Written by: Autumn Stone

As a raver you’ll experience many unforgettable moments that you will cherish for the rest of your life. But one of my personal favorite experiences to have, is those moments when a complete stranger surprises you with a trinket out of nowhere. You are suddenly consumed with immense joy and have this grin slapped across your face that stretches from ear to ear. In fact, you can tell a lot about a person by their favorite trinket. 

Let’s start off with one of the original trinkets. If you are what’s known as a kandi kid, you are such a wholesome human being. You are the epitome of what PLUR stands for and you are someone that understands the meaning of great things take time. You take into careful consideration which bracelet that you create goes to the person you are trading with and educate newcomers to the scene on how to trade the kandi. And the die hard kandi kids who you see at a fest decked out in cuffs and kandi clothing are the most real of the real. You guys bring a whole new meaning to the word dedication!

Then we have the sprout gang. You are an outdoors loving kind of person who craves adventure. You take pleasure in the simple beauties the world has to offer. You are observant to your surroundings and love to see how people interact with one another. However, you also have a mysterious side to you, as you don’t always want to let the person you sprouted know it was you. You become a stealthy ninja and then wait to see the look on their face when they realize what they just received, which is priceless. 

Quack quack, here comes the duck squad. You are the silly comedic relief in your rave group and probably the most caring as well. You are an empathetic person by nature and really do find joy in the small things in life. You are the type of person to name your lil guy and dance with them till the sun comes up. But, it doesn’t just stop at tiny ducks. Nowadays there’s a whole mini farm that’s being traded and you definitely have these animals on a shelf somewhere or is that just me?

Raise your tiny finger hand if these are your favorite trinket! You are the outgoing hype man. You get your rave fam ready and energized for the ventures ahead like the pink energizer bunny banging its drums. You are also the side quester of the group and like to sneak away without telling anyone. You are sociable with others and have a knack for making new friends. 

Lighting up the night with your glow ring is just one way you like to accessorize. You radiate positivity and good vibes and people feel it when you walk into the room. You don’t mind being the center of attention because you have the confidence to back it up. You are the person your friends ask advice from knowing they won’t be judged, but you’re also not afraid to speak your mind. 

Whether you are the Polaroid taker or receiver, you understand the meaning of capturing the moment. You are a memory connoisseur of sorts. As much as you like to be in the moment,sometimes you have this overwhelming need to freeze the world, just for a minute so you can snap a photo. You are the type of person who loves the nostalgic feeling you get when you look back at these pictures and are flushed with memories around that moment as well. You are captivated by the people all around you and want them to see through your lens. As a receiver, you are geeked with excitement as this is a memento that you’ll never throw away for all the same reasons. 

Now if a 3D printed trinket is your thing, then you are most definitely a right brain thinker. You are creative and intuitive with a hint of perfectionism. You are artistic but critical of your own work. You love to daydream and transport yourself into another dimension. You are passionate about what you do and don’t give up on things easily. You collaborate well with others and are a team player. 

What the fidget is going to be the next big thing? From fuzzy worms, to wavy snails, to fidget spinners, the list is never ending. I wonder if there’s a new one that’s going to make an appearance this festival season. There’s so many to choose from and they are all equally satisfying. These trinkets are for people who like routine. You are someone who practices mindfulness and self-regulation. You are a driven individual who sets out to complete your goals and you also know the meaning of hard work. You like to stay productive and are always moving to the beat. 

I could go on and on about all the different trinkets one may encounter at a rave and what it may say about you, but instead I wanted to open my research to the public. I posed the question, what was your favorite trinket that you’ve received at a show? While there was a lot of love for familiar trinkets, there were some unique answers that were too good not to share. It’s also intriguing to know what some people consider a trinket and I’m here for it! There’s been people who have been gifted flower seeds, an engraved festival coin, fun socks, a crochet mushroom necklace, a positivity potato, a secret knife pen, and even a blanket. The sharing is caring vibe is strong and I can’t wait to see more of it!

Personally speaking, I believe trinkets are a huge part of the festival scene. It creates connections and long lasting memories that we get to take home with us and display or we can pass it along to the next person we may meet who seem like they could really use a smile. That being said, what do you think will be your go to trinket this year?

With luv,

Autumn Stone