To think we CAN actually do Glastonbury?

[hmmisthatright]

Glastonbury tickets on sale soon

I'm a single mum to 2 dc, one is autistic, one neurotypical, 8 and 9

I assumed it was something for the future, but actually, the tickets are £400 each for the weekend, i might be able to go as autistic dc's carer, costing me £800. And I can pay £100 as a deposit

I can stay at a hotel with dc and then drive us all in. I would meet friends who have kids.

Is the drive in difficult, does anyone know? I would rent a traveloge or similar 20 miles away.

Can we do this?

Get WiFi?! At Glastonbury? It’s notoriously shite reception.

I've been going to Glasto since I was 15 and jacked it in in my late 30s. I can be the biggest endurance test and (imo) is far too crowded these days.

We’ve rented tents in tangerine fields which is a good retreat as it’s offsite but walkable, has showers etc. We’ve also rented a caravan on site which is again a great retreat and a private space if you want to chill and a shower.

I think you can do it. There is so much to do that it’s hard to decide. You can have a very different experience just milling about and going with the flow, and then set up a spot on the hill for main acts.

Guessing headliners and going on that basis is a bad idea. If you don’t like who is on the bill and decided not to pay the full amount you lose your deposit.

How will you get tickets? I’ve never managed it!

Nah you can take as many under 12s as you like. Rules just say they must be with an adult at all times.

The buggy is not a good idea. Have you seen the ground and how crowded the huge site gets?

Ive been Glastonbury 8 times, as someone else said it is an endurance, you walk miles, areas get busy, muddy years are more than an endurance.
WiFi? Forget it, there are over 200k people onsite in an area that usually is fields without WiFi, the temporary WiFi/ signals can’t be relied on at all times
the local roads are narrow and rural so traffic is high
if you are going stay in disabled camping, I remember walking past some, it looked fine
it’s the best festival and you’ll have the best time but don’t go in without full research, it will be hard going on your own with the kids

You don’t decide if you’re getting Glastonbury tickets. Glastonbury tickets decide if you’re getting them.

Have you ever camped and/or done a festival with your children before?

If they were both NT I would say go for it and camp but with an autistic child I would suggest trying a small festival first, one where you can camp next to your car!

If you like Greenday I would look at 2000 Trees

You only live once. Give it a go.

I’ve worked at Glastonbury since 1997 and been every year, also live very near there.

You’d need to buy a ticket for you, kids would be free. Even when they’re older and not free (over 12), the free carer’s ticket wouldn’t apply as they would need someone to be with them anyway as minors.

Honestly unless you can stay on site, I wouldn’t go. Getting in and out is a massive ballache, the site is immense. The traffic is only generally really bad on Wednesday and Sunday night/Monday, but even between those times you’re looking at least an hour each time you want to come/go. I’d look at maybe hiring a campervan and if you get tickets trying to get a space in the accessibility field which is very central on the site. You have to be quick though as spaces go fast. You definitely won’t want to be staying 20 miles away, that would be horrendous.

I hate that I seems like we are all being so negative but it’s definitely something to go into with your eyes wide open.
Driving in daily is definitely not ideal, have you camped with your DC before? If so was it in a crazy busy environment?

Can you easily transport your DC, equipment, luggage and basic food etc on your own to your accommodation? If the weather is bad this is much harder. If you are on a budget or DC only like set foods that’s a lot more to transport.

WIFI is notoriously awful as is phone signal.

How are your DC in crowds? Do they enjoy festivals? Are they ok with late nights surrounded by intoxicated crowds? If not are you happy to sit all that out?

A buggy is a terrible idea. A wheelbarrow, on the other hand…

To answer questions

No ive never done a festival but the kids do ask to go camping

Dc has an all terrain buggy - surely there are people in wheelchairs and parents there?

We would stay in the disabled camp and its a flat walk to the big stages and kids attractions - google claims 10 mins so I make that 30

Oldest will be fine walking, and there are rides and fun stuff to do

If they dont like it - we will go home

Yes wifi will be shit. Will make sure ive downloaded dcs programmes

God its stressful. Will see if i can even get a ticket before thinking anymore of it

If I lose 100 quid, I lose 100 quid. I think its better to try

Having a look at Reddit they say the disability camp is really good, so if you can get in that I would say go for it.

I haven’t been for years but what you are describing is possible but sounds awful. The queues in and out are very long. Getting about takes ages. It takes over an hour to walk from one part of the site to the other. I’m not sure about the disability parking or camping. Might make it easier. But it’s a full on festival. Massive. But amazing. I wouldn’t rule it out.

I would really suggest a smaller local festival first, one in the hundreds or low thousands perhaps, there’s dozens of options each year, some are very much aimed at families and there’s one that is run with inclusivity in mind, Gloucestershire I think that was. I would also suggest giving camp bestival I wide berth, we went in the early days with nd kids but latterly its got too
much

You'll want the quieter kid friendly spaces which are further out.

An all terrain buggy won't cut it in the mud.

I really think you need to try a smaller one first. It's so big and so overwhelming.

Even the logistics of charging the tablet.

Can you leave the 8yo with someone else?

Another option if you could hire a campervan or caravan is get a pass to stay at the Bath and West Showground. It’s a lot quieter than the other camping fields as it’s 10 mins away by bus, and there’s buses going back and forth 24/7. It’s just for vehicles though, you couldn’t stay there in a tent. But they have proper showers and it gets you out of the festival for a bit of decompression time for the kids.

The pyramid stage is literally at the bottom of a valley and the disabled camping is at the top of that hill. It’s an uphill climb back to bed!

Not sure if I missed it (unless it's in the kidz field but), but there weren't any rides? I did walk about in a bit of a daze though 🥳😂. Maybe someone can confirm?!
Don't go off-site if you go. Hope for no rain.
There's a lot of wood chipping down near pyramid which gets trampled about and makes going about difficult for anything on wheels.

Have the 3 of you been camping before?

Op, gently, I don't think you're comprehending what a huge thing Glasto is. Whilst I loved it, I struggled as a ND adult - I should imagine it would be hell for an ND child. (Or any child, really, but obviously lots of people do take their children!) It is so incredibly overstimulating and overwhelming. Wait time are abysmal, and the overall experience can completely change due to the weather. We went during a heatwave with almost no shade - people actually died because of it. Rain turns entire site in to a mud pool which is incredibly difficult to travel in. The site is HUGE. Can be very difficult to get from one place to another because of long distances and enormous crowds.

Should you camp, the noise is continuous, so lack of sleep is almost inevitable. And if you haven't been camping with the children before then even the camping on its own is a huge deal, regardless of the actual festival.

I feel terrible being so negative, but I do think that this is a much larger task than you are imagining. If you are able to go child-free then you'd likely have an amazing time. I hope you do get to sort it all out because I understand your desire and excitement! ❤️

Honestly @hmmisthatright it doesn’t seem like you are taking onboard people’s lived experiences of glastonbury.

You’ve never been to a festival or even a small concert with your kids at all? You’ve never even camped with them? Honestly if you want to watch green day book a ticket to their own show. Don’t put your kids through something that you are totally under prepared for.

Saying all that it’s very unlikely you would even get tickets anyway the lottery of getting tix is