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.

Christ - wish I hadn’t asked!!!! 🙈😆

Thanks all!!

Perhaps we could turn this into a support thread?

An ironic support thread I should say!

Don't waste money on the lanyard with the times of bands on.Download the app but bear in mind phones don't always work. Use the clashfinder website to print the times the day before he goes as a back up

Food wise pot noodles are good, light to carry, waterproof and filling. If they aren't taking a camping stove (I would advise they do) then you can either buy a hot water from the vendors fairly cheaply or there'll be a kind person with a stove and a kettle nearby. Massive multipack of crisps (again waterproof and light to carry) cereal/oat bars

I was thinking of those pots of oats and chocolate filled crepes for breakfast. He likes the instant cappuccinos Nestle do so I put a few boxes of those in (he’ll want to share). I’ll also make him take pot noodles and mug shots.

In terms of food, could also add

• individually wrapped, filled croissants/ waffles, Asda do them 4 for £1
• apples/satsumas
• nuts
• cereal with UHT milk

Food onsite is priced like funfairs so £6-7 for a burger, £1.50 for a can of coke. It adds up, so if he can lug a decent sized bag of food to the campsite he's best to do that.

If I remember rightly, there were a few pubs/hotels within walking distance of the festival grounds where you could go for a decent sit down, cooked breakfast too.

A nice cosy hoody for night time, it's cold sat around with your mates outside the tent after the acts are done.

A few empty carrier bags always come in handy for dirty clothes, or to cover muddy shoes in the tent.

Check how money works, some festivals have moved to pre loadable wristbands that all vendors accept rather than cash. Make sure he separates any cash, so some in his pocket, some in his bag, some tucked into his sock... that way if any gets nicked he has back up money. Also make sure you have his bank or Paypal details in case he needs an emergency cash transfer.

Oh and those dried meals you get in camping and outdoors shops are good, again waterproof and just add water - can be a bit pricey though

There's a stall called 'Festival's Angels' that you can buy a reusable mug for £5 or a sticker for £3 and get unlimited coffee, tea and hot water if they don't wanna take a stove to work.

We used to survive on cereal bars and dairy lea lunchables for breakfast then buy one meal (about £7) in the arena. Majority of money got spent on cider.

Massively reccomend a woolly hat and warm jacket. I used to go to leeds fest every year and without fail the Sunday night was freezing, even if it had been a gorgeous weekend. Mumford and sons will forever be associated with feeling cold to the bloody bone for me.

DD has plans last year to party all night on Sunday and then sleep in the day. She would not be told it was a daft plan! She rang us at 6am on Monday morning to ask to be collected. This year we’ve just factored in a 6am Monday pick up!

She added her food order to an internet shop herself this year and it turns out to be 18 pitch brioche, 12 bags of crisps and a jar of Nutella. I’ll be supplementing shortly with many of the things mentioned here but not sure if anyone has mentioned sending a Robinson’s squash’d or similar if you do have a water refuser. I also think it’s worth giving them some cash for food purchases whilst there - DD will begrudge her own money and go hungry but will happily squander mine.

She was also absurdly optimistic last year about how much cold and discomfort she could endure and ended up buying extra bedding whilst there. We are about to go in search of a deluxe camping mat and she is going to take tatty duvets from home too which we won’t mind if they don’t recover.

Wellies too. My DS came home with a broken foot age 16 because he wore trainers in the pit, lost one in mud and got trampled on. He missed almost the whole rugby season recovering much to his disgust

Just thought, a couple of those porridge drink or protein milkshakes would probably be good as an instant filling breakfast or snack to line stomachs,

Ear plugs if he wants to get any sleep and a warm hat to wear at night and something pillow like and a chair. Veteran festival Mum here! DS 22 has done one every year since 16 (Reading was his first has now progressed to Boomtown...) Don’t take any pills. Make sure they know where first aid/security is if needed. One text a day minimum (just a thumbs up is enough) to let you know all well. Have his friends numbers in your phone for emergencies and yours in theirs. Make sure he/they know he can call you any time for any reason and you wont judge, you’ll just help sort it. You will worry, he will have a blast

Anyone else been press ganged into picking up DC on Monday from the festival drop off/pick up point?
Wondering what is the best/worst time to try and pick them up on Monday???

Flapjack - compact, high calorie, and doesn’t crush

The little pods of squash - invariably someone will buy cheap disgusting vodka, I’m told that vimto vodka is a lot more palatable.

Definitely phone power banks - you can buy wind up phone chargers on amazon too

Did he survive @Notsureabouthis? 😀

@Paintingtheroseswhite yes and had great fun!!!!

Fantastic, knew he would 😀

Bet the look and smell of him when he walked through the door was ....., interesting 😁