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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Camping

Festival Madness

33 replies

AlderTree · 17/05/2009 12:19

I have an unexplainable madness that I want to go to a festival this year with DH, DS who has autism and a toddler. Am I completely bonkers?

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AlderTree · 17/05/2009 15:50

I gues all the festival type people are camping at a festival in the rain.

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kaz33 · 17/05/2009 15:57

We are going this year for the first time with DH, DS1 (8) and DS2 (6)

They get sold out quickly - today the tickets for the cambridge folk festival went on sale. By 9.45 am all online tickets were gone - we got some

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mollyroger · 17/05/2009 15:59

can you find friends to go with you? It makes evrything so much easier and fun and more civilised
Extra pairs of eyes and hands for children mean you get to have some fun too.

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AlderTree · 17/05/2009 16:17

Oh ok I better book tickets quickly then if I want to go. Thanks for that.

How do people manage the trek from car to camp with all the tut littlies seem to need - I'm thinking travel cot etc or should we really wait till next year when we might not need one?

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AlderTree · 17/05/2009 16:21

Oh and has anyone heard of this one www.dare2festival.co.uk/12.html

The dates and location would be good for us but I can't find anything about it on efestivals or virutal festivals and was wondering if that is good or bad.

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AlderTree · 17/05/2009 16:22

Meant to link to this page

www.dare2festival.co.uk/index.html

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lolaandned · 17/05/2009 16:31

my husband took my autistic son 16 to shrewsbury folk festival last year he loved it and is going this year again just a word of warning though sleep in front of the door of the tent so no escaping during the night!!!

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Noonki · 17/05/2009 16:33

we went last year with DSs(11) DS1 (2) and DS2 (3 months)

it was muddy so the pram was a pain, we went with a group of friends who had kids and they all loved it.

don't bother with a travel cot just get make a big bed out of mats/blankets/duvets and all sleep together. Make suer you have good sleeping bags.

DH carried all the stuff and I watched the kids. Bring as little as possible you really dont need that much!

so let you drive the car for an extra fee near the tent...well worth it. 9leave stuff in the car.

try a mellow one 9the big chill/buddhafields

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AlderTree · 17/05/2009 16:36

A good tip, especially given the new tent arrangements that will be need now we are 4 instead of 3. I remember the first time we took DS camping and were surprised - pre diagnosis - at how quickly he worked out how the tent zips worked. We know a lot more now

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AlderTree · 17/05/2009 16:38

I like the look of Buddhafields. Have you been Noonki? I wondered is everyone heavily into Buddhism or is it ok for generally spiritually chilled out persons?

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mollyroger · 17/05/2009 17:02

Aldertree - that looks like a sweet festy and not a big one, so manageable. If it is your first time, distance from home is a big consideration. It is a nice feeling knowing you don't have far to go in case the weather is appalling etc.
I have no idea why it calls itself 'boutique' though... Unless that means very small and expensive

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mollyroger · 17/05/2009 17:03

Just looked at website - blimey that is cheap!
enjoy!

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AlderTree · 17/05/2009 19:09

Didn't know if that was too cheap looking at the price of all the others.

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skramble · 17/05/2009 23:35

Look save your money..
put up tent in the back garden,
turn on hose,
put on CD player really loud,
encourge neighbours to come into your garden and get drunk and put ontheir own CD players full blast.
set up a porta potti in the hut and get someone to pee all over the seat, get all the locals to form a queue in front of the hut.
Drink lots of crap warm bear, eat pot noodles or burgers.
repeat for three or four days,

festival experience....DONE!

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northmetking · 18/05/2009 08:39

We're going to the Larmer Tree in July; that's a lovely, friendly festival, but quite expensive and may be sold out now. WHSmith do a good guide to the summer's festivals which is well worth the £4.99 to let you know what's out there. You can then have a look online for more details of any that catch your eye.
I've been to Reading, V festival etc numerous times and they can be very smelly, unhygeinic, packed out and the security isn't always that great.
Go for a smaller, family-friendly one like the Larmer Tree, Camp Bestival and there are loads of workshops and activities - plenty for the kids to do, whatever the weather.
Or go for an even smaller, local one. There might not be so much for the kids to do if it rains, but it'll give you a taster for the experience without going too far.

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saintlydamemrsturnip · 18/05/2009 08:42

We're going to Camp Bestival with severely autistic (non-verbal and feral) 10 year old, and an NT 7 and 4 year old.

Will be knackered but should be fun.

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HaventSleptForAYear · 18/05/2009 14:57

Oh Northmetking we are going to the Larmer Tree too - after recommendations on here.

We have hired a caravan (c. £220) in case it rains (DH won't come otherwise).

That could be a possibility with toddler plus your DS? Means you have a toilet too (our DS2 is just potty trained so important to us).

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sfxmum · 19/05/2009 19:40

we have taking dd to festivals since she was a toddler at 4 she is proper veteran and loves it
we will be going to Latitude again this year but Hop Farm and a couple of the more folk ones were possibilities, might do Glasto next year

I think you just have to adjust your expectations but it is possible to enjoy it if you don't really stress and just go with the flow

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AlderTree · 19/05/2009 20:13

Very happy to see more messages. Thanks Much

Skramble I think you might be missing the point but thanks for the suggestions.

If we go this year will definitly be a smaller type festival. Like the look of Larmmer but too expensive with other holiday plans this year combined with just getting DH's cam belt changed on his car. So seriously thinking about that or Camp Bestival in next year's holiday plans. That's why are said it was madness cos we already have a summer hol booked but it isn't for ages, don't know why I got hooked on the idea. Cravings for somehting out of the ordinary I suppose.

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barbarapym · 19/05/2009 20:31

That's what made us do it too! We were feeling really boring and old fogeyish and wanted to do something different with the kids. First time last year with 2 and 5 yr old- The End of the Road in September, at the same place as the Larmer Tree. Not cheap but v family friendly and highly recommended. Loads of kids activities and a playground etc. It was great, so we are going to the Larmer Tree this year. Will be taking half the stuff I took last year, but more wipes!

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saintlydamemrsturnip · 19/05/2009 20:49

"don't know why I got hooked on the idea. Cravings for somehting out of the ordinary I suppose."

Oh I recognise this- not sure how old your ds is, but for years we didn't do holidays because of ds1's autism so now he will actually eat outside the house and sleep away from his bed I have a craving to try and do everything . It's bloody hard work but that's why I like festivals- short so bearable.

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AlderTree · 19/05/2009 22:04

Saintly I think that should be a title for a book about taking autistic children on holiday - short but bearable. Given going anywhere is bloody hard work you may as well make the effort memorable. DS is 7 by the way. Maybe that is the point.

Barbara am keen to know what is in the half that is being left behind.

Haven'tslept - caravan good idea in theory but with his autism our own tent is better for DS even if not as comfortable.

Can't see us ever doing Glastonbury Sfx but will look at the others you suggested.

Currently I feel like going nowhere due to lack of sleep. Both children being a nightmare about going to bed and staying there at the moment.

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saintlydamemrsturnip · 19/05/2009 22:11

DS1 actually sleeps better in a tent/campervan (campervans have really worked well for us in the past- wish we could afford to buy one) than at home often. He just won't stay in the tent when awake So someone has to run manically around after a feral child for the 3 days.

Perhaps we could dump our kids with Mr Tumble - he's going to Camp Bestival

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skramble · 19/05/2009 22:26

, point is I know how bad (and good) festivals can be.

Sometimes you have to wonder if it is worth the money.

Mindyou, I do have some great festival memories, some I really can't mention LOL

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HaventSleptForAYear · 20/05/2009 09:12

barbarapym yes I would also like to know what is essential and what needs leaving behind!

We are v. limited on space as we are combining the festival with a 2 week trip to the UK so will have all our stuff with us for 2 weeks (mind you, that doesn't tend to be much more than for a weekend!).

So far on the list are sleeping bags,err.. glosticks and wellies and suncream.

Someone suggested a little pop-up tent for parking your DC while you watch a band late at night (not sure the DC will go for that but we DO want to see the headliner on Sat night).