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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to worry about allowing my teenage girl to a music festival?

44 replies

Popster123 · 20/09/2011 19:41

My daughter who is sensible, wants to go to a music festival (Reading) for a 3 day weekend next summer when she will be 16. She would be camping with 2 school friends (also girls). I am convinced there will be all sorts of things she could handle, but what about difficult things, such as drunk/high men etc - she keeps saying it is safe and there are kids there. Does anyone know about Reading?

OP posts:
HairyGrotter · 25/06/2012 20:44

I went to my first festival at 14, I had lied to my mum though! I'm off to Reading this year, at 31, and I'm pretty confident I'll be more reckless than those younger ;)

She'll be fine, it's well policed, plenty of 'help tents' and there are plenty of kids there with their parents.

Get her a locker, she can put her valuables in that

BigRedIndiaRubberBall · 25/06/2012 20:52

Reading is really rowdy, full of drunk teenage boys, but nothing more sinister than that. Next to zero drug use, and low on violence (although high on very boisterous teenage shenanigans). She'll be fine Grin.

Do people still shout out bollocks randomly in the campsites there?

TheMysteryCat · 25/06/2012 20:54

I went to Reading every year for about 10 years. Over that time I saw it become more dodgy and dangerous. It used to be rare that there would be violence against people, (more likely burning empty tents on the last day or tipping over the toilets at the more extreme end. But, sadly it became worse. The last year I went (2004 I think) on the walk from the main stage to my campsite I saw more than four different "incident" signs asking for witnesses to rape or violent incidents.

I don't know whether it's improved since then. I know Leeds is pretty shocking.

There are safer festivals for young teens than Reading - Big Chill is very good. But, the line up is never as appealing.

If she is going to go, she should camp near a tower (but not by a path) and relatively near to the main stage. The main arena is OK, but the campsites are where people need to watch out for themselves a bit more.

FWIW, I first started going to Reading when I was 14, but stayed in a van for the first few years. I loved that festival, so much! Was terribly sad to see how much it had changed and hope it's changed back to great again!

HairyGrotter · 25/06/2012 20:55

Download was all "Jesus Christ, Fenton" this year. Lordy knows what the tag for Reading will be, but fully expect it to be utter bollocks

JarethTheGoblinKing · 25/06/2012 20:57

As long as she doesn't go to the portaloos on her own she'll be fine. (Ive been in one when somebody started to tip it over... luckily got out fast enough and kicked him very hard in the shins and ran away. Little shit).

HairyGrotter · 25/06/2012 21:00

Shewee...love mine

JarethTheGoblinKing · 25/06/2012 21:00

My mum didnt let me go to Glasto 95. Have to say, ive never forgiven her Wink

jamdonut · 25/06/2012 21:58

I went to Leeds festival on a day ticket for the first time ever last year (I'm 47).We went on the Friday. It rained continuously, and by the end of the day the green field had turned into a liquid ,sludgy ,muddy mess. The toilets are not very nice, but I was lucky it was the first day...hate to think what they were like by Sunday!! Shock
I was terrified I was going to get killed in the crowd on the way out when it finished,and my husband just kind of dragged me along (very difficult to walk in the liquid mud and miles to the car park!)
However, apart from that, it was an awesome experience and we are going again this year, on another first day Day Ticket!
I just don't think I'd want to camp though...it was a bit grim. Am hoping for better weather this year, but not holding my breath. Smile

BigRedIndiaRubberBall · 25/06/2012 22:27

HairyGrotter funnily enough my first and only Shewee experience was at Reading. My main memory is of rows of flabby girl bottoms - and a slightly disturbing warmth on the holding habd when weeing.

HmmThinkingAboutIt · 25/06/2012 22:30

If she 16 and sensible she'll be fine.

Gigs are one of the safest things to do as a single woman imho. Admittedly festivals are slightly different, but as long as she's got her head screwed on she'll be fine.

I've camped in a tent by myself at numerous festivals before with groups of friends without problem. And I had a bit of a stupid wild year at Reading, where I turned up on my own with no ticket, only £15 to spend after I'd got a ticket and no tent, and still survived. And £5 of that went on the worst bottle of Gin I've ever drunk in my life. I was a bit of an idiot that year, but people helped me out and looked after me.

Yes there are horror stories (and I could probably tell a few), but I have to say, the majority are down to too much booze and a lack of common sense rather than really malicious stuff.

One trick I always used to do with my friends, was look around at who we were camped near, and with caution be friendly with the people around us. Look for groups of couples and try not to camp next to a large male only groups. Don't be too trusting, but be friendly as it can help protect you as the people camping next to you generally are as worried about their stuff as you are. It means that the people around you know whose tent it is and to a certain extent will look out for you. It stopped us getting our tent turned over at Glastonbury one year...

Festivals are for the most part friendly places and people are there to have fun, rather than cause trouble or commit crime. If you look at the size and number of people at festivals, the crime rate for the population and age of the population is actually very low - though you'd be forgiven for thinking very differently due to newspaper headlines.

flexybex · 25/06/2012 23:10

My ds went three years running (from the age of 16) - and I can't say I didn't worry (although Ibiza cost me more sleep :)).

He came back every year. Slept for two days. Had a great time. Saw some awesome bands. Will remember it for ever.

He has now stopped going as security 'has got so tight' and they have far more rigorous alcohol rules. So I think his negative comments could be seen as rather positive from your point of view!

sesameflower · 26/06/2012 00:16

went to reading fest ten years ago - was a nice fun festival. lots of 16 yr olds celebrating gcse results over a can of beer.

went to reading festival two years ago. Riot. camp site set on fire. toilets turn over with people in them. Open Hard Drug usage. The kids were feral. Riot police called. Bricks glass all thrown about. Absolute chaos. No exaggeration. The are youtube vids. or there were. scary.
There are rapes at reading every year.

sorry I know its no what you want to hear.
She'll be fine if... get there early and camp close to security point or some welfare bit. may be loud but its safe... most trouble occurs in the quiet far out corners. Stay with friend in a group always. never go back to your tent alone at night. Dont use a gas stove... been some nasty accidents andx a death with those. Do not go anywhere with groups of men. Look after your mates if they get drunk.

Let her go. Its a riot. literally. But just be super careful.

sesameflower · 26/06/2012 00:18

sorry for the typos

HairyGrotter · 27/06/2012 08:19

Man alive, Sesameflower, your post has just made me even more excited about going! Schweet!

sesameflower · 27/06/2012 16:26

Yeah. Have fun. And rowntrees gave out free sweets. Nice touch I thought.

tiredcommuter · 27/06/2012 16:33

Reading was my first festival when I was 14 and I had an amzing time, I hated booze but was mad about music so spent the whole time just bouncing about to bands!

I still go to festivals now and love them (although not Reading anymore as its full of 15 year olds!)

funkybuddah · 27/06/2012 16:34

I first went to reading at 15 with my new boyfriend.

We had a wicked time and Ive been loads since.

retty safe, loads of staff around the campsite etc, close to the town center so not in the arse end of nowhere etc.

Its a whole heap of fun, she will love it!!

funkybuddah · 27/06/2012 16:38

regarding fires and riots, there are loads of rules in place now about fires etc to stop these riots, I went in 97 and went last year, maybe I noticed drugs etc more as Im older and a parent rather than 15 and having a few joints/seeing friends doing more.

The problems are no worse today than they were years back (riots excluded but as I say, they now extinguish camp fires no matter what size on the sunday night which was riot night)

In 97 we woke up on Monday to find loads of the portaloos tipped over.

I would advise her to stay in a group at night on the campsite just because like at any event there will be dodgys about but overall security is now higher than Ive ever seen there before

Candylyons · 19/08/2023 23:16

Thank you for writing this my daughter is 17 and going to Reading next week and after Reading this I'm a little more relaxed xxx

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