Terrified of daughter going to festival

At 18 she will be one of the older ones - it’s traditional to go after GCSE results at 16.

It sounds more hair-raising than it is. And there are plenty of assistance hubs she can go to if she does need something.

Tell her to take lots of pot noodles and porridge pots - they can pay about £6 for unlimited boiling water, which is great because the food and drinks are insanely expensive.

There’s sod all phone coverage so don’t fret is she doesn’t ring.

I hope she has a great time, and I hope you don’t worry too much.

Have phone numbers of friends and you written down if she doesnt know them off by heart- phones lose battery but almost anyone will lend a stranger a phone at a festival, if you’re lost or need help. Also stewards are lovely and always great to go to for help. Don’t keep any valuables in the tent.

I would make sure she knows there’s nothing to lose and to not be scared of repercussions of calling an ambulance/ 111 if her or a friend has drunk too much or overdosed, instead of the dumb teenage wait and see approach because they don’t want to get caught taking drugs. And to not leave each other alone in the festival or in a tent if too drunk or high! This is especially important as a woman- a third of women are assaulted or harrassed at music festivals, so it’s important to stick together. And to not feel ashamed about reporting anything.

I went to festivals from 16 and the community at most festivals in general is good, apart from reading and leeds festival- too many drunk idiotic teenagers.
Readings and leeds camping grounds are colour coded, some areas are notoriously lairy and others are more quiet, and the last night of the festival is traditionally the night some moronic people set fire to random tents and throw stuff at people for fun. Some years its worse than others, so could be worth suggesting camping in one of the quieter areas if they want to avoid the mindless sunday night destruction.

Op I'm with you, my DS is going this weekend as well- he's 18. He's a type 1 diabetic just to add to anxiety!
I know I'll be fretting but I don't want him to feel like he can't do these things because of diabetes. He has a decent group of friends and I truly hope he has a ball. I just wish it wasn't far away. Or hot/cold. Or dirty. Or have drugs and alcohol. Or be overnight

I get you OP.

I was worried about my 18yr old son going in to our town centre at 1pm on a Monday lunchtime!

He’s been in to town lots of times but with friends who live there. He wasn’t with his usual friends but with someone a little less streetwise and “delicate.”

Agree with the sun safe. First time my daughter went to a festival we talked through all the drink drugs scenarios and she came home terribly sun burnt. Then blamed me because putting on sun cream wasn't in my list of instructions.
Foolishly I assumed as it was something done every time she went out in the sun it wasn't something I needed to remind her of.

Lots of sensible advice here. I’m sure she’ll be fine and have a great time -it’s just hard for worrying parents.
My anxiety would lead me to secretly hide in a tent nearby.

Absolutely have the drugs / drink convo, and the keep with your friends convo. This is really important (having volunteered as a steward for many festivals over the years) I can’t stress it enough. Makes sure she knows where welfare is and that it’s ok to use them or medics in any event - they have seen absolutely everything and are there to help. To stress it is not the place to get absolutely wasted for the first time especially drugs.

indeed welfare are a fantastic resource if your having a tough festival. Also let her know that the stewards can help or find help if needed. Oxfam are super bunch of people and are all trained and briefed.

one piece of advise is to get an emergency foul blanket and place under her roll mat, sim or airbed. Insulating under will keep her warm over night.

ive been to Leeds once for one evening and never again. But it was a long time ago and things have drastically improved since then.

Lots of good advice on here already.

A couple from me-

amzn.eu/d/iBmeudk so she can find her tent in the dark

Tell her to write yours/a couple of friends contact numbers down on paper in case she loses her phone

Does she have access to more than one current acc? If so, tell her to bring both cards, in case one doesn't work.
get the acc details for both, in case she needs money urgently.
If she doesn't, get the details for one of her friends and add them as a payee before they go.

Pop some jelly's and rehydration sachets in her bag, as well as some immodium.

Tell her to not rely on anything that requires signal to find her friends. Set a meeting point on day one.

She'll be totally fine though!

My sensible DC ended up insensible and carried back to the tent by security, then felt like hell all the next day, missing the act they wanted to see. Lesson learned the hard way. But no real harm done and i was reassured that staff had noticed and got them back safely.
What did it was a combination of too little food, too much sun and starting to drink too early. The best tips to give her are be sun safe, keep her fluids up and eat. Make sure she has plenty of money so she's not skipping food because it's expensive.

I won't mention drugs, drinks etc it's been said enough but I will say she needs a bumbag and to wear it on her front there are lots of pickpockets at festivals and your phone is your life out there. Don't put it in your pocket it will be gone. Best taking and old.phoje or taking a spare just incase.

Ignore the above if they have decent paid-for WiFi. I've done a few festivals which set up their own network for the weekend, and it sometimes works, sometimes doesn't, but best have a plan b should it be a bit flaky.

My ds17 went to first festival (17) this year …

I paid they could have a phone battery charge each day .. everything was cashless so also meant I got odd text.

It doesn't matter what apps you have on your phone, if there's no signal. And the signal will be rubbish - an extra 50,000 people will overwhelm the available bandwidth.

Best bet is to go old school and text. With a manually entered timestamp. No pictures, emojis etc.. e.g. "it's 15:42, I am by the merch stall". Oh, and depending on phone make, "throttle" it so it doesn't use up battery looking for 5g. (Obviously switch off WiFi.)

W3W is extremely accurate. Life 360 etc can be a little off. But I wouldn’t worry too much they will probably not loose sight of each other. When I used to go we had brick mobiles but always found our friend and our tents!

I live near so everyone went to Reading at end of GCSEs and or A levels. Your kid will be as safe there as they would be at a night out or party please don’t worry. If they don’t do drugs or get stupidly drunk they’re safe places with lots of help if needed. And if they’re with good friends they shouldn’t ever feel pressured to do anything they don’t want to. I’m sure she’ll have a great time and be glad to be back in her bed by the end of it!

Get her to attach something unusual to her tent so it's easy to find in the dark, like a flag. Bring lots of socks and loo roll! She'll be fine

Awww, thank you too.

I went to a large festival earlier this year, lots of reports of phones stolen while in the crowds. I had a bum bag with my cards in which were in a Faraday pouch (so no skimming). Then my phone was attached to a lanyard around my neck for most of the festival. We also rented a locker which had back up cards and car key in for the duration. I second W3W for tent and car location if nothing else! Warm clothes and sleeping bag for night time is a must. Lots and lots of blister plasters.

Haven't read all the responses as having a busy evening but fully understand where you're coming from OP. If not already mentioned, I'd ask her for contact details of one or more of the people she's going with so if she loses her phone or just runs out of power, you have at least one other person you can contact. Don't abuse this though, just if you lose contact and are worried.
I'll probably get flamed for this but will say it anyway: have a conversation with her about drugs and the dangers of that one pill that seems like fun but could go badly wrong. We live in an area that hosts a number of festivals and too many reports over the years of otherwise sensible kids who are taken unawares. Sorry that won't help your anxiety but it's a conversation that needs to be had.
Suggest that she and her pals have a rule that they never leave someone on their own. Also if anyone in their group has had too much to drink that they take extra care of them.
I don't care if I get backlash for my suggestions, I've had DCs going to festivals for years, now older so less of a worry but have learned from other people's experiences too.

She’s saying don’t double dose your drugs. Either through gung-ho festival hype or naivety (ie. Taking one pill then it not working so you take another).

Honestly she’s going to be fine. Only risk she would ever really have is from drugs or drunken climbing. I don’t think your qualified to advise on the first but I think you can explain the no climbing/ jumping rule. Hopefully her friends are sensible.

I think there are a few this coming weekend. DD is going to Shambala.
No matter which one your DD is going to she will have a fab time. Mine came home last year so happy, buzzing, excited, grubby and knackered!!! 😂😂 She can’t wait to do it all over again. Try and relax and think of all the fun she is having than worrying. It’s hard because my anxiety was bonkers last year but I did my best to stay busy. Was such a relief when she came home in a blissful haze 😂xx

Even better, get her to learn your number. I had to learn dh's as I never charge my phone.