What to pack for camping / festival with DD?

[newhouseplans]

It's been a while since I've been camping and the first time taking 12yo DD to a festival, please help me work out what I need!

I have the basics - tent, sleeping bags, blow up mattresses and torches. Picnic chairs, clothes for every season incuding warm clothes to sleep in. Bin bags x a zillion. What else do I need?

Although there are plenty of food outlets at the festival, I'd like to be able to make some food to save money, and also so we can have breakfast and snacks at the tent. What's easy camping food?

I'll also bring LED lights and bunting to make the tent cosy and easy to recognise.

Any tips? What else do you bring to festivals?

Baby wipes. Clothes pegs and a washing line/twine to hang up wet socks. Power bar for phone. Eye masks and ear plugs. Padlock for tent (not fort knox but a deterrent against casual thievery).
Last time I went we took muesli and non-dairy UHT milk.
How many days/nights?

You can get a small rechargeable lantern that also has a wind-up handle in case you can't charge it. Useful for lighting in the tent and not expensive (from Amazon).

All sensible, thanks!

I forgot to say, we have a calor gas stove.

We're going for 3 nights.

I love this idea but I've managed to find a zillion torches and batteries in the house, so I'm good for lights.

The tent will probably be absolutely pitch black at night, we needed to take a lantern as well as torches as my daughter wanted a tiny bit of light from the lantern as she was scared (you could push it up and down to change brightness so it was really dim) and torches with batteries just wouldn’t have lasted the night. Head torches are useful too for toilets. Plenty of toilet roll / tissues and hand gel

We take porridge pots, pot noodles, little orange juice cartons, pancakes, and cereal bars for easy food.
Festival food in the arena is so expensive so we try to just eat 1 meal in the arena and the rest at the tent…
Dry shampoo helps, and I like a small flannel to give myself a quick wash (prefer a flanel to wet wipes)

JUST got back from a camping festival with my three boys.

cereals, milk, plastic bowls, spoons
fruit, snacks
a couple of films downloaded on an iPad for exhausting times
noise cancelling headphones
pot noodles
water bottles for refills
eye masks
spare airbed incase one punctures
antihistamine for kids

Period supplies, paracetamol, insect repellent, sun cream, ear plugs and eye mask, blow up pillow, snacks, power bank and charging cables, water bottle, a warm blanket for sleeping and wrapping up in on an evening, fairy lights

I also had a torch but didn't use it because this converts to one. I just found it easier to put on the floor of the tent and light up the whole space, rather than propping it up or someone having to hold it. I like to read at night!

Double check the festival’s website as you usually can’t take a gas stove.

You probably have to carry everything from train station or car to the actual camping area.

Pack light !

Take cereal bars & choc bars (instead of cereal & bowls with milk)

I have never taken cooking gear to a festival, buy food & drink at festival instead

Reusable water bottle, there will be free water

Bumbag to keep car keys, cash or card, mobile & power bank

Wet wipes, toilet roll or flushable wipes

Headache tablets

Bring everything home

If you were male it would probably be

Beer
More beer
Emergency mars bar !

Check on what sort of stoves are allowed. Most festivals now don't allow gas. Usually has to be gel fuel or disposable BBQs.

I'd say you've probably got most stuff. We're going to one and won't be taking much more than you've said.

If you're making a brew/coffee then the long life milk sachets you get in cafes/maccies are useful. I get mine from Amazon.

Hmmm... Good point ...

Ok, so it says "Can I build a fire?
Personal camp fires are not allowed anywhere on site – we provide communal fires instead. Please do not light candles or solid fuel fires inside your tent at any time. We allow BBQ's in our designated BBQ area, away from tents and harm. Always be mindful around fires of any kind. They are one of the biggest risks."

It doesn't mention small gas stoves. My friend goes every year so I'm following her lead. Maybe they allow them in the BBQ area.

I have never taken cooking gear to a festival, buy food & drink at festival instead

Yeah, our budgets are probably a bit different then 😂

Also it's part of the fun IMO.

Adding toilet roll, flushable wipes and ibuprofen to the list! (Chocolate & snacks already there 😊)

Blankets and fairy lights, sounds lovely and cozy 😊

Pad lock to lock our zips when leaving tents. Unfortunately thefts aren’t uncommon.

My DD took one to rewind at the weekend

Dry shampoo
Hand sanitiser
Nice socks for inside the tent
Moisturiser to feel fresh
Pillows
I would take a cool box (ideally one that will keep cool for 24 hours) and fill with sausages, burgers, cheese, drinks etc
Then take some bread, scotch pancakes, chocolate chip brioche, butter plus plenty of treat snacks.
Cozy blankets
Power banks

I’ve done a lot of festivals in a van with no fridge.
Small packs of tissues. Always have one on your pocket. Foodwise Uncle Bens have some new sachets of meat free (so long life) curry, chilli etc which you can heat in one pot with a micro rice & a little water. That’s my go to dinner. Surprisingly yoghurt lasts really well even not in a fridge.
Oatcakes that come in individual packets with mini cheeses are a great snack. If you take a small plastic box or two you can make up a little package. Sugar snap peas last well too.
Alcohol wise I’d pack a few of the small Moth cocktails. I’ve never had one of those found when being searched!

Btw My top piece of camping kit is my toaster. One of the fold flat ones like this. I know people like ridge monkeys but these are v light & space efficient. Takes a bit of practice but this & peanut butter in a plastic pot is v useful.

I actually volunteer at festivals so have watched many many people struggle with their stuff. If in doubt leave it at home would be my motto. If you buy a trolley get the one with the best wheels and use it gently.

And absolutely no glass, including perfume bottles.

"A bit different then"

I went to a Festival last weekend
I have been to a wide variety of different types

Zero liquids allowed in
Buy food & drink onsite
Water was free on site

Flip flops or sliders for going to the portaloo in the middle of the night (and too and from the shower if you go that far!).