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

Please drum into them that whatever they take to the festival comes back with them (except for genuine rubbish, disposed of in the proper way onsite). Tents and other camping stuff are not for leaving behind for someone else to clear up.

And yes - that means learning how to get it back in the bag, so they can bring it back to, shock horror, reuse another time.

This has been a thing since I was going to festivals as an older millennial 25 years ago. It's not okay, but it's not exclusively a Gen Z thing.

Be prepared to go and pick DC up at 2am if it all gets too crazy on the second night.

(That would be my dad's advice from 2004!!)

🤣 this might have been me!

It's a good idea to make sure they know how to assemble it and pack it away again though. My son did his silver DofE recently and we had a practice session. No different!

Dd is packing as I type as she's off somewhere else before heading to reading on Thursday. She recommends setting up the tent then heading into town on a booze run, rather than assuming you'll do it later. She was not too filthy last year but did pay for the refresh retreat thing so did actually shower while there.

If you are picking up say in advance that anyone who doesn't have their tent/airbed will not be allowed in the car. This stops them abandoning stuff

Same thing was said to my millennial generation and previous ones too. Woodstock was declared a disaster area.

It was me who took them, never again 😆

I would recommend if they (or you) can stretch to staying in the VIP area it would be a lot better. My son says he’s very glad he did it as there were fairly decent showers and toilets compared to the general bit and it was (marginally) less anarchic.

On the other hand, don't let them drive home, unless there are two among them who doesn't drink, take drugs or stay awake all night for any reason.

If they must drive, they need to have two people awake at all times, otherwise it is too easy for the driver to nod off.

Each to their own eh !
In 15+ years of going, i can't say I've ever seen a tent set on fire or had anything stolen (or heard of thefts on the grapevine) Drugs, obviously people manage to smuggle some through but there is really tight security with sniffer dogs. No knives (even to spread butter on your bacon sarnie in the morning) no glass of any kind.
You aren't going to walk round a corner and see someone shooting up !
We have made so many new friends who we have kept in touch with, and discovered some great bands (without taking any drugs).
Festivals are also so inclusive... Families with small babies in slings with ear defenders to 80 + year olds (we spoke to an 80 year old lady this year who had travelled to the Isle of Wight from Liverpool on a big green bus with her daughter and a ruck sack), disabled access and special areas/toilets/ viewing platforms.
Great street food. Nobody judging anyone else.
Fantastic, inclusive experience but as i said, each to their own. (from a 50+ year old festival goer with a decent car, job, and own home)

By we took a mini stove both years I went to reading proper useful until the last night the 2nd time when someone was going round exploding them it was honestly like a bomb going off!

not sure if you can still do it as I’m sure it’s all changed since I went in 2005! But do not go for a wee in the hedges near the camping in the dark. Very very bad experience! Don’t forget suncream either i managed to get sunstroke.

My dd and her friend are both 24, first time they've been to one. They are going up market the next time they go.

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · Today 15:48

Having worked in Reading, we called it the Festival of the Great Unwashed! Have a hose at the ready for wash down on return home!

That's exactly what my aunty did to my cousin, when she got home from Glastonbury, in 97 or 98. She helped her out of her outer clothes and threw them in the bin, ditto her tent and sleeping bag.

She then got the hosepipe and a dish brush and scrubbed her down! Apparently, her near waist length hair took over an hour. Only then was she allowed to go and have a bath!

Make sure he takes a hat if its going to be hot! I've seen so many people come down with sunstroke at festivals and apart from drinking enough water, wearing a hat is the best way to avoid it.

Dd says for Leeds, skip the last night and come home early because the last night is when everyone decides it's clever to set fire to tents without checking who is inside.

Take as much bottled water as you can drag, loo roll, and a SheWee or similar.

Plastic sledges work quite well for pulling all your stuff from car to campsite.

Go everywhere in pairs or groups.

Use the drugs testing tents. Festival Angels are good if you need help.

Although her top tip was "get day tickets" 😂. We live close to Leeds and she's not a fan of festival food and toilets.

Insect repellant and bite cream - depending on festival, but if there's a river there will be mozzies

My daughter has been to several festivals and always brings her tent home. She takes clothing for all weathers, sturdy shoes, battery packs, an old phone, breakfast bars and blister plasters.

Are your teens not allowed to go anywhere where the adults aren't all DBS checked then? Must be a bit limiting!

If your kids aren't interested that's fine, but if you're passionate about live music then being able to see many, many different bands/artists in one location over the course of a weekend, whilst dancing and having a good time with your friends can be a great experience. It's not for everyone, but clearly a lot of people do enjoy it. Also, I've been to many festivals over the years and my tent has never been robbed, vandalised or set on fire. Some festivals are cleaner than others, for sure but they're not all cess-pits and a bit of mud never hurt anyone. There are ways to keep clean at a festival if you're bothered.

As for drugs, of course they're taken at festivals but they're also taken in schools, at house parties, in pubs and clubs and in parks. You don't have to partake if you don't want to, and plenty of people manage to enjoy festivals without drugs.

Amazing list.
Also, go for warmest sleeping bag you can buy.
"Summer" ones do not really cut it when you are hungry, tired, wet, with wind and rain shivering.

Having worked in Reading, we called it the Festival of the Great Unwashed! Have a hose at the ready for wash down on return home! Seriously, take nothing valuable, carry important items on your person and have great shoes, so you can run when the idiots kick off and you sprint well away from where the trouble is!

I took a selection of things - t shirts, a jumper, shorts, waterproof jacket, etc

It was brilliant sunshine when I went. But my friend said the previous year it rained the whole time they were there

All festivals are having a massive focus on people taking tents home and recycling disposable cups. Most of them have "love your tent" or "leave nothing but memories" campaigns and constantly show videos on the big screens in between acts as to why you need to take everything home. It does seem to be working.
Nearly 99% of tents taken home at Kendal Calling - Access All Areas (accessaa.co.uk)

Take a can of spray paint to customise the tent with symbols, initials or similar so it's easy to spot in the crowd.