What is actually good about festivals?

[longhaulstress]

Is watching the live music worth:

Mega amounts of money
Camping in rubbish conditions
Bad Weather conditions
Horrible toilets
Queuing for everything
Limited ways to cook or expensive food outlets

I was watching Facebook updates from the download festival last weekend and it looked awful.
What are the good bits of festivals, I toy with the idea of trying one one day but the thought of the above puts me off. I don't even mind camping and not too bothered about limited showering but I can't help thinking to enjoy it you must have to be drunk (or under the influence of other stuff!) and a hangover at a festival sounds even worse.

Really interested to see what people like about them/the good bits are?! (I promise this isn't a snooty Aibu I am genuinely intrigued!)

Drugs.

I do wonder. All that money to be in some fields with all those people.

Depends on what you value really. I haven't been to one for ages, but say the ticket was £150 and I got to see three or so bands I really love, and a fair few I liked, and discovered some more, that's good value to me.

The weather isn't always bad, and you can usually shelter in a tent.
The toilets aren't always bad, the only festival with bad toilets I've been to was Reading, and that was only the long drops. One festival I went to was in the grounds of a venue so inside was carpeted and properly nice!

It's mainly a case of finding a festival that suits you, none of the things in your OP is a definite.

I don’t get it but some seem to love it. Seems overhyped.

Is Download what used to be "Monsters of rock"?I went in about 95 it was brilliant but I was in my early 20,s no responsibilities etc, as I middle aged mum I can't imagine anything worse.

Nothing better than watching your mates crawl out of a tent at midday looking like death and swigging from a lukewarm can of cider

Great seeing loads of bands at once, the atmosphere is awesome, good food depending on where you go (The food trucks at Download are usually pretty good), the fun of camping and most of all, just spending time with friends. I love sitting with people I like, drinking a cider and listening to some great music.
Admittedly Download did look like a nightmare weather-wise this year!

The best bit is going home.

And as a pp said, it’s not that expensive if you compare it to seeing all the bands individually

My idea of hell.

But then my holiday choices are many other people's idea of hell.

So each to their own.

Hotel in Leeds and then the festival bus in and out daily
I'm way to old to go without home comforts

If the weather is good it’s amazing and good value to see so many different bands. I’ve never been to one in poor weather, been lucky. But then I’ve always enjoyed camping with a few drinks.

As PP said, drugs.

I used to love going to festivals. The camping, meet up with friends and the huge range of bands was brilliant.

I’m not sure if I was oblivious to the squalor when I was younger, or people started to become quite disgusting.

Seeing a human poo (massive one) in a pizza box next to people just sitting there by their tent, drinking and eating, was the final straw for me festival-wise.

It’s probably my age, I know. I do miss going through rose tinted glasses.

I love it, but you've got to pick your festival.

So we are off to cornbury. Small crowd about 20k people. Demo graphics is not teenagers. More family or older crowd. Five stages. We are glamping, so proper beds and electricity. We take a huge camping stove and cook breakfast, we go with friends. We buy lunch and dinner as we would on holiday.

Posh loos and showers. Limited to no queuing if you time it right.

If the weather is good, then it's fab sitting watching some cool bands, and the vibe is always so friendly. People are really nice.

But you've got to pick your festival and do it in a way that suits you.

It’s like entering a new world where normal, boring life is irrelevant. You’ve just got to get in the right headspace, forget about time and enjoy. Also every festival I’ve been to in the last few years (Glastonbury aside) have I invested hugely in loos, with regular clear outs and people designated to go in and wipe seats after use. They’ve all been fine

I go to one a year because DH loves them and I enjoy aspects of it. We have taken kids from age 3 and upwards with us some years. Sometimes we go on our own.

I like some of the music but often it tends to be really random small stuff on side stages as often as the big acts. I have been to really good debates and discussions. Some great comedy. Yoga in fields in the morning.

Oh and we bring a camper van so have beds, toilet and shower. We could cook but generally don’t.

My idea of hell. I like my own bed too much.
When I worked in the water industry staff were asked if they wanted to volunteer to help on site at Glastonbury with Wateraid and cleaning loos. Nope, not me.

It's too peopley for me. Personal space looks a problem.

My friend's 19 year old contracted meningitis at the Reading festival. Apparently diseases are rampant at festivals because of the high numbers of people and levels of hygiene.

I went to a few when I was young (18-25) and really enjoyed them.
Now- no chance in hell!

When the sun comes out as one of your favourite songs is being played, you've got a good drink in your hand and you're surrounded by your friends it's an awesome feeling.

Also love the different food stalls you can try and lots of festivals are about more than just music, I've seen some excellent comedy at festivals in the past.

You just have to pick the right festival for you.

I love festivals but generally stay in a local hotel and buy the posh loo tickets 😂

If the weather is nice it is great - you see good bands (and on occasion good bands you don't know/wouldn't normally pay to see). Chilling out with friends, live music and cider in the sun is lovely.

I'm not so fond of giant festivals (wouldn't go to Glastonbury if you paid me) or mud baths.

Last years Rize festival was my favourite

I went to T in the Park in Scotland a few years ago, we nicknamed it Pee in the Park. When we walked in we were met by a row of men peeing against the wall and that was the theme for the day.

At one point I was eating chips and a guy came and peed right next to me. I said 'can you do that somewhere else please' He said 'Like fucking where' I said 'How about the toilets just there'

So gross, where else would someone be peeing next to you eating? It's a shame because the bands where amazing - but I'm clearly too old or too civilised.