A viral post in the r/bonnaroo subreddit is shaking up festival porta potty etiquette. The community is rallying behind a simple but game-changing tip: always put the porta potty seat down after use.
An easy-to-understand infographic titled "Porta Potty Ventilation Etiquette" explains why this matters. Closing the seat enables smelly air to vent out through the pipe, letting fresh air circulate inside and reducing humidity and odor. Leaving the seat up traps the "warm evaporated piss vapor" inside, making the porta potty unbearably stinky and humid.
Festival-goers have been chiming in — some praise improvements in Bonnaroo’s restrooms over the years, others commiserate on odor struggles. A recurring suggestion is to post these ventilation tips inside all porta potties as friendly reminders.
Bonnaroo currently offers hundreds of permanent, flushable toilets and port-a-johns dispersed across Centeroo, campgrounds, and the main venue. Still, with crowds sometimes near 80,000, restroom comfort remains a challenge.
The bottom line: closing the porta potty seat after use is a quick, courteous move that improves air flow, slashes stink, and keeps “the farm” fresher for everyone. Next time nature calls, remember — seat down, breathe easy.
Source: r/bonnaroo