To say if your child is going to a Festival for the first time, do not, under any circumstances

[Eeepsh]

Allow them to open the fucking tent in the living room to. "See what it's like"

It's a fucking tent and regardless of how many times you watch the fucking video, Part A might fold into Part B eventually but it certainly wont then fit in the fucking bag. Believe me.

Any other helpful (ha) tips for Festival Virgins?!!

Please, pretty please

...what exactly are you the alternative to, @altmember? Cheerfulness?

I have been to Reading in the past (about 30 years ago) and people packed up their tents and took them home so NO it has not always happened.

Don't make excuses for the lazy not giving a fuck about the planet festival goers now

Well if it is supposedly "normal" it bloody well shouldn't be. Why is it just accepted that some people have no care for the planet and, presumably, have more money than sense to buy items and then just leave them.

They don't even most of the time bother to even take down the tents. If that is not lazy then I don't know what is.

I would be ashamed if my son or daughter acted in that way, but obviously you don't care either. I would hope that I had brought them up better than that.

I also went to Reading & Glastonbury about 30 years ago, and tents were abandoned

There were also stalls specialising in second hand tents and wellies

I can’t recall exactly when, but some festivals added specific tent recovery to their clean up crews to gather them and pass on to charity

I do remember this being before the 2004 Tsunami as I dontated a number of my tents to the appeal following that, some of which were tents that I had ‘rescued’ from festivals

Some people took home their tents, some didn’t
Just the same as now

Same - Reading, Glastonbury, V. Mid to late 90s.

I don't believe I made any excuses for this behaviour. I clearly said it wasn't okay.

However, I do believe it's inaccurate to blame 'the youth of today" and get all "not in my day". People have always been pricks.

Edited to add, comments not aimed at you, @tommika but previous posters.

If rain's forecast, take wellies or other suitable waterproof footwear - the campsites and arenas get really boggy really quickly! 🤢🤢🤢

And savour every moment because the weekend will fly by! 🥺

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but personally I love a festival. I’m 53 and have been taking DS1 to Download festival since he was 14, he’s 24 now. Me and DSis didn’t go this year so he went with his girlfriend instead. I had major festival envy so I’ve bought my ticket for next year already!
Edited to add I only do Download festival and haven’t witnessed the setting on fire of tents etc, I’m not saying it definitely doesn’t happen but I’ve never seen anything like that

My understanding is that the tents don't come back home! 😂😂

DS and his friends camped 5 days at download this year . They took one of those trolley things people use on the beach to transport all their stuff .

They took two tents, camping stove, chairs etc . All came back .

Do not take note where your tent is by plotting an exact spot between a particular distinctive flag and another landmark...and then during the headline act note the same flag being raised in the crowd.

And that's hilarious because...??

That's disgusting.

Hand sanitiser.

Don't leave anything in the car. At one festival numerous cars had locks drilled out.

Loving this thread! I have never, and will never, go to a festival. Big crowds, dirty toilets, no shower and sleeping on the ground is my idea of hell, but I enjoy hearing about it 😉

Regarding your edit …. Your post is taken fully as you intended

Another age old example I like to use when people complain about “all the litter today” is that ‘Keep Britain tidy’ is now 70 years old

A top tip that won’t work for everyone is to either be a festival trader or be the friend of one helping out:

Drive onto the main site
If trapped by mud at the end get towed off as a ‘priority’
Turn up before the festival and leave after it
Camp at the back of your stall
Have access to ‘private’ fenced off toilets
Possibly have mains power
Possibly camp in the van, or caravan you’ve e parked up behind the stall
Bring in your own food, cooking, alcohol etc on site
Wake up on site with all your belongings, no need to carry everything for the day / drag a group trolley
If well situated, sit in your stall facing the main stage listening to everyone
If not so well situated, sit in your stall facing two stages on each side of the field listening to alternating music as the wind sweeps every couple of lines
Watch ‘ordinary’ festival goers struggle past wandering as zombies carrying / dragging their belongings
There could be pre-festival and post festival ‘staff gigs’, and / or extra late night gigs after campers have been herded off the main site to the camping by security

The downside is major & established festivals cost ££££s for the pitch result in a lot of work with long days / 24 hour long days to take the sales to pay for the pitch
Mid sized festivals cost £££s, and still need the work to fund the pitch, but you are more likely to be able to shut up shop (or have spare pairs of hands) to head up to the stages

Small / new festivals / local shows can have very cheap pitch costs, and some are free subject to a donation at the end depending on how well you have done
My friend began trading this way, she worked out that for the cost of individual tickets she could have a pitch plus entry for x staff then possibly make some money on top. This has changed from an easy way to go to shows/festivals making some drinks money into her full time job

How much money should they have and in what format? how do they pay fo rthings? Can you put money on wristbands or is a revolut card the way to go?

god I'm more nervous about Reading that GCSE results now. Some of DS's mates have early access and are getting their results actually AT the festival - bonkers (lets hopw their internet access is ok!).

Also, if driving, where do you drop them? How close can you get to th emain entrance at Reading festival. What is this walk from the station thing?

Tell them to locate the help hubs early so if they need them they know where to go. I have volunteered with Festival Angels for several years- a safe space to chill, get a cuppa, or to find help if needed. I also used to run Lost Property at Leeds Fest, so if anyone is going there, pre-register details because then if their phone is handed in, a notification is sent to their friends and they can collect it:
leedsfestival.liff.app/#/protect/register

I was in Kavos when I got my A-level results in 1999- had to phone from a pay phone to get my mum to read them out!

Take a battery pack (or two) for their mobile.

But "the youth of today" are supposed to be so concerned about climate change, the planet etc. So many obviously don't give a fuck about any of it.

People not brought up properly and without morals have always been pricks