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AIBU?

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Original poster

Fun police @ Music Festival. Full of rules!

129 replies

Exhippy · 09/08/2023 18:44

Me and my family (UK) have been going to a few weekend music festivals for years now and I’m starting to feel a bit irked by all of their rules.

This year we’ve received endless updates prior to arriving at the festivals about new rules concerning a full glitter ban, all the food vendors will be plant based food only (massive bummer), keep cups only or if you forget these and want to buy a drink on site you must buy one of their £10 keep cups £30 for whole family!

And so on.

Last year, DH finally found a stand that was selling canned drinks and bought one as he was really thirsty, only to be told that they had just noticed the drink was made by the Coca Cola company and that he would not be allowed to sell it. They said they’d take it back and destroy it! 🙄

What happened to the sensibilities of old school hippies- just go with the flow, let your hair down and try your best but mainly have fun- chill out?

Everyone seems so militant now.

This new breed of hippy may as well be evangelical Christians!

OP posts:
Hivaluegirl · 09/08/2023 18:46

I've been to many festivals and worked at them and never heard any of these rules. So which one are you on about?

PuttingDownRoots · 09/08/2023 18:46

Glitter and reusable cups seems reasonable. Food a bit bonkers. Coco cola madness.

Theimpossiblegirl · 09/08/2023 18:48

That sounds awful. There are plenty of other festivals that are much less uptight. I'd give this one a very wide berth.

calmcoco · 09/08/2023 18:48

None of those rules are particularly problematic so long as you know in advance.

The food one might be annoying for some but it is increasingly common and I don't mind, even though I am not a vegan myself.

At the end of the day, commercial events are free to offer what they want and you are free to decline to attend.

Ginmonkeyagain · 09/08/2023 18:51

Lots of fesitvals use reusable plastic cups but it is more normal for them to charge a snall deposit (£1 or so) which you can get back at the end of the night.

TooBrightInHere · 09/08/2023 18:51

This sounds like the making of a sensational article for the media

Ginmonkeyagain · 09/08/2023 18:52

Plastic glitter is often banned now as it can pollute soil and waterways.

Anotherchristianmama · 09/08/2023 18:52

There is some amazing vegan food out there.

Dinojump · 09/08/2023 18:53

I'm not a vegan but I have no issue with only having access to vegan food for a couple of days. It won't kill me. If I want some meat, I could take something with me.

The rule about coffee cups is a very good one; and you have been warned in advance.

Not sure what the Coke thing was about.

More and more companies are going to be doing all they can in order to lower carbon footprints - and a festival is one of those events that can make a massive difference, so I'm glad they are taking this seriously.

EmpressaurusOfCats · 09/08/2023 18:53

The idea of destroying something instead of selling it is massively eco-unfriendly.

gogomoto · 09/08/2023 18:57

If they tell you of the rules BEFORE you buy the tickets then fair enough otherwise i would be very annoyed. Personally I avoid highly processed food so most so called plant based foods are out, give me real butter (minimally processed) meat, potatoes,veggies any day over factory produce

MarathonBarbie · 09/08/2023 19:00

Sounds like good sensible ‘rules’ to me, none should have an impact of enjoyment of the event. Great that more organisations are starting to practice what they preach in terms of sustainability.

Original poster
Exhippy · 09/08/2023 19:03

I know I don’t have to go and that their intentions towards the planet are wholesome and good but the point of my post is that I feel dismay about the endless rules and the sense that you could get told off at any moment.
I don’t know, maybe I’m just a lazy, consumerist sleep-walking into my leisure activities.

OP posts:
Daisymae55 · 09/08/2023 19:04

All sounds good to me. Except the coke thing. That was stupid.

All the rules are there to make the event more environmentally friendly which is all a great thing. Destroying a product is very counter productive though.

Except for that though, all good rules. I’d happily eat vegan for a few days and carry a keep cup. And glitter is terrible stuff.

MojoDojoCasaHouse · 09/08/2023 19:06

Do you have to buy their cups or can you just bring your own from previous events? I use the same reusable cups from one event to every festival we go to.

What festivals are you going to that have all these rules (so I can avoid them)? I think banning single use plastic is fair enough. Since the charge on cups (usually £1) has been I introduced there is a lot less litter at festivals which is a good thing.

Rogue1001MNer · 09/08/2023 19:07

Name the festival @Exhippy

Wheresthesummer · 09/08/2023 19:09

This is Shambala right? It’s not plant based it’s vegetarian or ‘meat and fish free’.

I’ve also been going for years because it’s magical - it’s such a beautiful event and I think that’s in part because the organisers care so much about ethics!

And you don’t have to buy their cups you can take your own, or get a non-disposable one from the bar like pretty much every festival these days. Glitter is awful for the environment. Why not try to make the event as positive as possible!

It also feels like the most fun, joyful, whimsical place in the world when you’re there so I think you are being unreasonable.

Friggingfrog · 09/08/2023 19:11

I understand about the cup and no glitter thing. Not sure why some stands couldn’t sell some meat or dairy- I also don’t like mega processed food as so many plant based alternatives are. A mix would be nice. Also don’t get the Coca Cola thing.

purplecorkheart · 09/08/2023 19:12

The coke thing seems a bit bonkers but I wonder was that just down to the member of staff that was serving rather than an overall rule. The glitter thing I understand. The keep cups you know in advance so you can bring your own. The vegan food thing could be purely down to the vendors that applied to serve food there. A local street festival in my town was purely vegan because no non vegan vendor applied for a pitch at it although it was open to all. I have no issues with being told the rules in advance.

Cowlover89 · 09/08/2023 19:13

YANBU. X

calmcoco · 09/08/2023 19:15

Glitter is amongst the world's shittest things anyway. I get the rage just looking at glitter, I love the idea of glitter-free zones.

Hufflepods · 09/08/2023 19:20

How are there endless rules and it’s like you could get old off at any moment? No glitter and reusable cups are pretty basic. I haven’t been to an outdoor music event in years that doesn’t have reusable cups and a cup deposit scheme.

Other than that they chose to sell vegan food … okay so what that’s their choice, don’t go if it bothers you.

The coke thing sounds made up.

pinkstinks · 09/08/2023 19:26

At least shambala is consistent in its values - the vibes there are impeccable. A stark contrast to the behemoth of glasto.

WeWereInParis · 09/08/2023 19:30

Last year, DH finally found a stand that was selling canned drinks and bought one as he was really thirsty, only to be told that they had just noticed the drink was made by the Coca Cola company and that he would not be allowed to sell it. They said they’d take it back and destroy it!

I'm not sure I understand. Your DH went to buy a drink from a stand, and then the person on the stand selling it said "oh sorry, just noticed this is made by Coca Cola and I can't sell it"? Why was it on the stand?

Original poster
Exhippy · 09/08/2023 19:30

Maybe I’ve just grown out of it all.
Where festivals used to feel utopian to me they now feel average as an experience.
I’m more in awe of huge natural beauty spots and can seriously feel like I’m high if I immerse myself in mountains or forests or waterfalls.
I’m probably just getting old!

OP posts: