Am I being ridiculous worrying about my child going to Reading Festival in this drought?

[BaskingSharking]

all my kids have gone to Reading Festuval at the end of GCSEs. It’s a rite of passage around here. But my youngest is due to go next week and I really want to say they can’t because:

(a) I have images of fields of burning tents due a discarded cigarette butt or similar and drunken teens falling over tent ropes trying to escape and dying en masse
(b) even if there is no fire the dust bowl effect will be so severe I worry for their lungs
(c) they are teens, they won’t hydrate, they will dance and sweat and get sick

Am I letting anxiety cloud my judgement or are these reasonable fears?

how can we ban disposable BBQs but allow huge festivals?

My daughter is currently at Boomtown(it’s down the road from us,so getting all the local chat about it and she’s just come home for a shower!)She said there are fire cars patrolling the site at all times,loads of info was sent before about fire prevention too,and it’s not been a problem. Re the dust,they have been wearing scarves over their faces and have also been advised to wear masks,which they all have.
She is 18,but I was also worried about hydration,but there are loads of water stations,which I’m sure there will be at Reading. My daughter had a terrible experience at Boardmasters with tent slashing etc and said Reading last year was much better,but hard when they’re only 16,I know.

I'm currently sat in Southampton General with my son. He was at Boomtown and in the terrible heat on Thursday he fainted and has broke his jaw. You hope they will sensible but this heat is something else.

Wow - Is it still going on? My DCs went in 2010 and yes tents were frequently burnt, but thought things might have moved on since then!

It happened last year according to the daughters of friends.

I think the last night is the worst so definitely get them to leave before Sunday evening. My DS is going. I think it will be ok. It’s forecast to
cool down soon. There’s medical tents if issues - I don’t think it’s complete anarchy. My eldest DS went last year and was fine.

Long time volunteer at Reading (and Boomtown) here. The situation with fires has been a lot better in recent years than in the past, as they've basically banned all fires and have very proactively put out any that started.

The dust is generally nowhere near as bad as it gets at Boomtown, which is in a bowl/valley comprised of chalky soil. Reading is a very flat site next to the River Thames.

I'd be worried about this too

I went for years when I was younger - a lot of big fires etc. One of our friends managed to set fire to his tent with a camping stove while he was inside and the fire brigade was called. So I would be worried in this drought - but I’m in the south west (I know Reading is SE) and rain is predicted all next week.

Thank you for your reassuring words. I had a feeling last year it was quite well organised and the staff and volunteers are on top of this.

Can anyone give any advice on where it’s good to meet kids who aren’t staying overnight at Reading - is there a good pick-up point? @forceofhabitandnotneed maybe?

thank you!

There is a dedicated pick up point on site, but TBH they might be better walking into the centre of Reading to meet you, as it's only a 15/20 minute walk from the festival.