How to Make a Festival Totem in 3 Easy Steps

Step 2: Choosing the Head of the Totem

Once you have established your bass, it is time to get creative. You can use a wide range of different mediums to create the “head” of your totem including the following:

• Styrofoam – Lightweight and easy to shape. Probably the most ideal medium. Also easy to attach to the pole using tape or by attaching something to the pole that can penetrate through the styrofoam.
• Wood – Sturdy but heavy. Depending on how big you make your design, the totem may turn out very heavy and be difficult to carry around for an entire weekend. This also increases the surface area and makes it more susceptible to blowing over in wind gusts.
• Cardboard – Easily manipulated. Can be easily shaped/painted/drawn on. Easily attached to pole. Downside is that cardboard is not durable at all and will likely not survive through a long weekend.
• Anything else – Get creative! I have seen people attach any thing from blow up dolls to pool noodles to a pole

The good thing is, is that there is no strict definition as to what defines a “festival totem.” Some of the best totems I have seen have been completely random. I once even saw a kid who duct taped a pineapple to a stick and had the time of his life.

Step 3: Attaching the Totem

This is probably the most tricky part. It really depends on what type of base you choose to support your totem. Certain poles (such as the pool cleaner) have an area where attachments can be secured.

It is a little bit easier to tape/tie/glue items to these attachments. It really just comes down to getting creative, improvising, and finding what works best for you. Some mediums that are the best when it comes to attachments:

• Duct Tape
• Electrical Tape
• Zip Ties
• String
• Rope

Step 4: Decorate

Once you have finished securing both ends of your totem, all that’s left to do is decorate. Little accessories can make all the difference in setting your totem apart.

Some of the best additions are the most random things you can find. From tinsel and electro-luminescent wire to plastic forks, I have seen everything added to totems and they all serve their purpose.

Again, this is not a end all, be all for how to make totems.

The hope is that this provided just a little bit of guidance and can get you going in the right direction. The best totems I have seen have been completely random and thrown together last minute.

What it really boils down to is choose a stick, attach something to said stick, and jump up and down with that stick in hand. Just make sure it does not obstruct the view of any one around you and is safe. Otherwise, you are all ready to rage!