If you’ve just come home from a festival and want to keep your wristband as a keepsake, you’re probably wondering how to remove it without reaching for the scissors. Here are safe ways to take off a festival wristband without cutting it.
Wristbands aren’t just entry passes—they’re small mementos of unforgettable weekends filled with music, fun and freedom. Some people collect them, others turn them into DIY art, and some simply wear them a little longer to hold onto the memories. Removing them carefully lets you keep yours as a souvenir.
One popular method for bands with a sliding barrel clasp is to use a plastic bag. This approach works best on cloth wristbands with a barrel-type tightening.
Some festival wristbands can be eased off without any tools, provided the band wasn’t tightened too snugly to begin with.
If your wristband has a small locking clasp, a bobby pin might help. Be careful not to damage the band or poke yourself during this method.
Some wristbands are tamper-proof and won’t come off without being cut. If you’ve tried everything and it still won’t budge, you can carefully cut the cord underneath the clasp (not the band itself) so you can keep most of the wristband intact for display.
Once you’ve removed your festival wristband, here are a few ways to give it new life.
