Annecy, the yearly event where thousands of animation lovers converge on a storybook alpine village in southeastern France, begins tomorrow. It’s a magical experience where for one week out of the year, you’re guaranteed to be surrounded by thousands of people from every corner of the planet who are equally appreciative of the art of animated filmmaking. It’s an exhilarating experience, which is why so many attendees return to the event over and over.
If you’re lucky enough to be heading to Annecy this year, here are five items you might consider bringing along to enhance the festival experience:
1. Paper Airplane Book

Why do you need a book of paper airplanes for an animation festival? Well, one of the festival’s quirkier traditions happens before each screening starts in the main Bonlieu theater. Attendees create paper airplanes from whatever paper scraps they have with them (usually advertisements from the lobby) and launch the planes in the theater with the goal of reaching the stage. Lengthy flights usually receive a round of applause, but most of the planes end up crashing into other audience members.