First timer at Wilderness festival with a 3/5 yr old

[Stuckinstressville]

We have been lucky and booked a family camping ticket for Wildenress as a summer holiday and get to go in a few weeks but have a few niggles pinging round my head as it seems to be actually going ahead!!

I cannot book any food as all sold out, do we need to take enough for all the days or are there stalls?

Our tent is massive. embarrassingly so. Knee jerk to the pandemic by DH. Will it be allowed? It s a 6pp Coleman blow up the palace, actually, I might just call it a new stage area it is so big.. but anyhow, it is huge. ?I mean I love it but... def huge.

Any tips or hints with kids would be appreciated, I am so nervous and I do not know why!

I think the food was just packages when I looked, there's other options to buy on the day I think. A warning about the tent, you might struggle if it's too big, festival camping is quite cramped and unless you are one of the first to arrive it's a case of finding a flattish place. I'm still thinking about it, have it bookmarked currently (we have a tiny tent)

I am now treating leaving home and being there on time as a military exercise! Need to ensure we have a good spot, plus, going with friends so they at least can huddle in the beast if it is raining!

When we went a few years ago (not with kids) there were plenty of food stalls. It was very nice but quite pricey, so you might want to take some supplies. We also weren't too cramped for camping. I think we booked the quiet campsite which was a bit further away. I find there are often people with massive camping set ups at these sort of things but obviously the earlier you arrive, the better spot you can get.

The festival catering is superb even if you haven’t got a pre booked feast thing. There are high quality take outs and a few have restaurants you can eat in but don’t need to book in advance (cafe murano for eg). The burger van is Patty &Bun and J Sheeky did the fish and chips one year; the vegan Buddha bowls next to Fannie Mae’s Mac & cheese. God I’m dribbling thinking of it. What you therefore need is an unholy amount of money. Booze is similar - there’s a Laurent Perrier champagne bar, ketel one cocktail bar etc - not much in the way of pints of cider in a plastic cup.
For little kids, there’s a whole play area with activities ongoing and the some (performances) at set times. We never booked the nannies, but the kids area does have a bookable nanny service for the evening and it’s at the opposite end of the site to rave valley.
I urge you to take your kids to the Sunday fancy dress cricket match - it is a joyously silly spectacle and full of streakers (they count streaks alongside wickets) with a bitingly funny commentary on the pubic topiary / boob shape of the streakers. Completely puerile and my kids adore it. Bl
Otherwise, be aware that the mood changes quite dramatically at sundown; a lot of very fucked up people and some of the costumes might be quite frightening when combined with a gurning adult. Rave valley (which obv the kids won’t get anywhere near) is really quite intense and a world away from the cosy literary soirées of daytime. People get very, very messed up.

@AtillatheHun

Wholeheartedly second the cricket match recommendation.

Hugely entertaining.

The childrens section is brilliant you'll have an ace time. Another vote for the cricket match though not sure mine would have sat through all of it at that age.

I went with a 2yo and 4yo they had a total blast, great little people rides, crafty stuff, sights to see and lots of little stages which weren't so loud and crowded which they loved for smaller bands. Actually we preferred those to the big stages. Straw bale seating and space for the little ones to boogy.

We didn't see any scary costumes or lairy adults, everything was a feast for the eyes, but nothing sinister, didn't go to rave valley of course.
The wild swimming was ace for the kids, mine don't mind cold water and were the youngest ones in there and had fun, so defintely be brave and try that. armbands on, off you go.

The toilets when I have been were in decent shape in the family camping area, so don't be too afraid of being close(ish) to them so you can go from your tent easily. In fact some campers drew the 'short straw' got there late and ended up close to the loos... they were under some trees and the toilets didn't smell, so they had their pick of when to visit the facilities being able to see when it was quiet and also cool tents cos they were in the shade!

Massive tent - no problem, just get there Super early! Go as early as you think you can possibly do and then make it an hour earlier (or chance it but then your stress levels will be higher which isn't what you want). I pitched under a guard tower by the perimeter fence... was great as not encircled by others so quieter and we got pally with guards so felt stuff was safe... but the walkie talkie in the night was audible (didn't bother me). Also, on leaving day, we hung around late and once most cars had gone we pulled the car up beside the fence where we were, threw our gear over and loaded really easily, staff didn't seem to mind.

You can hire barrow trucks for carting your stuff from the car but it is pricey and you don't want to be a minute late bringing it back or you pay another hour, take your own if you can, so much less stressful and makes unloading with little ones fun - they can ride!

Loads of food stalls, good ones too, but you will need loads of money to eat solely at those! We took means to make our own for some, wish we'd done more. You aren't supposed to self cater, but we didn't find our stuff was searched so thoroughly that we couldn't discretely make it so we weren't entirely reliant on the stalls. One camper had a portable tagine stove thing and was doing jackets and all sorts.

We got going early in the day and returned for naps when necessary through the day, the family camping is closer than quiet camping so better for little legs.
In the evening lots of people made their barrow trucks into mobile cots and towed sleeping kids round. We didn't, cos we didn't have one and they wouldn't have slept well so would have been too grumpy to enjoy but we could see it worked for some.