Electric Picnic

Ella1313 · 2023-08-29T15:38:57+00:00

Hi All , Could I have your opinions on whether I should allow my soon to turn 16 year old son attend Electric Picnic. He is wearing me down to let him go. Thank you all

Naominumbers · 29/08/2023 16:43

Well, I wouldn't allow a 16 year old to go. I would be worried about drugs.

Fuzzynavelgazer · 29/08/2023 16:51

Yes, would be my answer. Theres great acts there and lots for a young person to see and do.

As for drugs.....im sure if I was that way inclined, I could score drugs from around the back of the local scout Hall probably as easy as I could a festival. If a young 'un has an inclination to try drugs, they'll try them anywhere. I'm pretty sure that's the not first thing he's thinking of when nagging to attend.

Who is he most wanting to see?

SleepPrettyDarling · 29/08/2023 17:01

I thought it was strictly over 18s, unless on a family ticket?

ManateeFair · 29/08/2023 17:06

At 16? Yeah, I'd say that would be fine. He could get hold of drugs without going to a festival.

Ginmonkeyagain · 29/08/2023 17:07

Looking at the line up it doesn't look like it would be an overly druggy or aggy festival. However the ticket terms say no children between 13 - 17 are allowed to attend so ....

Tempone · 29/08/2023 17:08

I doubt he would get in

Rubyupbeat · 29/08/2023 17:14

@Naominumbers You can get drugs anywhere, not just festivals. 16 is a fine age to go.

daisyhead08 · 29/08/2023 17:27

EP isn't supposed to allow 16 year olds in. It's up to age 12/13 in family camping and then over 18s only. I've been a to a fair few Picnics and I honestly wouldn't like my 16 year old to go.

JorisBonson · 29/08/2023 17:29

From their website...

Angie147836 · 29/08/2023 17:31

Well, that's that then!

CarolDunne · 29/08/2023 17:33

He won't get in.

EP is amazing. Raging we didn't get tickets this year

Itsjustme83 · 29/08/2023 17:36

Why could a child aged 11 years 11 months go however you can't take a child who's just gone 12 and older ? I have never heard of this festival anyway but between 12-17 are excluded why if younger children can go ? I don't understand .

Flux1 · 29/08/2023 17:44

We've been to EP a few times with our younger kids. They were pretty strict on checking ID to get in and it is over 18 only, unless younger kids with parents. I wouldn't want a near 16 year old staying in the general camping area - it looked pretty messy there and plenty of drugs from what we could see....so it would be a no from me. Longitude is better suited to his age group and does not involve overnight stay on site.

Tempone · 29/08/2023 17:47

Why could a child aged 11 years 11 months go however you can't take a child who's just gone 12 and older ? I have never heard of this festival anyway but between 12-17 are excluded why if younger children can go ? I don't understand .

It's not really an issue, it's to stop gangs of teens going...if a 13 year old goes with family it's not a problem, they aren't going to look for ID.

It's an Irish festival in stradbally and it's pretty cool 😎

Original poster

Ella1313 · 29/08/2023 22:13

Thank you all, it seems the consensus is to let him go. I'm still on the fence to be honest, I will sleep on it another night. I guess that in itself is telling. He got a free weekend ticket as he thought he would get around me by not having to buy the ticket for him.

OP posts:

JorisBonson · 30/08/2023 04:55

But he's not allowed in at his age.

Pollywoddles · 30/08/2023 05:00

Ginmonkeyagain · 29/08/2023 17:07

Looking at the line up it doesn't look like it would be an overly druggy or aggy festival. However the ticket terms say no children between 13 - 17 are allowed to attend so ....

Have you been to EP? There are a huge amount of drugs every year.

OP, he’s 16, he won’t be allowed in even if he does go.

latenightpartyrings · 30/08/2023 05:38

Ella1313 · 29/08/2023 22:13

Thank you all, it seems the consensus is to let him go. I'm still on the fence to be honest, I will sleep on it another night. I guess that in itself is telling. He got a free weekend ticket as he thought he would get around me by not having to buy the ticket for him.

You are 'still on the fence' about letting your 16 year old go to a festival which officially prohibits 13-17 year olds attending? 🙄

ChimneyPot · 30/08/2023 05:43

OP have you ever been to EP?
I have been and have brought kids with me, even teenagers who should not have been there. But we stayed in family camping not general.
General camping at EP is not great and not really the place for a 16 year old.

UnNiddeRides · 30/08/2023 05:58

The consensus is that at 15/16 he won’t get in…

jujitsugrant · 30/08/2023 06:10

I would say no. While I love EP and used to go every year pre kids, I would not want my 18 year old niece going to the general camping and certainly none of my 16 year nieces or nephews.

To everyone saying you can get drugs anywhere, while this may be true the first and only places I was openly offered drugs by random people were in thr campsites of Irish festivals. (Witness, Oxegen, EP yes I'm that old).

He will probably get asked for ID especially if there is a gang of similar aged people going with him. What are his friends like? My friends and I were never into drugs so we always had a brilliant if relatively sensible time doing our own thing. But believe me he will witness some very messy behaviour in the campsite. Would he or his friends be naive and reckless enough to get involved?

ArcticBells · 30/08/2023 06:30

The age restriction is 18. Why would you encourage him to break the rules?

Ginmonkeyagain · 30/08/2023 07:45

@Pollywoddles meh - there are drugs at every music festival. To me it is more about the type of drugs, the security/organisation and the atmosphere that matters. This looks like a pretty well organised, mainstream festival.

Everydayislikesundae · 30/08/2023 07:55

Ella1313 · 29/08/2023 22:13

Thank you all, it seems the consensus is to let him go. I'm still on the fence to be honest, I will sleep on it another night. I guess that in itself is telling. He got a free weekend ticket as he thought he would get around me by not having to buy the ticket for him.

He won't get in as his age group isn't allowed. My DH plays at it and when our eldest was 15 he wasn't allowed in so it's a waste of a ticket and your son will be very disappointed when he's turned away.