I’ve been waiting for the Waterbomb Festival for a long time. Whether I was going to attend in Korea or in any of their Asia stops, I knew it was one of the items in my fictional K-fan bucket list. At first, it was just curiosity… because why did it look so fun to watch a concert while you’re wet from head to toe? Then, I realized how legendary the lineups can be–how K-pop artists suddenly get dubbed Waterbomb goddesses or something because of their amazing performance and stunning visuals.
So, when the Manila stop was finally confirmed last year, I was so thrilled! I wouldn’t have to fly out of the country to attend it, and I would have my first experience with the iconic Filipino crowd. Whether I was attending on my own didn’t matter, but thankfully, I had a previous classmate from Korean language classes who was also determined to go. And, gosh, we had an epic time!
Are you considering attending the Waterbomb Festival? Maybe you’ll take a trip to Seoul (since it's been confirmed that it will take place in June this year) or in another country. Or, maybe you’re looking forward to it happening again in the Philippines next time. If so, I compiled a little survival checklist you can refer to based on my experience attending two days of Waterbomb Manila. Like in my previous BRITE articles, I’ll make each tip based on my favorite artists from the show last weekend.
Decide if you will B.I a one- or multi-day pass.
The festival typically lasts for two or three days. The organizers do an amazing job of splitting the lineup in such a way that makes it difficult for you to decide which day to choose if you’re a multi-stan like me. It’s easier if you really just want to see your ult or if your budget is really limited to just one day. In case you're curious about whether getting multiple days is worth it, though, I'd say it is. It’s tiring, for sure, but all the performances I saw from both days were just the bomb! Plus, their sets last 30 minutes or about five songs each–sulit! Wait for the full lineups before deciding.
Don't let the team colors confuse Hyo(lyn).
Choosing yellow, blue, green, or any other color in other stops doesn’t mean you’ll only see artists in the same team. It’s more of just showing support for the artists in your team. In Seoul and other countries, the color-coded teams also have friendly water gun competitions during waterbomb time. Speaking of…
Hwasa-shay away or stay during "Waterbomb Time."
I honestly didn’t know what this meant while I was happily guarding my near-barricade spot on Day 1. Before I knew it, I was directly on the other end of a water cannon fighting for my life. Okay, not literally! And it was fun to experience once, but after that, I learned my lesson.
There’s a countdown before it begins, so you have ample time to stay or run away. It’s actually a perfect time to inch closer to the barricade when others leave their spot. However, if you don't think it's worth getting waterbombed, then flee to the parts of the venue where you can stay safe and dry.
Yang-see (Chan) the venue map beforehand.
There are designated bag storage areas, toilets, changing tents, merch booths, and smoking lounges. There’s also a separate area for food and beverage, plus sponsor booths where you can play games to get prizes. Then, there’s a refilling area for the official water guns you can buy in the venue (which, by the way, can’t and shouldn’t be fired outside designated areas!).
Of course, it’s good to strategize where best to stand for the performances you want to see most. For instance, if there’s an extended stage, you might want to stay front and center for the best view of all performances. Alternatively, you can stay at the sides where crowds are usually smaller.
Skull & Ha-hide your valuables in waterproof bags.
If you’re not keeping your things in the lockers, then of course, it’s safest to keep them in waterproof bags. The waterbombs are no joke, so if you’re at the right/wrong place at the right/wrong time, you’ll really be soaking from head to toe, and the water can seep into your bag, wallet, everything! Better to be safe than sorry.
Think twice before risking your phone for Epik High-quality fan cams.
When it comes to taking fan cams, either keep your phone in a waterproof case or make sure it’s waterproof (or at least water-resistant). I used my one-year-old Samsung S24 Ultra. I knew beforehand that it was water-resistant, so I decided to test it out because I knew putting the phone in a silicone bag would mean I’d end up with blurry shots. I did end up with visually amazing fan cams, but in some shots, the audio cracked. I’m not sure if it was because the music was too loud, my settings were wrong, or it was just wear and tear.
I'm sure there are other alternatives, and I did see people filming with their iPhones, too. I was one of the lucky ones whose phones survived the Waterbomb Festival, but I have heard of others who sadly had to get theirs repaired after the show. Check your phone or take all precautions so that it doesn’t get wrecked!
Don't let yourself (Kim Jung) "Kook" under the sun.
The performances start at noon or a couple of hours past noon when the sun is so high. The waterbombs do help cool you a bit, but the water won’t shield you from UV rays! Wear sunscreen, and consider wearing a cap for the early parts of the festival. Stay hydrated, and find shade when needed to enjoy the full festival without getting overheated.
Cool winds can hit you like BamBam once the sun sets.
Imagine being all wet when an evening breeze attacks… It’s very likely to catch a cold! So, toward the end of the show, you may want to sit out waterbomb sessions for your health. You can also change into dry clothes and then don a raincoat to protect yourself if you plan to stay within the waterbomb zone. At the very least, just change into dry clothes right after the show, warm up your body, and build up your immunity.
Chan-yeol need to stay about nine hours for the whole show.
Waterbomb Festival days are whole-day events, so make sure your energy can keep up! Or, sacrifice the parts of the show that you can. For example, Waterbomb Manila started around 2pm and ended around 11pm (similar to the Singapore leg). At Seoul’s festival last year, the schedule was 1pm to 10pm. Again, make sure your immunity is ready for this–it’s probably the longest “concert” you’ll attend!
@ginyn chanyeol waterbomb 💦
♬ original sound - Ginyn
For the Manila shows, each chunk of the timetable consisted of at least three segments: a DJ set, one or more K-hiphop or K-pop acts, then Waterbomb Time. Carve out time for you to get some shade, fuel up on water and food, go to the toilet, or at least rest your ears or feet and arms a bit in order to survive the marathon.
(JES)SI you at the next one!
Okay, I won’t go again right away, but someday, this is an experience I’ll surely want to try again! I do want to see how Seoul does it differently, and I might even try other stops like SG and Busan. Another one on my bucket list is PSY’s Summer Swag concert, which is like his own version of the festival.
A “wet and wild” concert is just one of the many unique K-pop things worth celebrating! Like the many things I experienced recently, it gave me a rush and a newfound appreciation of Korean culture. I’ll definitely keep exploring and sharing stories like this with anyone who might want to try new K-things, too! TL;DR: it was so fun–10/10 would recommend and do it again!
Annyeong, yeorubun! I'm Ginyn—a freelance content creator, full-time multistan, and proud ARMY since 2017. 💜 My gateway into K-pop (and K-ent as a whole) was a Running Man episode featuring 2NE1, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Over the years, I’ve shared my Hallyu adventures in both digital and print magazines that ~romanticize~ life, as they and we should. It's the pride, creativity, and passion of idols and fandoms alike that keep me chasing the next great K-story!
Share:
How to Score Tickets on Global Interpark: Tips for Your Next Seoul Concert
ENHYPEN Brought the Heat Back in Bulacan