To ask for Leeds festival advice for 17 year old

[Notsureabouthis]

Just that really! He’s quite a young 17.

He’s going with a couple of friends and is staying in Camping plus.

Any tips/things to take? Thanks.

Take as little as possible! Wet wipes, bog roll, tooth brush, toothpaste, change of undies, 1 change of clothes, small over the shoulder bag with good zip or bumbag (can't believe they're back in fashion), phone charger/extra battery, list of important phone numbers in case he loses phone!! Painkillers. All in a waterproof bag.

Tent, sleeping bag, blow up pillow. Lightweight and cheap.

Make sure he reads the information on 'what you can and can't bring in' on the website.

The Ed Sheeran gig is in Leeds this weekend and a similar list has been widely publicised. Some things are common sense (weapons, glass, fireworks) but others I find quite surprising (only plastic drinks bottles, not metal ones for example - I expect to see a lot of people having to throw away their Sigg type bottles).

www.leedsfestival.com/news/restricted-items-2019

Wet wipes are a must, the toilets are ahem...rudimentary (think open pit with boards across).

If he's in camping plus he should be insulated from the last night mayhem so should be ok.

Take plenty of money, it is EXPENSIVE especially as you can't take much into the arena.

Men pee against fences everywhere so it's best not to pitch a tent right by one or sit down leaning against one.

Plenty of sun cream on, even if it's cloudy it can be brutal in the arena

If he's staying until Monday don't expect a quick getaway as there are long queues at the exit gates and for transport or to get out of the car park

Remember to have a fabulous fabulous time (he will)

Don't camp in the blue campsite (don't know if it's still called that). We made that mistake one year as it's closest to the stages and it's absolutely wild.
Camp on a downward slope so his tent doesn't get flooded.
Food is unbelievably expensive so take as much as you can.
Camp close to, but not right beside, a water tap and toilets.
Don't drink too much if you want to get near the front of the stages. You don't want to have to leave halfway through a set to go to the toilet and you'll never get back to the front (although without going into specifics, some males in the crowd don't see having to pee as a problem ).
Take a cheap sledge to carry all your gear to the campsite. Trust me.

Now's NOT the the time to start experimenting with drugs, don't drink too much, take layers, take crackers, snacks that kind of thing,don't take anything that you would want to lose, take a small bag - manbag type thing with a zip to carry your stuff in. Something small enough to be worn cross ways on his body at all times. Stuff falls out of pockets VERY easily in the mosh pit. Have fun!

A few more thoughts

If it doesn't come with the ticket, definitely buy the lanyard with all the stage band times on, makes it much easier to plan your bands and keep referring to it during the day.

Second the near but not too near a water tap one there's always a massive queue at them, also, near, but not too near, a walkway or you will get trodden on/ fallen on several times in the middle of the night.

Get there as early as you can after camping opens, the best spots fill quickly. You always pity the late arrivals who have to cram their tents in between a walkway and a puddle

Get them all to time stamp their texts. It's no good texting your mate lost saying you're by XYZ if mate comes to find you there 3 hours later.

Don't take anything valuable he'd be upset to loose.

Wet wipes, loo paper, deodorant, spare battery packs for phone. Glow sticks or cheap solar ground lights can help make the tent easily recognisable at night.

Don't camp right near a walk way if you don't want people falling or pissing on your tent.

Oh and bin bags (handy for both rubbish and keeping clothes dry), waterproof footwear, and plenty of spare socks.

Ritz crackers filling and won't go off. Also good for munchies though obviously your son won't have those....

Brilliant thanks all !!!

It does get cold in the evenings, especially when the headliners are on and at night (when camping), so get him to pack warm clothes etc.

Power banks and charger cables are a must.

The best advice I have ever had is to tell your kids that, if any reason at all, they need to be picked up/collected with no questions asked, promise you will do it and speak no more about it. We forget that sometimes teenagers can be too proud to admit they need help or rescuing to get out a sticky situation. It helps to know that Mum/Dad have got your back and will swoop in, worst case scenario.

What do they eat? I can’t grasp how mine will manage for five days!

Would also recommend taking some camping chairs. It can be quite nice to just sit around, outside the tent having a leisurely drink between / before seeing the bands, it makes it more social.

Change his phone home screen to one of his friend's phone numbers, then if he loses it hopefully whoever finds it will call his mate.

Also if any of them take drugs and it goes wrong, get help immediately.

Take LOADS of food it’s expensive and plenty of bottled water

Stick a flag or similar on your tent
Carry your money with you all the time
Bring a few jumpers in case they get damp and a really good waterproof

If he’s not a drinker now is really not the time to see what happens if you drink 13 pints of strongbow.

Oh and make sure he gets to see FIDLAR

Oh I second a camping chair! An absolute must for the campsite.

Get him and his friends to all download the what3words app. There was a really good article about it on the BBC website yesterday and there's a thread about it in here somewhere (on my phone which isn't brilliant for checking where you read something).

It will help them find each other if they accidentally get separated.

I'm currently on holiday. Our hotel is unmarked, in a warren of streets in the Old City (even the taxi driver struggled to find it) and Google maps didn't help as the exact gps location isn't the same as the one given on the website.
Once we'd found it, I used gps to find my exact location on Google maps on my phone and used the option to mark it as "parking". Your son and his friends could do the same for their tent.

What do they eat? I can’t grasp how mine will manage for five days!

Assuming they aren't taking a camping stove:
Cereal bars
Flapjacks
Crisps
Chocolate
Biscuits
Dried fruit of any kind
Yogurt raisins
Nuts/trail mix type stuff
Scotch pancakes (with or without a tub of Nutella on the side...)
Pop tarts
Any tin they are willing to eat cold. I don't mind cold beans. Just remember to also pack a tin opener so you don't have to wander round looking for a friendly tent-neighbour

We usually got one hot thing per day but no way was I forking out any more than that.

Ahhhh I'm so nostalgic now. Sadly I think my Leeds Fest days are long gone

download the app
whatthreewords
so can easily arrange meet ups - find tent!!!

mentioned on bbc today

One of those thin raincoats, foldup drink container,

Thanks Holly.

Take a reflective tent topper - you will feel horrendous in the morning if you don't as you cook in the tent. Make sure it's decent and waterproof - I once woke up my with leg submerged and my skin al puckered and gross.

If you see someone chewing their own jaw off, avoid.

Take hand sanitiser.

Take a flag or something to demarcate ones tent. Have also woken up in the wrong tent.

@howwudufeel when I was 16 the only thing I ate for the whole 5 days was a dry box of golden nuggets cereal. Shovelled in when I realised I felt so dodgy because I hadn't eaten in 2 days.