I had the BEST time at BTS on Saturday and now feeling the BTSD 🙁
The concert was held at Rogers Stadium in Toronto, which is a beautiful outdoor venue… on a nice day.
Saturday was not a nice day.
It rained. And rained. And then, just when you thought maybe it was going to let up, it rained some more.
But somehow, it made the concert even more memorable.
Going to an Outdoor Concert in the Rain
We knew the weather wasn’t looking great, so we tried to prepare as much as possible.
We brought ponchos and garbage bags, which ended up being VERY useful. There are also a few little things I brought that I was really glad to have—and a few things I wish I had thought of beforehand.
If you’re heading to an outdoor concert at Rogers Stadium and rain is in the forecast, here is what I would recommend bringing.
1. A Good Poncho
This is probably the obvious one, but don’t underestimate how much you’ll appreciate a decent poncho.
I would choose one that is large enough to cover your clothes and your bag, rather than one of those tiny emergency ponchos that barely covers your shoulders.
Because you’re not just trying to stay dry while walking in—you could potentially be standing or sitting in the rain for HOURS.
2. Garbage Bags & Extra Ziploc Bags
Garbage bags sound ridiculous until you’re standing outside in the rain trying to figure out what to do with your wet stuff.
They are cheap, lightweight and incredibly useful.
I would also bring several Ziploc bags. They are perfect for things you absolutely do NOT want getting wet.
For us, that included our BTS light sticks and other small items.
Basically: if it’s electronic, sentimental or expensive, put it in a bag.
3. A Phone Lanyard
A phone lanyard was one of those things that I was really happy to have.
When you’re dealing with rain, a poncho, a crowd and a concert, the last thing you want to do is constantly dig your phone out of your bag.
Having it attached to you makes it much easier to take photos and videos while also reducing the chance of dropping it.
Just make sure whatever case or setup you’re using is reasonably water resistant.
4. A Waterproof or Water-Resistant Bag
I brought a waterproof fanny pack, and this was SO helpful.
For a rainy outdoor concert, I would definitely prioritize something small and water resistant over a cute purse.
You don’t want to be worrying about your wallet, phone and other essentials getting soaked.
A small bag also makes it much easier to move around in a crowd.
5. Bring an Extra Tote Bag
This is something I wish I had thought about more carefully.
It can be really helpful to have an inexpensive foldable tote or extra bag tucked inside your main bag.
Once you get through security, you may end up with additional things—merchandise, programs, food, souvenirs, etc.—and having something to carry everything in is incredibly convenient.
Just make sure you understand the venue’s bag policy before you go.
6. Battery Pack… But Be Careful With It
I brought a battery pack that charges magnetically through the back of my phone rather than requiring a cable.
Normally, I LOVE this kind of battery pack for concerts because you don’t have to worry about carrying a charging cord.
However…
Water + electronics = not a great combination.
At one point, my phone detected moisture and wouldn’t allow me to charge it for a while.
So if you’re bringing a portable charger to a rainy concert, I would strongly recommend bringing the appropriate charging cable as a backup and, more importantly, keeping both your phone and battery pack protected from the rain.
Your phone battery dying halfway through BTS is simply not an option. 😂
7. Hot Packs
I bought little hot packs for my hands and feet in case I got really cold.
Thankfully, I didn’t end up needing them as much as I thought I might, but I would absolutely bring them again.
They take up almost no room and could make a HUGE difference if you’re standing outside for hours in cold, wet weather.
8. A Towel or Paper Towels
This one sounds so simple, but I really wish I had brought a small towel.
Even with a poncho, you’re going to get wet.
A white towel—or even a few paper towels—would have been useful for drying off seats, wiping down your phone or just dealing with all the inevitable water.
9. A GORE-TEX Jacket
I wore my GORE-TEX jacket underneath my poncho, and I was very happy I did.
If you already own a good waterproof jacket, this is definitely the time to wear it.
I would much rather be slightly overdressed than spend three or four hours in soaking-wet clothes.
10. Something to Keep Your Hood On
One thing I would add next time is something to help keep my hood in place.
A baseball cap would probably work really well underneath a poncho hood. It would keep the rain off your face and help stop the hood from constantly falling backward.
An umbrella might seem like an obvious solution, but at a crowded concert venue, I’d be very cautious about bringing one. Not only can umbrellas be restricted by venue policies, but they’re also not exactly considerate when you’re surrounded by thousands of other people trying to see the stage.
A cap or hood system is probably the better option.
But Was It Worth It?
Absolutely.
Despite the rain, it was an amazing day.
Actually, I think the rain made it even more memorable.
There were no fireworks because of the weather, but instead we got something that felt almost more magical:
BTS singing in the rain.
There was something so gorgeous about watching them perform while the rain was coming down around us.
It wasn’t the perfect concert weather.
It wasn’t comfortable.
I was wet.
But I was there.
And sometimes those are the experiences you remember the most.
Years from now, I probably won’t remember exactly how many times it rained that day.
I’ll remember standing there with thousands of other ARMYs, soaked in a poncho, watching BTS perform in the rain in Toronto.
And honestly?
I’d do it again.
My Rainy Outdoor Concert Checklist
If you’re heading to an outdoor concert and the forecast looks questionable, here’s my condensed packing list:
- ☔ Waterproof poncho
- 🗑️ Garbage bags
- 💧 Ziploc bags
- 📱 Phone lanyard
- 🎒 Waterproof/water-resistant fanny pack
- 👜 Foldable tote bag
- 🔋 Portable battery pack + charging cable
- 🔥 Hand/foot warmers
- 🧻 Small towel or paper towels
- 🧥 Waterproof jacket
- 🧢 Baseball cap
- 💡 Waterproof protection for your light stick
- 👟 Waterproof shoes if possible
- 🧦 An extra pair of socks if you have room!
And most importantly…
Check the venue’s bag and prohibited-items policy before you leave home.
Because the best rain strategy in the world won’t help if you have to throw half of it away at security. 😂
BTS + Rain = A Core Memory
Would I have preferred sunshine?
Obviously.
But there’s something about surviving terrible weather together that makes an experience feel even more special.
Rogers Stadium may have been wet, cold and slightly chaotic, but BTS singing in the rain was honestly one of those core memory moments.
So yes.
I survived the rain.
And yes.
It was completely worth it. 💜 Check out my reel below!
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