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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Just turned 17yr old going to Leeds Fest

144 replies

ShittingHell · 25/02/2021 14:08

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?

OP posts:
sausagepastapot · 25/02/2021 18:51

I work at the festivals and I think a 17 year old would love it, and also be fine. It's quite safe and there are always plenty of grown ups around if they need any help.

cardibach · 25/02/2021 18:52

Reading/Leeds can be a bit ‘last days of Rome’ but if she’s with friends it’ll be fine. My DD went at that age.

RedRec · 25/02/2021 18:56

My just turned 17 year old daughter is going too and I am ok with it (although will inevitably have some moments of worry).
Her friend is currently in the online queue for their tickets!

BalancedIndividual · 25/02/2021 18:57

@TinyGlassOwl

Haha, thats funny, because I actually used to go to tea with the congregation after church services on Sunday, when I was a teenager.

EnolaAlone · 25/02/2021 18:59

When I was 19, me and my boyfriend went to Leeds festival with my brother and his friend, who were 17 at the time. It was one of the most fun and amazing experiences and we still talk about it now 20 years later.

SomersetHamlyn · 25/02/2021 19:08

I never ate anything while I was there so pooing wasn't an issue Grin

HurricaneBitch · 25/02/2021 19:27

My ds went 2 years ago when he was 17. He had a brilliant time, he is going again this year.

There is a locker provision and you can pay for a shower. I suggest she gets the locker package and finds the shower as soon as she gets there.

The is also a co-op on site, reasonably priced.

PrimaDina · 25/02/2021 19:33

My son is going to Reading with his gf, but just for the day. It's their first festival, and my treat as I think it's something worth experiencing ... but just for the day. The thought of them camping fills me with dread, and they're not fussed to do it either. It's worth noting that 16+ should hopefully all be vaccinated by then.

PrimaDina · 25/02/2021 19:33

P.s. son will be 17 in may

userxx · 25/02/2021 21:25

@constantly

Mine went some years ago but rang to come home after a few hours. She was disgusted that people were pissing in bottles and throwing them backwards into the crowd. She was soaked

Yep, you know it's piss rather than beer because it's warm.

Original poster
ShittingHell · 25/02/2021 22:12

Thanks so much for the info. I've taken everything on board. Feel more positive about it but unsure if she'll even get tickets anyway! Some of her mates have them from last year and apparently that guarantees them this year?? I've no idea.

OP posts:
needadvice54321 · 25/02/2021 22:18

@ShittingHell

Thanks so much for the info. I've taken everything on board. Feel more positive about it but unsure if she'll even get tickets anyway! Some of her mates have them from last year and apparently that guarantees them this year?? I've no idea.
Yes we were given the option to either roll over to this year or get a refund. I've just seen they've announced Reading has sold out and Leeds just has Sunday tickets left
HeatherShimmerIsMyShade · 25/02/2021 22:31

My daughter has booked herself a ticket for Reading with a big group of her friends. She'll be just turned 17. I'm so excited for her, I just hope it goes ahead.

Yesmate · 25/02/2021 22:49

constantly
Mine went some years ago but rang to come home after a few hours. She was disgusted that people were pissing in bottles and throwing them backwards into the crowd. She was soaked

Ahh, the memories. I got hit in the back of the head with a cup of piss right at the end of an oasis concert in Manchester. It was a stinky 4 hour drive home 🤮

CorianderBee · 25/02/2021 22:58

I went at 16 and it was brilliant. Just make sure she knows not to do drugs.

Ericaequites · 25/02/2021 22:59

Warn her not to drink anything from a opened bottle or cup unless from a official concession or a trusted friend. Drug trips are dangerous.

BabyElephant2 · 25/02/2021 23:06

Personally was never my kind of thing as a teen but I work some of the bigger festivals and raves as a medic and it’s the norm for that age and younger to attend.

Please have a drugs chat, I don’t mean to be a bore if they’re first timers at festivals/raves and going to do drugs they need to be as safe as possible and be with a really decent group of friends who at least know what drugs they’ve taken and know when to stop!

Gobolino80 · 25/02/2021 23:27

Apart from the fact that I think they're being very optimistic that it will be able to go ahead - let her go, she'll have a blast. You'll spend the entire weekend worrying, that's only to be expected, it's what we do but she can keep in contact (that's a non negotiable ground rule, stock her up with power cells so she has a fully charged phone, although I'm guessing there are fancy charging tents nowadays) to calm your worries with a call once a day and responding to those "just checking you're ok" texts.
My youngest went to Wireless at 16 for her first festival with a bunch of mates. She's one of the youngest in her year (June baby) but definitely a bit of a young head on old shoulders. She had a bit of a panic attack because of the crowd size (I could see that coming a mile off but didn't want to fill her head with 'what if's' and put her off) and her mate took her off to the welfare tent and they got it sorted. She coped because she had too. She came home absolutely buzzing and that more than made up for the fact I hardly slept a wink or relaxed until she got home.
My Dad paid for tickets for me and a friend to go and see Radiohead in Paris in 1997, I was 16 and he didn't hear a word from me until we got home on the Monday, that blows my mind!

buckeejit · 25/02/2021 23:37

I went to a festival when I was 15 from NI & was fine. Sort of. Drink & drugs are something to be aware/wary of. If she has sensible friends that will be a big help.

I went to Glastonbury every year after for years & love festivals still.

Twillow · 25/02/2021 23:45

There is a lovely atmosphere at most festivals. The sheer volume of people makes it pretty safe!

Sunflowergirl1 · 26/02/2021 05:46

@ShittingHell
"Thanks so much for the info. I've taken everything on board. Feel more positive about it but unsure if she'll even get tickets anyway! "

My daughter just looked and £250 for one day! She isn't bothering

SimonJT · 26/02/2021 06:14

[quote Sunflowergirl1]@ShittingHell
"Thanks so much for the info. I've taken everything on board. Feel more positive about it but unsure if she'll even get tickets anyway! "

My daughter just looked and £250 for one day! She isn't bothering [/quote]
Its £230 for the weekend, you can also pay in installments.

ShaunaTheSheep · 26/02/2021 06:42

In these parts it's a post-GCSE / A level right of passage to go to Reading. So it's packed with groups of young people, some sensible, some daft but all hopefully having a good time.

And every parent I know will be on standby to pick their DC up in a "my phone is on, I will pick you up night or day, no questions asked" way.

One of mine is going to Leeds, one to Reading , and they are so excited.

IdblowJonSnow · 26/02/2021 06:52

I went to the leeds one when I was 22ish and loved it. Wild fun boozy wkend.
I would only be happy about my child going if they were with very good friends who would all keep an eye on each other.

Oblomov21 · 26/02/2021 06:56

I thought the line up was very poor this year.
I was in a queue for ages last night to get Ds1 the early bird entrance.