Boardmasters - is it suitable for a family?

[Sunhatweather]

Hi, My DS 17yrs is heading there with his friends and intends to camp there for the whole festival. We live hours away, so I've been considering booking a cottage nearby (if there are any left) so we can have a holiday and also be on hand, should it be needed.
But now I'm thinking, as we've never ever been to a festival before, of booking a 4 bed boutique tent experience for me, DH and DD 15yrs and then DS can always nip in with us if he needs some extra sleep and hot shower. He's happy to do that. AIBU?
We're in our late 40s and I'm also concerned that DD might feel a bit naff walking around with her mum, but we do get on well and she's generally not self-conscious. I'm thinking we take books, book some surfing, listen to a bit of music and relax for 5 days.
Sounds a bit more fun than hanging out with us in a cottage and doing day trips. I don't really want to bring one of her friends because we'd all be sharing one tent.
But I don't know, as I've never been to a festival, only camping. So I'd love to hear what people think and/or experiences. It's a lot of money, so trying to make the best decision.
Would you do it in our situation?
Or just leave our DS to it and hope for the best?

All the kids in work with us go (ages around 17-21). I've a friend who lives nearby and she says it's carnage with youngsters but on the whole they don't get much trouble from them.

I don't think it's your typical festival such as Glastonbury or Reading, Glastonbury was definitely for all ages.

If your Ds is happy that's all that matters but I'd rather get a cottage nearby and have the option of some peace away from it all.

I wouldn’t let my 17 year old go; asking for trouble if you ask me. It used to be a real surf scene which we’re part of, but now it’s drink and drugs.

It's notorious. Am dreading mine wanting to go. I would not go as a family either.

Boardmasters is for kids.
Newquay is utter, ghastly chaos at Boardmasters time.
Avoid avoid.

I don’t know which way to vote. I’ve not been but I’m reasonably local. Have heard some stories about it. Definitely for the youngsters letting their hair down after exams. If you’re not familiar with festivals I really wouldn’t. There are much nicer multi generation music festivals to go to. Let your DS go and do his own thing.

My ds went last year with a load of mates and had an amazing time (so ignore those saying don't let him go) but I think it's definitely a young person's festival.
In theory your plan sounds great but in practice it could be a complete nightmare. There are other festivals which are much more multi-generational (eg Latitude) which would probably be much more enjoyable as your first festival experience!

Nothing but nothing would persuade me to camp at a festival like that. 24 hour din and disturbance, a crowd of teens and young 20s, ugh ugh ugh.

On the other hand my Dc have been to festivals every year since collecting GCSE results still aged 16, Reading, Boomtown, Boardmasters, Truck, loads more, and come home tired and filthy but not drug or drink addled. And never with me helicoptering nearby.

DDs been and they don't all do drugs, she would loose her job! I'm not sure he would appreciate you there I'd choose a different one for you

It is mostly 17 and 18 year olds. I would just send him on a coach or train or in car with someone going. The traffic is bonkers either side of it. Takes hours to get in and out of Bewquay.

When I was 16/17 the rite of passage locally was Reading festival, if my parents and younger brother had gone to keep an eye and so I could pop back for a sleep if needed, I would've been mortified

At 17, he will be mortified if you go with him. Even if he is too polite to say so.

Thanks for the useful replies - given me lots to think about.

I don't think it's hellicopter parenting in that sense. He's already been to Reading and Wireless festival alone, but that's an hour or so away from us. My concern is five hours away from us and then my own curiosity about trying out the festival experience, as I know families do go.
I wouldn't care if he didn't join us over the 5 days, just that if he wants a hot shower and some sleep, he then has that option. I imagine it's a big enough area that we wouldn't be bumping in to each other.

It's really interesting to hear about the more multi-generational festivals. I'd really like to try some out, so will look into those.

A friend of nine went with her DD (17) last year and said it was carnage - she is a young minded fun lady but really didn’t enjoy it .

I went on holiday with the girls at that age, not to that festival in particular but it would have ruined my holiday if my parents had been nearby. I wasn’t up to anything bad but just the thought of running into them when I’m cutting loose.

I think you are being very over optimistic about sleep, even if it is the upgraded glamping bit. It will still be tents close together and people coming back all through the night from the after parties in a noisy excited state.

The last time I went to a festival I was mid thirties and IT. WAS. MY. LAST!

Sorry OP, but I had a little laugh at "DS can always nip in with us if he needs some extra sleep" The noise, drinking, arsing about, shouting, screaming and sex going on all around you pretty much guarantee that sleep for the entire duration of the festival will be a struggle. Even boutique tents are only fabric thick and you hear every single thing going on everywhere.

One night someone was sick on our tent.

Long toilet queues, hours of standing around - potentially in pissing rain, very expensive food and drink, people out of their heads for 5 solid days and will there be any music or event there you even want to see?

I'd had enough in my thirties. You're a better woman than me if you can stand it in your 40s.

As for being 5 hours away: he’s 17. If it’s bad, the emergency services are the ones needed. If it’s not that bad, he can wait 5 hours for you to get him.

Definitely not family vibes! I was surprised at how much drugs there were just out in the open!

I wasn’t comfortable there being 20 weeks pregnant!

Don’t go to Boardmasters. It really is a post-GCSE rite.

If you want something family oriented I’d suggest Wilderness. Get a glamping pod or other luxury option, pre-book gourmet dining tickets, and yoga, etc. It costs - but it’s on a more human scale than Glastonbury and wonderfully varied and relaxed.

All the camping fields at a festival like that will be full on noise til dawn.

Im genuinely amazed you would consider this for a 17 yr old....if you want to go as a family there are festivals focused properly on a family experience

I went to glastonbury pre mobile phones at 16 ....a 17 yr old doesnt need an adult nearby

My DS is going but not keen to accompany him. I think it’s more for 17/18 year olds to party. I used to go 20 years ago and it was mainly about surfing. Now I’m not sure many of them even know there’s a surf comp 🙄
Try Latitude for a good family-friendly festival - or Bestival. Hope your DS enjoys it.

I'm in my 50s and love going to festivals but I would never go to Boardies, it's for the kids. There are much better festivals to go to as a family.

If you get a cottage nearby, he could still nip in for a shower. My kids spend most of the day time on the beach or in the town rather than in the festival itself, it's not a festival where everyone stays onsite all the time.

God no, don't go. Let him head off on his own, it's for that age group and there's plenty of first aid tents/officials around if there's any issues.

You won't get any sleep if you go, it's not a family festival.