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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that young children shouldn't go to Glastonbury.

210 replies

waterducksback · 27/06/2014 19:39

Am I wrong to think that it's not fair to drag very young (6 years and under) children around Glastonbury?
It's not fair on the children and its definitely not fair on the other festival goers.
People pay HUGE amounts for their tickets and I'm sure they want to be able to drink, swear, let their hair down and enjoy themselves as much as possible. Surely having young children around spoils that 'atmosphere?'

OP posts:
Hakluyt · 27/06/2014 21:15
TheWickerWoman · 27/06/2014 21:19

There's thunderstorms there at the moment, they've closed the pyramid stage. Always feel sorry for the people there when the weather is bad.

ICanHearYou · 27/06/2014 21:23

Slings are awesome

Heels99 · 27/06/2014 21:40

Our headteacher authorises absence for Glastonbury. That's joy kid friendly it is. But I wouldn't take mine as I wouldn't want to spend my time on kids activities, do enough of that already.

SpandexBallet · 27/06/2014 21:53

OP you don't have a clue!

I have been to Glastonbury every year that it's been on since my mum was pregnant with me!
This year I am there pregnant with my first. I intent to take he/she to the next one with me.

Going to Glastonbury as a small child have me a very early appreciation of good music. And I have seen more people sing and perform live then you can imagine.

I met people from all walks of life at Glastonbury and feel very privileged to have the festival as such a big part of my ch

SpandexBallet · 27/06/2014 21:54

Posted too soon.
Part of my childhood and adult life.

You need to get your head out of your ass.

Wheelbarrows were made for carrying children round festivals Grin

JohnnyBarthes · 27/06/2014 21:59

Heels are you local-ish?

I get the impression blind eyes are turned by most schools within a 35 mile radius of Pilton Grin

campingfilth · 27/06/2014 22:26

I'm off to Beautiful Days festival in August with my 4 year old son. Just the two of us. He will have a ball and I can't wait.

cantbelievemyeyes · 27/06/2014 22:29

YABU. Been plenty of times, and saw many things but never children being dragged around. I have seen young children having a fabulous time, with each other and as a family- usually in specific areas of the festival where you would expect to find them.

Can't say I ever felt that the presence of children spoiled any part of Glasto for me, and in fact I barely even noticed them. As others have said, there really is room for everyone.

happybubblebrain · 27/06/2014 22:37

I've been to Glastonbury.
I wouldn't take my child because of all the drugs and the loons on drugs. And the loons on alcohol. And it's too loud and you can't get clean. The noise and the mud would be miserable. I have taken my child to other (more sane) festivals.

SistersOfPercy · 27/06/2014 22:45

One of dd's happiest memories is sitting on my shoulders, aged six, towards the front of the main stage at Leeds festival clapping along to green day.
I took both of mine from a young age, they loved every moment of it. Most other festival goers are surprisingly tolerant off small children, if dd was with me they would let us through. We stood on the barrier in a small side stage watching supergrass as room had been made by several lovely lads to let her in where she danced for the entire set (much to the amusement of the band and others)
Great times, great memories as a family. She's 16 now, the years went far too quickly but the festivals went to will always stay with us.

CarpetBagger · 27/06/2014 22:48

I would love to be able to take my DC there, I have never been...I do have a pang of jealousy when I see children there...I wuold love to show my DC another laid back side of british life....

Idontseeanyicegiants · 28/06/2014 00:33

I'm watching it now.. I want to be there!! My kids would love this!!

Cuteypatootey · 28/06/2014 00:38

Believe me, it doesn't interfere with anyone's good time.

YourBrotherInLaw · 28/06/2014 00:52

Drugs, drinking, not the kind of atmosphere I would want my young dc in to be honest. I also wouldn't enjoy being accompanied by friends' dc in an adult environment like that. But each to their own.

ICanHearYou · 28/06/2014 00:54

The kids field is just for kids, you're not allowed in unless you have one. No drink or drugs to be found.

Cuteypatootey · 28/06/2014 01:50

I wouldn't take a young child there - but I didn't have a problem with kids being there. I am sure that you could find places off the busy path that are nice but when I went to Glastonbury it rained THE WHOLE TIME (apart from 2 hours in the Sunday) and people couldn't get far because the depth of the mud made moving your wellies very difficult. It took us about an hour and a half to get away from the pyramid stage after headline act as there were 100,000 people there and they were getting stuck in the mud. I made myself a dress out of bin bags because all of our clothes were wet. It was fun though, saw lots of good bands, didn't sleep more than a few hours a night but I'm glad I did it without kids. For people who love festivals I think it is nice that they can continue this after having kids.

footflapper · 28/06/2014 02:15

OP, it's like a huge holiday park!

Theodorous · 28/06/2014 05:09

It's a festival not a nightclub. I went most years if my childhood and, even now, don't think it is an adult centric event. We had a ball in the early 80s

Szeli · 28/06/2014 06:14

Saying you won't go because of drink and drugs is like saying you won't go to the co-op because it's next door to a nightclub.

I've been for many years, camping up Toms Field with the Energency Services, which is next to the kids field; no probs sleeping there! You can just about hear the main stage but not offensively so, I've done nights and slept fine.

If you avoid the stone circle and the after hours places (where I'm sure you wouldn't take a kid) you avoid all the mashed people.

Since when do you have to go out every night? I don't at home so why would I here. Even pre DC when I drank I'd only really properly bother on the Sunday.

I got mocked for not bringing DS last year but I don't drive and he was still formula fed and I still couldn't wear a sling because of surgery. If I drove and my job was a little more secure I'd have been there with bells on!

It's a 250,000 capacity venue that takes 2/3 hours to walk a cross pre show, it really is a city in its own right that I simply cannot explain to somebody who has never attended

PS the pyramid stage acts are usually the least interesting part of the week

shakethetree · 28/06/2014 06:54

Yanbu - it's a place for people to get drunk & drugged up ( like most music festivals ) I don't care how many fields there are with strange people walking around on stilts, I wouldn't dream of taking my kids there, & I'm fairly bohemian! it's parents trying too hard to be cool & hippy. ( not that Glastonbury is cool anymore - 20 years ago maybe but not now.

Toofertaffer · 28/06/2014 08:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

oliviap100 · 28/06/2014 08:45

I wouldn't take my kids but only cos of my experience last time I went in 1997!! Ha ha I'm still getting over falling into a mud filled hole Grin
I'm def going to take my kids to a festival one day though - but probably a smaller one - I found Glasto v intimidating when I went just due to the sheer scale of the place!

PenelopePitstops · 28/06/2014 08:50

Babies and toddlers are easy. Get a trolley lined with blankets etc and kids sleep in that while you watch bands.

If it's it's muddy, get a sling

TheLovelyBoots · 28/06/2014 08:50

On a less relevant note, I hear there are holding pens set up at Paddington to contain the throngs of festival-goers. How absolutely not fun does that sound?

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