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

My daughter and her friend returned to my house after a festival. I hosed them down in the garden as they were filthy and caked in mud. I’m amazed they took it!

Always keep some cash in your trainer.
Know your friends phone number by heart (don’t rely on it being in your phone in case battery goes.)
Arrange a meeting place in case get split up.
Pocket size pack of anti bac wipes always handy.
Have fun!

This isn’t entirely true. You need to read the T and C. Also if you want to leave your tent you need to carry it to a collection point - not just leave it where you cba to put it away.

We’re old farts now and know what a pain it is but we’re off to a festival this weekend with our kids (13 and 10) with our huge 6 berth. If we can fold ours down after 4 days and our old bones, teenagers can too!

Make sure their wellies are big enough. At his first festival my son slept in his wellies for a couple of nights because, having got them on, he was unwilling to go through the effort of crowbarring them off again.

Look up the weather report where they are going. Luckily it only drizzled the 1st day, when my dd went to her's.

I can’t believe any parent would be actively condoning their own kids attend these God awful 'festivals' (which is just a cover for a massive, dirty drug-taking fest). They may be legally adults and that's fine but I'd have nothing to do with it! Like most good parents. To lend them things to take and make suggestions etc is condoning it!!

You think it's funny that your son dumped his tent for other people to dispose of? Really? Wow

Wellies, wellies and don’t forget the wellies. Packet of wet wipes.

Accept they will do silly things. Send those rehydration sachets people use when they have the runs. They are the best for when people over drink in the sun.

Genius!

Ha ha. Have you ever been to one? Reading and Leeds are a bit like that but others are different. The ones we go to have people jogging and doing yoga in the mornings, craft workshops, talks, learning workshops, amazing food from all over the world and music and performance from all over the world. They are enriching and developing experiences and id highly recommend. Only downside is mud if it rains and the toilets.

At any festival, as in life , there are elements of people attending who see it as an excuse to run wild.
But I've been to many festivals over many ,many years -with friends ,as a young couple ,as a family and now as an older couple (and having made the glorious transition from camping to camper van) and my 'children' do the same .We go for a fabulous few days of music ,friendship and fun ,enjoying the experiences in all their slightly grubby but very uplifting glory
Where do I need to hand in my parenting credentials ?

Just let them get on with it and they will learn x

@3isthemagicnumber I get you want to try be seen as the 'cool mum' but this isn't the way to go about it.

Just checked w DD, she’s off to Creamfields on Fri, which will be her fifth festival in 3 years. she says:

take loo roll
pay for decent showers if you can
expect everything to get lost/stolen
take a camping chair-sitting on the floor is horrible, esp if it’s cold/wet

DH, who is on pick up/drop off, because I won’t allow her/her friends to drive after three days of partying, says if you can persuade them to pack up and even leave on Sun night instead of Monday, everyone will
be glad. No traffic, no last night craziness, and own bed sleep is unbeatable.

Ha! Genuinely funny .Totally inaccurate but any interesting perspective .Thanks

Do not let your child take anything that could turn into into powder!
My son had some paracetamol in the pocket of his (gym) bag which had over time, unbeknown to him, ground down into powder. He was refused entry to a festival and the “drugs” were sent for testing.
I was furious; he was 17 and it was the first festival ticket that he’d saved up for and bought himself.
We got him home and, in full mama mode, I emailed the guy running the festival and told him that if he didn’t do something I was going to the press.
Within an hour son was invited back. We couldn’t get him there until the next day but he was met by the organiser and treated as a VIP for the next two days.
I’m still a bit embarrassed about the level of my fury 🙄

I think those pop up tents are a pain in the arse, and you never get them easily back in the cover.

Toilet water wipes are good.

Expect them to take your nice small saucepan and not bring it back.

Expect them to come home ravenous.

Expect to regret their return after you see the state of the house half an hour after they get back.

Just back from one - showered every morning in hot water, toilets were ok (not dirty but very smelly), slept on a camp bed in a large tent with a carpet, had chairs with us, lots of spaces in nature away from crowds if you wanted.

Additionally ate amazing food (all kids of different cuisines), went to different craft/art type workshops, attended talks on various subjects, saw theatre and performances of various kinds and, of course, saw more live bands in a weekend than I’d see all year. Plus chilled with old friends and made new friends.

Some festivals you can upgrade your toilet experience with flushing loos. That’s great. Some have spas with fluffy white towels and hot showers, sauna and hot tubs. Some have top class restaurants, some have opera and ballet. You can usually get a massage, do some yoga, meditation. One has aerobics classes to ska music, one has a running club. Most have boutique camping with tents and beds already there for you but usually pricey.

Yes. Certainly at Reading/Leeds/Glastonbury.

DD (18) is volunteering at Reading.. no idea how she swung it but got her in free for the sake of a few shifts and apparently showers in staff area have hot water ( this appears to be worth mentioning several times!!)

She will be firewatching most of one night and has a couple of other long shifts but she will get to see most of what she was hoping for.. hope she comes back as happy as when she departed. Lots of her friends have paid to go so she sill have plenty of company when off shift

I'm off to Victorious on Friday, just for the day though, promise I'll look after any teens.
I'll charge you my fee later, once I've showered off.
I absolutely can't wait.

I now know that DD returns from festivals with cold sores so have all the medication in place at home !!

Wear a bumbag (or whatever they're called now!). DC learned this after getting his wallet and phone knicked from his pockets.

If they are too much of a snowflake to pack a tent down, put it back in the bag it came in and bring it home, no business going to a festival.

Pop up tents are annoying to pack down and away yes, but with a bit of effort can be done.

Also no excuse not to have a wash if not a shower and change clothes daily.

Tissues and hand sanitizer for the loos and battery pack they can get several charges out of.

A good quality sleep bag and layers as it gets cold at night.