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Original poster

At what age would you let DC go to festivals?

87 replies

BentlyandPalmers · 19/09/2019 09:11

DD wants to go to Glastonbury next year (with her boyfriend, both the same age). Tickets are on sale next month so I have to decide.

As it’s so long in advance I do wonder whether she will still be with her boyfriend by then. So it may be her and a girlfriend going together...

Have not put DD’s age on purpose. Will do later.

OP posts:
MargoLovebutter · 19/09/2019 09:58

Doh, sorry, just realised this is about Glastonbury. Blush

Original poster
BentlyandPalmers · 19/09/2019 10:10

Thanks all.

DD wil be 16, just after GCSEs and looking at the dates it’s cutting it fine. The contingency date (for exams not taken due to emergencies) is the day before Glastonbury!

I’m worried that she’ll be too busy organising what to wear and packing in those final days also.

Hmmmm

Is Reading a tamer festival? Maybe I should compromise with Reading tickets (August).

Thank you for the information about not being able to exchange tickets. Hadn’t occurred to me!

OP posts:
Loveislandaddict · 19/09/2019 10:15

Six form

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hoxt · 19/09/2019 10:25

If she isn't familiar with festivals glasto is pretty full on. Reading for a 16 year old is a fair compromise.

RezCowgirl · 19/09/2019 10:46

Reading/Leeds are most certainly not tamer than Glastonbury.

When the bands finish at Reading, there is nothing going on apart from a silent disco and you have 170k of usually drunk people with nothing to keep them entertained which is why is carnage in the campsite. There is music, entertainment and all sorts of stuff going on 24 hrs for 5 days straight at Glastonbury which has much more chilled and fun party vibe.

Toni2five · 19/09/2019 11:29

My son went to Leeds Fest last year age 17, camped over but came home a day early (only because I'd given birth to his baby sister whilst he was there!) he went again a few weeks ago now 18, he had a fab time and said it was so much better this year than last. I worried about him constantly, and due to bad signal didn't always hear back from him straight away, which made me even more anxious, but I did get the odd text saying "I'm ok mum don't worry" I'd say 17/18 is an appropriate age x

VioletCharlotte · 19/09/2019 12:34

Reading is wild, crowds of 16-18 years olds away from home for the first time and off their faces. DS went for the first time at 17 and was fine, but he was with a big group. I think I'd worry about 2 16 year olds going on their own.

Glasto is probably a safer option, there's loads to do during the day apart from the music, and lots of families/ older people there too, not just teens. It's huge though, so it may be rather daunting if they've never been to a festival before.

Original poster
BentlyandPalmers · 19/09/2019 12:44

DD has never been to a festival before. Just concerts in the park with us.

I’m put off by the proximity of Glastonbury to GCSEs now.

I’m OK saying no. She’ll not like it but is probably expecting it!

My sister has suggested we go with 😂. I think DD would rather stay at home!

OP posts:
amusedbush · 19/09/2019 13:01

I was 15 when I went to my first festival but a friend and I went with her sister (and sister's friend), who was 26. I probably would have felt a bit lost and anxious by myself at that age.

17/18 seems a bit more appropriate.

Awks · 19/09/2019 13:07

Glastonbury is less hideous, least no one sets fire to people's tents there. Reading and Leeds are wild places and not in a good way.

HappyHedgehog247 · 19/09/2019 13:10

I would pick Glastonbury over Reading/Leeds having been to all 3. If she can wait one more year that’s great or could they go in a bigger group?

justasking111 · 19/09/2019 13:12

18, their friend who went at 16 ended up in hospital drink drugs when 16.

Bluntness100 · 19/09/2019 13:12

17 for me, and reading is wild. Drink drugs the lot.

MargoLovebutter · 19/09/2019 13:19

Reading is properly mental, partly I think because so few adults go - which is very different to Glastonbury.

To be fair, you probably know if your DC are the wild ones or not and drugs are available at the school gates, so if they're that way inclined they've probably tried them anyway.

Mine drank like fish at Reading, wore the same clothes for 4 days, didn't wash and came home utterly destroyed but having had the best time. Neither of them wanted to go again though!

berlinbabylon · 19/09/2019 14:27

18 for me preferably never but I suppose once they are 18 you can't stop them . If you are near Reading, is one of the smaller festivals an option like Carfest or Weyfest? Have to say it sounds hideous and my ds hasn't had FOMO yet but that could change next year.

bigTillyMint · 19/09/2019 14:31

Mine went to Reading at 16.

TBH, if they had wanted to do drugs, they could have been doing them for years before as they are easy to get hold of here.

Dowser · 19/09/2019 14:31

18

bigTillyMint · 19/09/2019 14:33

I see you asked if Reading was tamer...

It is full of 16-18yos doing everything as much as poss - very full on. And probably better in a group.

BearSoFair · 19/09/2019 14:38
  1. DS1 went to Reading with a group of friends to celebrate leaving school. One of them had an older sister who was also there just in case of emergencies but it wasn't a requirement for me to be happy letting him go, she just happened to already be going!
Branleuse · 19/09/2019 14:41

It would depend on the child tbh and how sensible they were. After 18 its hard to stop them, but if they were really mature, i might consider 16

shearwater · 19/09/2019 14:42

18 probably, though may relent earlier if DDs show an interest and are sensible, and going in a group. I do think festivals are potentially quite dangerous though, worse than going on holiday with friends and you really have to keep your wits about you.

Ragwort · 19/09/2019 14:43

I’m just grateful my DS never seriously wanted to go to a festival, it was talked about in a casual sort of way when he was 17 but as he’s very frugal the cost of the tickets put him off and now he’s 18 & it’s never been mentioned again.

shearwater · 19/09/2019 14:45

My sister has suggested we go with 😂. I think DD would rather stay at home

I actually wouldn't mind if I was there somewhere at Glastonbury, when DDs were 16 say and with a group of friends. It's not like I would be around them or that they would even see me, but I could be there if there were any problems or emergencies.

shearwater · 19/09/2019 14:49

I never really thought about going to festivals - my friends and I managed to save up money from our part time jobs and went on cheap package holidays instead, the first one when I was 18. Much better value for money. The first one I went on the holiday cost £250 for two weeks and I spent £200 there. My mum gave me a bit of money - £50 or so but the rest I earned - £3 an hour working in a pub.

itshappened · 19/09/2019 14:53

Glastonbury is a huge festival. Amazing fun but people do tend to go a bit wild. Maybe for her first festival choose something smaller and closer to home? I think I would say over 18 for glasto but for other festivals, especially day festivals, possibly from 16. Would definitely depend on the teenager though!