Reading Festival / 16yr olds.

[houselikeashed]

Would you let your 16yr DD go to Reading Festival?
IMO DD is not very 'aware' of what's happening around her.

DH says she can go, I'm saying she can't.

Just wondering what others think?

I’m really hoping my kids won’t ask to go to festivals until they’re 18 and (hopefully) a bit more sensible. My 13 year old currently spends his days riding his hover kart and acting out pokemon battles with our ten year old neighbour so I can’t imagine him coping at a festival in 3 years! Though I suppose 3 years is time to grow up a bit! He would definitely be one of the previously mentioned boys who ends up losing all his stuff though I’m sure!

My 16 year old has just come back from Boardmasters - shattered, grubby and with a head full of memories. It was her first festival alone, big bunch of them who stuck together. Other than testing positive for covid no issues!
If you take the covid issue/worry out of the equation I see it as a right of passage - have done Reading a few times and it is full of 16 year olds having a great time.
Sensible discussion about drugs and booze and poor music tastes then let them get on with it - they may have issues but it is part of growing up and will provide them with life skills.

I went when I was 16 at the end of GSCEs, it was brilliant. Admittedly 20+ years ago, but they will be surrounded by other young people who will look out for each other a bit.

Honestly, in a few years they'll be too old - let them go now and grow up a bit.

She’ll be fine. I went with my mates at that age and mostly got drunk on warm lager while wearing those awful big jeans and appreciating shit nu metal bands.

Nowadays they’re a lot tougher on IDs and I doubt she’ll have much luck at the arena bar. It’s mostly teenagers and there are lots of stewards around keeping an eye on campfires and loads of first aid people. Also it’s not as vast as sites like Glasto, so harder to get lost. Just tell her to make sure she sticks with friends, doesn’t take drinks from strangers and the usual stuff.

DD1 went to Reading at 17, having previously been to IoW at 16.

Reading was a whole different ball game. She had a great time but was glad it wasnt her first festival and I was a lovely introduction to festival life.

PPs are right, it will be full of 16 yo kids. Most will be drunk, many on drugs.

There is no doubt, they will be offered drugs.

But, they will survive and have some great memories.

@AmyandPhilipfan

I’m really hoping my kids won’t ask to go to festivals until they’re 18 and (hopefully) a bit more sensible. My 13 year old currently spends his days riding his hover kart and acting out pokemon battles with our ten year old neighbour so I can’t imagine him coping at a festival in 3 years! Though I suppose 3 years is time to grow up a bit! He would definitely be one of the previously mentioned boys who ends up losing all his stuff though I’m sure!

At 14 ds was still building dens and sleeping with a bed full of soft toys. At 16 he was at Reading having a great time. They can change a LOT in that time

DD1 went in Y11 went despite not being 16 until end of Aug.... whole gang loved it, still swap photos

DD2 was nearly 17at the same point of Y11, loved it as well despite being deaf. Again whole gang went.

Its a youngish festival and both said it felt safe.

Well - I did find it a young festival when I went at 17. It did feel very safe. Police were wandering around the tents and there lots of staff. That was in the 90s. We had our tent inspected by the police looking for people dealing! St John's Ambulance were there. It was really well run. I'm sure they're even slicker these days. I did feel safe. In fact I felt like I couldn't get away with much. The worst thing that happened was our tent being wrapped in toilet roll by some boys in a nearby tent who we'd argued with for some reason.
I loved wandering round the stalls looking at band t-shirts, braving the toilets (), watching comedy, wandering from stage to stage experiencing new bands. It was the Foo Fighters first ever UK performance after Kurt Cobain died. It was so exciting and I remember the whole experience to this day. I think festivals are a good way for kids to experience more adult experiences in a safe environment. Soon she'll be clubbing and going on holiday with her mates, going to Uni. If not now, when?

Yes. It's mostly 16 yr olds. Post GCSE tradition. My DD and her friends went at 16. DS missed out but will go this year at 17.

Having said that, I wasn't keen on DD camping, but as they had somewhere to stay nearby it wasn't an issue. In retrospect I'm not sure the camping bit makes much difference give how late they stay anyway.

OK. Thanks for all your comments. I hadn't realised it was such a youngsters festival.

I don't think she would take drugs knowingly, but it's the unknowingly situations I worry about. She believes everyone is honest and trustworthy .
I haven't talked properly to DD yet as she is away in Wales with a friend and her family.

The covid issue is a thought. She has a summer job, so if it will stop her earning, she might think twice about going. I don't know.

the ticket is £90.
Does anyone know what sort of ticket that will be?

Is she buying it off someone? It's over £200 for a weekend ticket so she's either g

Fucksake...
She's either got a really good deal or a day ticket.

I think it is fine at that age.

If it's £90 it's probably a day ticket. I think she needs to find out really before you make a decision over whether she can go!

It depends on the group of friends. Maybe yes maybe no.

About 20-30 of us went, aged 16. Was great and no problems (or drugs).

Mine all went after GCSEs but we lived close enough to get there quickly and they knew adults who were working there. They all went in large groups of friends and they did look after each other. I worried constantly but they did check-in regularly by text.

I went when I was 17. Had a brilliant time. It's a bit of a rite of passage for 16-19 year olds.

My DD has just turned 17 and is going to Leeds with a group of another three girls. Must admit I'm a bit nervous, however my DS who is 23 works as a steward there so in an emergency she can contact him. We live in West yorks anyway so can get there within the hour. Fingers crossed that won't be needed!

Dd went at 16. It’s a bit of a rite of passage round here.

I did have a chat with her to emphasise that there would definitely be some people looking to take advantage of a bunch of kids at their first festival, who might try to spike drinks, offer drugs etc, also that there may be people wanting to take sexual advantage.

Equally, I said that she should make sure she had a good time, and to be streetwise but not frightened. I was at the end of a phone and there would be stations she could go to for help if needed (st John’s etc). I was realistic but not scaremongering, if that makes sense. She had a ball.

Reading is full of 16 year olds on their own celebrating the end of their GCSE's

@houselikeashed

the ticket is £90. Does anyone know what sort of ticket that will be?

You'll need to get her to check if it is weekend or day. If weekend - how many days? You can get just the main weekend or ones with early bird access. If day - which day?

@houselikeashed

the ticket is £90. Does anyone know what sort of ticket that will be?

That’ll be a day ticket, not the full weekend

A weekend ticket is over £200. If it’s a day ticket, she won’t be able to camp.