Open-air concerts, summer stages and small festivals can also make for a pleasant holiday evening with children. To keep things relaxed, volume, the weather and the way home are sorted out before you leave. Children's hearing in particular needs reliable protection from loud music.
Choose a spot at a distance from the stage
Exposure is greatest directly in front of speakers. Look for a spot further back or to the side from which a quiet area and the exit are easily reachable. For very loud events, toddlers are better off not coming along. If the event is age-appropriate, properly fitting child-sized hearing protection should be in the backpack.
Using hearing protection correctly
- For small children, use an appropriate over-ear hearing protector in the correct size.
- Try it on briefly at home before the visit and check the fit.
- Do not stand directly next to speakers, even when wearing hearing protection.
- Take regular breaks in a clearly quieter area.
- Do not remove the hearing protection while the music is loud.
Hearing protection does not automatically make an arbitrarily loud or arbitrarily long stay safe. Volume, duration and distance all interact.
Consider the weather and evening chill
Before outdoor events, check the weather warnings and the organiser's instructions. Light jackets, a small rain layer and dry spare clothes for younger children help with changing weather. In the event of thunder, leave the grounds as instructed and seek a solid building or a closed car. Open tents, individual trees and stage structures are not suitable shelter from thunderstorms.
Keep drinks and snacks practical
Bring water in reusable bottles if the event rules allow. A simple snack prevents long walks and spontaneous expensive purchases. Perishable foods that require cooling should only be transported with reliable cooling and not left on the picnic blanket for hours.
Plan the way home before the event starts
- Check the final public-transport connection or parking situation in advance.
- Agree on a meeting point in case the family briefly loses sight of one another.
- Charge mobile phones and keep tickets or travel cards available offline as well.
- Pack a small flashlight or light for dark paths.
- With younger children, it's better to leave a little before the big final rush.
Watch for warning signs after loud music
Ringing in the ears, pain or a muffled/heavy feeling in the ears after the event are signs that hearing was overloaded. Immediately provide a quiet environment. If symptoms persist, have them examined by a doctor promptly.
A compact open-air packing list
- proper child hearing protection
- water and a simple snack
- light jacket and rain protection
- seat pad or small blanket
- tickets, timetable and emergency contact
- small light for the way back
Caution
Sources and further information
- Health portal: Preventing hearing loss in children
- Health portal: Loud music and health
- ORF: Kultursommer 2026 as a trend signal
Article image: AI-generated symbolic image.
