What does a 16 year old need to take to the Reading festival?

[GnightMaryEllen]

It's our 16 year olds first music festival and he will be camping there for 2 or 3 nights with dozens more from his school year.
We, his parents, have never been to a festival like this before either so not sure what or how much stuff to bring.
We'll be dropping him off by car.
Does anyone know how far it is to walk to the campsite?
Obviously he will be taking a tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag.
Also clothes, toilet tissue, torch, cash, phone charging pack.
What else should he take?
Are you allowed take food and liquids into a festival like this?
How much clothes should he take?
Anything else?
TIA

A box of dry cereal. As a drunk 16 year old I shovelled handfuls in at Leeds Fest. I went through a box in four days and didn't eat anything else as was having too much fun.

So that. If only to make sure he has something to line his guts with.

Hand sanitizer. They always run out.

Tbh he won't change his clothes much.

This, just don’t take anything that’s worth stealing

Nothing you it he would be devastated to have stolen.

don't bother with padlocks. Tent /bag will just get cut open.

to memorise key phone numbers so he can phone for help when he loses his phone/it gets stolen.

if it's as hot as it's supposed to be he needs to be sensible about drinking plenty that's not alcohol.

Drugs - all sorts of shit offered/sold. Does he want to pay hood money for rat poison?? Have fun without drugs.it's totally possible.

Get him to put a phone number of a friend on his phone lock screen. If he loses it then at least someone can phone (most people are honest)

This is spades. DDs friends had a horrible experience last year. Drugs were rife, as was theft and sick people passed out everywhere.

Snack foods (cereal bars, sachets of couscous or noodles) to supplement foods bought there
A money belt
Sun tan lotion (and a hat if forecast is for hot weather)
Loo roll, baby wipes, hand sanitiser
A couple of changes of t-shirt and underwear and a spare pair of trousers
We live fairly near Reading and all mine went after GCSEs, and for a couple of years afterwards. It has a much younger vibe than many festivals.
The couple of times mine have needed medical help (a panic attack, and a dislocated toe) they found the medical tent very helpful!
I'm sure he'll have a wonderful time, and will be filthy and exhausted when he comes home!

I’d say…

Little packets of tissues not loo roll (won’t disintegrate in a bag)
Waterproof lightweight jacket
lots of socks
Camping chair
sun hat/sun glasses/sun cream
beer (no glass)
snacks - pepperonis/mini baby bels, crisps - nothing chocolatey that’ll melt :)

An extra set of tent pegs. Mine have been stolen every single time I’ve been to Leeds, often in the middle of the night so you wake up soaked!

Food is really expensive. Last year I volunteered at reading and noticed that pot noodles / porridge pots etc where popular and the kids could get hot water for them from a salvation army tent. Keeps costs down and is even slightly nicer 🤣- the food was expensive and absolutely dire

I would say that I worried about the safety aspect being a parent myself. But there is safety in numbers so good advice is for friends to stick together and look out for each other.

Useful info here 😁

Firstly, he will have the best time!! I went at 16 and every year until I was too grown up..!

In all honesty he won't use much. It's absolutely not worth taking clean clothes for every day as he won't wear them.
I went before phones were a big thing but if he has the latest iPhone or expensive anything, I'd query whether to switch for a cheap one.
We used to walk into town so make sure he knows how easy it is to get to, for breakfast, beers, food etc.
Make sure you prepare him that drug dealers will openly sell drugs (I assume it still happens!), they'd walk though the camp site shouting it out..
Safe sex - just make sure he's prepared..
Camping- don't camp near the toilet or pathways or at the bottom of a hill!