This article from Tribe Intensive, one of NJ’s most trusted PHP/IOP addiction treatment programs delivers practical tips on enjoying concerts and festivals in sobriety and more.
Let’s get into it!
Can You Enjoy NJ Festival and Concert Season Without Relapse?
Yes—is the short answer. But, it can’t be business as usual. You need a plan.
From April through October, New Jersey’s boardwalks and parks host packed, vibrant spring-to-fall festivals like the Submersion Festival, Asbury Park Summer Stage, and Red Bank Street Fair. Music. The pulsing beats, bright lights, pop-up bars, and open-air drug vendors present real risks for people in recovery. That’s especially true if you’re fresh out of detox or currently enrolled in a NJ IOP like Tribe Intensive.
Recovery doesn’t mean never enjoying live music or festivals again. We get it. Everyone needs a chance to relax and decompress. A lot of people in alcohol and drug treatment in NJ are in their 20s. They’re not looking to play bingo and sit at the library and sip tea. You don’t have to. It’s possible to have high-adrenaline, high octane fun in recovery without risking relapse. You just need to put the pieces in place first.
Having Fun in Recovery—-Even When in Outpatient Treatment
Look, the safest move is to avoid environments where alcohol or drugs will be—especially in early recovery. That said, being in recovery is also about learning how to live in the world as it is. That means using the tools you’re given in PHP and IOP drug treatment to resist triggers and rely on your peers.
So, if you decide to go to a music festival, concert or other other event this season, use what you’ve been taught to make smart decisions.
Pro Tips for Going to Festivals and Shows in Sobriety
Here are some pro tips for protecting your recovery while attending festivals, concerts and other fun group events from the team at Tribe Intensive PHP/IOP.
1: Have a Plan for Alcohol and Drug-Free Fun
This one is simple. Don’t just go to a show on a whim. Know who you’re going with, how you’re getting there and how you’re getting back. Go with people in recovery who you trust. Ideally people who have as much sober time as you or more. Talk as a group beforehand. How are you going to keep each other safe? What’s the plan if someone picks up or gets into trouble?
If you’re in early recovery or still in IOP— we strongly recommend you do NOT go anywhere like this where alcohol and drugs will be at all. But, if you do, definitely do NOT go with people who drink or use drugs. You shouldn’t even THINK about going unless it’s as part of a group of people with solid recovery.
Having a plan for sober festival or concert going means:
- Secure safe transportation to and from in advance.
- ONLY go as part of a group of people in recovery.
- If you have a curfew, be certain you can get back in time.
- Talk as a group about keeping each other safe ahead of time.
2: Practice Smart Sobriety and Choose Events Wisely
There’s a lot of options out there for Summer and Fall fun. You know which events are more likely to have drunken chaos and open drug use. Be smart about it. Think about planning a group trip to Six Flags Great Adventure instead of that EDM festival. Yeah, yeah we know. You like what you like. But challenge your creativity a little. A big part of recovery is learning to think and act differently. If the Six Flags idea doesn’t grab you, try something new you’ve never done before.
Be smart when choosing your sober fun events:
- Try to avoid events where most attendees drink to excess.
- Try to avoid events where drugs are openly used and available.
- Look for exciting activities everyone can enjoy that don’t run into the early AM.
- Talk to the group beforehand, consider people’s potential triggers.
3: Build a Recovery Trip Team
Who you go with is just as important as what you do when it comes to this stuff. Whether you’ve been sober for six weeks, six months or six years—-think about who you’re going with. That does necessarily mean your cousin or uncle can’t come because they might have a few beers. But you should think about building a “team” that’s mostly made up of people who don’t drink or drug. Ideally it should be people who actively work a program of recovery.
Choose the people you go with wisely:
- Ideally, go with a group of people who are all in recovery and have some time.
- At minimum, most of your group should be in recovery, stable and sober.
- Watch out for one another, especially members in early recovery.
- Have a plan if the worst happens or there is a crisis or emergency.
High Octane Sober Fun in NJ Without Drugs or Alcohol
Here’s a list of group activities for your sober team we put together. All of these alternatives to concerts and festivals offer plenty of excitement for people in recovery while reducing the risk of triggers or exposure to alcohol and drug use.
- Indoor skydiving at iFly (East Rutherford)
Feel the rush of freefall in a vertical wind tunnel with certified instructor. Year-round indoor thrills and natural highs.
- High-speed kart racing at New Jersey Motorsports Park (Millville)
Push electric karts on a pro-grade circuit built for speed demons; book group leagues and time trials for max adrenaline.
- Paintball combat at Xtreme Paintball Park (Hackettstown)
Gear up for team-vs.-team tactical battles across varied terrain. Real life CoD excitement with no booze or drugs.
- Zip lining & aerial course at Turtle Back Zoo’s Treetop Adventure (West Orange)
Clip in to traverse tree-top obstacle lines and zip cables 40 feet above the ground, plus a bonus bald eagle habitat view.
- Parasailing off Seaside Heights
Soar above the Atlantic behind a powerboat for panoramic boardwalk and ocean vistas. Pure flight fun, no beach bar needed.
- ATV off-roading at Mountain Creek Bike Park (Vernon)
Tackle rugged mountain trails and technical obstacles on an quad. Get muddy and go wild in sobriety.
- Group surf lessons at Manasquan Inlet
Ride Jersey Shore waves in a guided clinic designed for beginners and intermediate surfers. This could ignite a whole new hobby in recovery for you.
Tribe Intensive: Real Addiction Recovery in NJ
You or your loved one don’t have to let alcohol, or any other substance take control. Addiction isn’t a choice—it’s a trap. The treatment you need and deserve is just one call away.
Tribe Intensive is where NJ heals. Thousands have overcome alcohol with our help. Make the call—and we’ll fight for you, together
Addiction Treatment in NJ for Yourself
If you are ready to end the torture of addiction —- Let’s talk at 856-666-2484. Call anytime 24-hours a day.
If you’re not sure yet, but want to see what we have to offer, feel free to submit your info through our confidential portal and we’ll reach out to you.
Addiction Treatment in NJ for a Loved One
If you would like advice on helping someone you love with a substance use disorder, we’re here for you. Call anytime, 24 hours a day at 856-666-2484
