Just turned 17yr old going to Leeds Fest

[ShittingHell]

She has never camped, hates sleeping out, loves home comforts etc etc but her mates are going and apparently it will be brilliant. I have no experience of it at all. Who else has let their younger teens go? Were they ok?

We live really near the Leeds site at Bramham Park. Parents in the know here let their kids go but for the day and collect them at midnight. The camping is where the problems are with drugs and sexual offences being rife.

17 isn’t a younger teen.
At 17 I lived alone. She’ll have a ball and catch the bug or she’ll hate it abs never go again. Being that age is all about discovering what you like and don’t like. We used to follow the festival circuit around the country at that age, working in fields picking fruit or as flyer girls or whatever to earn our keep. I had the most amazing time!

DD went to Reading just before she turned 18. She has a blast. She said she felt quite safe, there were lots of security around, welfare tents and that sort of thing.

We have one of the big festivals local to us that she’s been going to for years, so it wasn’t a new thing for her, although being so far away from home was, but she loved it

She’s bought tickets to go this year too so 🤞 it all goes ahead.

I’m hoping ours goes ahead too. It’s in June so maybe a bit too early, but I’m hoping they push it back a bit.

She’s not going to suddenly age 3 years in the next 12months. If she’s too young for a festival, how is she going to manage uni?

I know it’s worrying. But you can’t protect them from mistakes forever.

Mine went to his first at about 16 and the plan was to stay over. Think 60 miles away and there was such a storm that they lost everything. I had a call in the morning to collect him and everything he was stood up in was simply covered in mud. He came minus sleeping bag and tent as everything was ruined.
I allowed him to go as I knew all his friends and they were sensible I might add.
I think the following year he went to Cremefields which was literally 10 minutes from his house. I kept getting calls to bring him this and that as he seemed to have left most things he needed at home. Happy days as he has grown now and left home.

Those who have children who have been in the past - would you recommend getting a locker? DS isn't intending on taking anything of value, but will have his phone and money with him. Just thinking of somewhere to keep extra cash?

DS is going as part of a large group and only one has booked a locker. I reckon it's worth having, he isn't so sure

@Sunflowergirl1

We live really near the Leeds site at Bramham Park. Parents in the know here let their kids go but for the day and collect them at midnight. The camping is where the problems are with drugs and sexual offences being rife.

I was going to say the same as that's what all my friends have done, but only a few are close enough to be able to do this.

Things to remember-
The campsite is a long walk from the drop off so she won’t be able to carry much.
No valuables left in tent, not safe
Mud!
Make sure you know her understanding of drugs. Not to take them. Not to accept them. Not to go near them.
Other than that she’ll be fine!

Went to reading aged 17 in 2000.

Best weekend ever.

Do the lockers have phone charging inside them? In which case, yes, very useful.
They can leave train tickets and house keys in the locker and forget about them for the weekend also.
May not be that chic but a waist money belt (the flat ones) that can be worn under a t shirt are a good idea - stash bank card, phone and cash there.

Otherwise life advice for teens at festivals
Take wellies but also equally important - long Welly socks. Wellies rubbing on bare skin are awfully painful. If it is muddy, shorts and long socks with wellies is the best thing to wear.
Also take a pack of compeed blister plasters. You will be glad of it or someone else will be incredibly glad they are your friend.

I’ve been and she’ll have a great time. Yeah, it’s camping but she’ll be with her mates and you don’t spend much time in your tent. Just don’t, for the love of god, look down the hole in the long drop toilets.

I went to Reading aged 16 with a group of friends. It was fine. We got offered drugs once by a ratty-looking man in a leather trench coat, said no thanks and that was that.

She will need wellies and a good wash when she gets home. She'll probably have a great time despite the lack of creature comforts.

I went to Leeds at 17. My parents were very overprotective and weren't happy with me going but I did anyway. It was the summer before I went to university so it seems a ridiculous thing for a parent to try to veto for an almost adult! Sure she will have a great time.

I wouldnt let my daughter go...

Theres likely going to be drinking, people passing out, people smoking drugs/weed, people starting fights, people have sex, people being groped, or being accousted.

To be honest, I’d wait until nearer the time before you start worrying about stuff like wellies. The year DD went it was the hottest weekend for years so stuff like wellies and rain coats were just extra stuff to carry that she didn’t need

She got the specific coach there and there’s limited space to put stuff.

Mine didn’t worry about a locker. She had a bumbag she wore at all times and just took her bank card, her phone (with Apple Pay on), limited cash and one of those portable phone chargers. She charged the portable charger at home and got 3 full charges from it. There were chargers on the coach both ways

She bought a cheap trolley like this - www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15987119/eurohike-festival-trolley-15987119/?istCompanyId=c2ec8a5d-93c1-4850-a97a-f4d89d7c99c8&istFeedId=2755fba0-7dfe-46a9-bfd0-09b37aed8b93&istItemId=irlwrxmtw&istBid=t&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI76P_vLiF7wIVVuDtCh21MQL3EAQYBiABEgLsU_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds it folded up really small and was a godsend as the drop off point was a right bloody trek from their campsite.

Plasters and wet wipes and she tied her hair up in tight plaits before she left.

I really hope the festivals manage to go ahead, this is just what DS needs! I haven't seen him be this upbeat for ages

Thanks to those who advised on the locker. He's going to book one - I think it's worth it, not stupidly expensive and I'd rather know he's got one even if he doesn't use it

@BalancedIndividual

I wouldnt let my daughter go...

Theres likely going to be drinking, people passing out, people smoking drugs/weed, people starting fights, people have sex, people being groped, or being accousted.

Well most music festivals aren't exactly church tea-parties, that's why they're fun. If you've brought your kids up to be sensible and smart they're not likely to come to any harm.

Reading/Leeds are very much a young festival, its usually full of teens and early twenties.

They’ll be fine and have a great time.

Remember to take some loo roll!

I went to Reading at that age, had a great time.

I then went again in my twenties and was totally grossed out and wtf and how drunken and unpleasant it all was, people pissing everywhere, saw far too many penises flashing about, people puking in the middle of the afternoon etc. I was reminded of a friend who came back to his tent and found that someone had shat in it....

I’d let my kids go at that age but maybe just prep them a bit first and remind them they don’t need to get ratted if they don’t want to! Are you reasonably nearby op? If she does decide it’s not for her?

I think Leeds festival is generally for young teens. Don’t send her with anything you want to see again. They all seem to just dump everything and leave it for others to clear up (incenses me! The lazy little bastards!)

Years ago I let my eldest go to Leeds festival at 17.. I bought him some food and provisions to take, a decent little tent, a list of dos and don'ts which he ignored.
He came home totally stinking,
Buzzed and knackered.
He had the time of his life and still takes about his first festival even now he's 32.
I say yes. 😊x

talks.

They all seem to just dump everything and leave it for others to clear up (incenses me! The lazy little bastards!)

I used to volunteer for a local charity who go into the festival site here, remove everything that’s worth keeping and then sell it. They made a huge % of their yearly budget that way.

It is bloody shitty to just leave your stuff behind, but at least it wasn’t all wasted and charities got to make some money out of it.

Yes, mine went to Reading the day GCSE results came out. Aged 16.

I worried the whole time, but didn't fret or fuss to the Dc, all was well. If they hate it they can come home.

Mine all went at 16 straight from GCSEs & had a fantastic time. I worried at the time but they went in big groups & kept in touch.