AIBU to not see music festivals as a teenage rite of passage?

I don’t think they’re a rite of passage but a fun thing that many teenagers enjoy. I think it’s important for me to introduce my dc to live music and theatre. They’ve been going to festivals since age 2 and love it - but I’m not a camper so Reading was just a day ticket last year. 17yo went off with friends and dtds age 14 stuck with us.

I’ve met adults my age who’ve never been to a concert; I find that odd to be honest. Not saying they have to love the music I love but to not love any music enough to see it live is strange to me.

Oh no absolutely not, a tiny amount and only a bit more at 18.

I don't think it's a rite of passage but plenty of people love them of course.

Personally I've never been interested in music and still listen to very little. I also hate crowds and drunk people. So a music festival doesn't appeal at all. But I realise that millions of people find music very important and understand why they'd like to go.

I suppose my view of them is coloured by looking after a young girl who went to a festival at 16, who was given drugs and ended up with long term significant mental health issues as a result. Felt less rite of passage and more fucked up for life. Met her again recently, 25 years after the event, and still not a fully functioning human

Ex act fucking actly

Musical anhedonia is surprisingly prevalent. I don't think I'd go as far as to say I have it, because I do love a few niche types of music, but I dislike music as background noise and prefer silence most of the time.

What did they teach you about festivals at finishing school?

The festival didn’t give her the drugs, did it? Someone she trusted did. And she chose to trust them. Dreadfully sad, but could have also happened in her local park.

I didn’t say there was a perfect age.

I said festivals are for all ages. Which they are.

I’ve took my 10yo to many festivals. He loves it.

My son went to the IOW Festival from age 12-16/17. He’s just been to the Victorious Festival in Portsmouth. I think it is depends where you live. It would be odd living on the IOW and not going ever.

We live about 10 minutes away from where Leeds fest is. For my kids at the schools in the close area it was a rite of passage thing, almost like an extension of prom. They didn’t camp at 16 because we’re so close, they did at 17/18 and haven’t been there since. My kids love a festival and have done Creamfields/Glastonbury since then. They wouldn’t even entertain Leeds now and they’re only mid 20’s

My girls have been a total of 7 times to Leeds festival between them. Most of their friends have been. I would consider it a rite of passage.

Thats every festival sadly. It’s the same people who leave their drinks and food all over the place at concerts and the cinema. I live by the sea and the state of the beaches at the end of the day is unbelievable- some people are vile.
I’ve taught my kids some basic values about cleaning up after themselves and being respectful. After Harry Styles both my daughters collected other people’s crap on the way out, to help the cleaners, they do the same after a film.

All you can do is hope you’ve instilled decent values and, in terms of festivals etc, talked to them seriously about drugs and personal safety. There are so many under 18s at Reading and they cannot get served alcohol- no one’s walking an hour back to the tent to get any drink they’ve been able to smuggle in. It’s 4 days- they can’t have hauled that much booze in inside their rucksacks.
My daughter has had the time of her life, just as her sister did. If it’s not for you, you won’t go and hopefully if you do, you’ll be picking up your own shit and following basic manners!

I think this thread accounts for more than half the times I have read the phrase "rite of passage" in my life and I can still barely work out what the point of the thread is.

I doubt anyone means the below type comment in the literal sense...

"Is little DD16 too young to go to Reading?"
"No, its basically a rite of passage!"

It's a simple turn of phrase to indicate its very common.

They are for some - usually those who live near one! And not for others!
I’ e heard this at lot this weekend as many friends teens went to Reading, I also know many who didn’t including my own.
They cost a lot of money. A LOT.
Tickets, transport, camping gear, food, drinks etc so there are literally 100s of thousands of teens more not going than going.

If you don't live near or on a good public transport route surely at 16 parents must have to take them there and collect them, often many miles, which would probably stop many going.

Such an odd thread. Why the festival hate? Both mine are at Reading having an absolute blast. They both paid for their own tickets via their Saturday jobs. They better flipping bring my quite decent tent back!

Me and my DH have been to two in our entire life’s, can’t say they are something I enjoyed even in my 20s and my DS who are 22 & 19 have never been to one. So I guess not everyone is that fussed? I can’t think of any of their friends that go and the general impression I get is that the try hard types go so they can chat about refining etc. It’s just another each to their own event.

I’ve never wanted to go to one. DS went to Leeds and left early as stupid lads were throwing deodrant cans onto fires and he said it felt dangerous.

Ahh yeh meant to say reading!