallest clear bag you can find online—one that looks like it came from a sci-fi hotel gift shop. Pack only the essentials: your ID, a credit card, sunscreen (in a clear container, or it’s vetoed), and earplugs for when the bass amp melts your brain. Leave your emotional support dachshund at home—unless it’s a service animal, and even then, the dog must wear a clear vest (just kidding, but don’t give them ideas).

Remember: the Long Beach Warped Tour bag policy isn’t trying to ruin your life—it’s trying to make sure nobody sneaks in a chainsaw or a live iguana. So pack small, laugh at the chaos, and remember: if you forget your bag, the merch tent sells a $40 clear tote bag that looks like a fish tank. You’ll buy it. You’ll hate it. You’ll keep it forever.