To say if your child is going to a Festival for the first time, do not, under any circumstances

Do not let your child take anything that could turn into into powder!
My son had some paracetamol in the pocket of his (gym) bag which had over time, unbeknown to him, ground down into powder. He was refused entry to a festival and the “drugs” were sent for testing.
I was furious; he was 17 and it was the first festival ticket that he’d saved up for and bought himself.
We got him home and, in full mama mode, I emailed the guy running the festival and told him that if he didn’t do something I was going to the press.
Within an hour son was invited back. We couldn’t get him there until the next day but he was met by the organiser and treated as a VIP for the next two days.
I’m still a bit embarrassed about the level of my fury 🙄

Ha! Genuinely funny .Totally inaccurate but any interesting perspective .Thanks

Just checked w DD, she’s off to Creamfields on Fri, which will be her fifth festival in 3 years. she says:

take loo roll
pay for decent showers if you can
expect everything to get lost/stolen
take a camping chair-sitting on the floor is horrible, esp if it’s cold/wet

DH, who is on pick up/drop off, because I won’t allow her/her friends to drive after three days of partying, says if you can persuade them to pack up and even leave on Sun night instead of Monday, everyone will
be glad. No traffic, no last night craziness, and own bed sleep is unbeatable.

@3isthemagicnumber I get you want to try be seen as the 'cool mum' but this isn't the way to go about it.

Just let them get on with it and they will learn x

At any festival, as in life , there are elements of people attending who see it as an excuse to run wild.
But I've been to many festivals over many ,many years -with friends ,as a young couple ,as a family and now as an older couple (and having made the glorious transition from camping to camper van) and my 'children' do the same .We go for a fabulous few days of music ,friendship and fun ,enjoying the experiences in all their slightly grubby but very uplifting glory
Where do I need to hand in my parenting credentials ?

Ha ha. Have you ever been to one? Reading and Leeds are a bit like that but others are different. The ones we go to have people jogging and doing yoga in the mornings, craft workshops, talks, learning workshops, amazing food from all over the world and music and performance from all over the world. They are enriching and developing experiences and id highly recommend. Only downside is mud if it rains and the toilets.

Genius!

Accept they will do silly things. Send those rehydration sachets people use when they have the runs. They are the best for when people over drink in the sun.

Wellies, wellies and don’t forget the wellies. Packet of wet wipes.

You think it's funny that your son dumped his tent for other people to dispose of? Really? Wow

I can’t believe any parent would be actively condoning their own kids attend these God awful 'festivals' (which is just a cover for a massive, dirty drug-taking fest). They may be legally adults and that's fine but I'd have nothing to do with it! Like most good parents. To lend them things to take and make suggestions etc is condoning it!!

Look up the weather report where they are going. Luckily it only drizzled the 1st day, when my dd went to her's.

Make sure their wellies are big enough. At his first festival my son slept in his wellies for a couple of nights because, having got them on, he was unwilling to go through the effort of crowbarring them off again.

This isn’t entirely true. You need to read the T and C. Also if you want to leave your tent you need to carry it to a collection point - not just leave it where you cba to put it away.

We’re old farts now and know what a pain it is but we’re off to a festival this weekend with our kids (13 and 10) with our huge 6 berth. If we can fold ours down after 4 days and our old bones, teenagers can too!

Always keep some cash in your trainer.
Know your friends phone number by heart (don’t rely on it being in your phone in case battery goes.)
Arrange a meeting place in case get split up.
Pocket size pack of anti bac wipes always handy.
Have fun!

My daughter and her friend returned to my house after a festival. I hosed them down in the garden as they were filthy and caked in mud. I’m amazed they took it!

Simple answer - Some people are disgusting

Bring a head torch, and always look first on opening the door. When there’s a queue at a line of toilets watch the reactions as others open the door - and stay far away from those that people are rejecting.

Toilets will be getting serviced thoughout, but could be multiple times a day or late night/early morning. This involves hoovering out the waste and ideally a pressure wash hosing down the remnants of festival animals

Keep an eye out for the toilet service vehicles and try to plan using them after cleaning

Scope out and plan which toilets to use.
Those at music stages & main walkthroughs get used by everyone, those on camp sites get used by the campers
Camp site toilets on the way to the festival area get used by almost every camper on that site as they walk back & forth, but those at the back of the camp site get hardly used

Assume there is no toilet paper and no hand gel, so carry some always. Supplement with wet wipes

Spare tent pegs.

Take baby wipes, toilet rolls, bin bags. Something to tie to tent to make it easier to spot ( flag, bunting, cuddly toy etc). DO NOT WEAR EXPENSIVE SHOES!!!

You can buy luxury loo packages through a company called Refresh Retreat - well worth it.

Inside the tent.

Make sure he sleeps with his valuables inside his sleeping bag with him. Preferably belted around his body.

They don't. Please everyone make sure your teens take all their stuff home with them. So disrespectful and wasteful the amount of crap left behind at festivals.

Inside the tent or it will be gone.