To think Glasto and other festivals like it are for kids?

[expatinscotland]

and to find late 30-somethings and 40-somethings who go to them (and are not press) a bit sad?

and babies who wear those headphones pee me right off

YABU. I live very close and been once, I was 20. I have been to other festivals, such as Download that I think are definitely more for 'kids'. Glastonbury is not nearly so easily pigeonholed. The music is great and massively varied, pretty decent food (depends which stall you go to!), different acts (circus, comedy, children's field) and just a general feelgood atmosphere. The year I went was the year of the total washout, people wading up to their waists in water, lost all their clothes and tents - but it still felt like a party - everyone just pitched in to help everyone else. It is for anyone and everyone....well, if you have a lot of money to pay for the ticket or are close enough to work off your ticket.

this is silly, have you ever been to a music festival? you should go to Reading, its been going on so long and there is a fantastic mix of people there. having been to Reading, Download and V, V is for the young'uns because its exxtremely organised and the 'safest' one. a great starter festival type of thing. but i had fun.
and Download festival its practically law to be a 40 year old metalhead with tattoos and a beard
when i was younger and went to festivals i had great fun chatting to all the oldies who'd been going to Reading for years!

i've never felt to old...maybe im not camping near enough yoooofs.

expat, you should try it, noone would think you're too old at all! friends, sunshine, music, beer, overpriced food and drink, its great!

All I need for my next Download is the beard then!

I suppose at least this is a designated AIBU thread - there was a nice chatty Whitby Goth Weekend thread a few months ago, on which someone bobbed up merely to announce that she thought Goths were saddoes.

Don't understand why anyone feels the need to be rude about other people's harmless amusements, tbh - I don't go round sniggering at LARPers or Wimbledon fans, just because neither of them strikes me as a fun way to spend a sunny weekend.

YABU!

salhead, sorry, PMSL at the idea you wanted to go to Glastonbury but couldn't fill in the on line form!!

And OP YABU - we can't wait til our boys are old enough to take to Glastonbury and we'll be going with them .

having said all that i dont really think its a great idea to take kids [unless it's to a smaller festival like Wakestock maybe?]
its a bit overwhelming, and it is way too loud and a lot of parents really dont understand the damage that can be done to young ears. i introduced mine to V at 13, its DD3's turn this year! its her 'you're a big bad teenager' 13th teenager present.

I've been to loads of music festivals.

But was always very, very stoned for them .

Errr... yes, families DO go. I have been to various festivals with friends, their much older parents, their kids, and even their grandparents.

All ages at all festivals.

They are lovely - so very chilled! You don't have to be down the mosh pit with the teens if you don't want to!

(Expat, I am ignoring you. I find it best really)

Glastonbury has something for every age, it's different to other festivals. I could not afford it till my late twenties though (last year-28).

Would love to take my 8 month old this year, but guess what, could not afford it again

I go to the Isle of Wight festival every year, big group of people. We take picnic rugs and camping chairs, and sit and soak up the fantastic atmosphere all day. Live here though, so get to go home every night. Couldn't hack camping. I go with a lovely group, grandparents, parents and children. All ages there, it's lovely.

It really depends on what festival you choose. I used to go to Leeds Festival in my late teens/early twenties, but I would feel far too old there now. The last few years I've been to Summer Sundae in Leicester and it is full of thirty somethings like me who obviously feel too old at other festivals!
www.summersundae.com/index.php?cat_id=1&level=1 Lots of small children around too, but it's a small festival so not overwhelming for them.

Oh I am SOOOO jealous I am not there! Just saw a retrospective on BBC2 and have pangs of envy now.

Sob!

Well I'll be at the Cambridge Folk Festival, with dd (3) again this year. It's a bit more old crustie than Glasto though. No queues for toilets, and they're clean with running water and soap.

I'm 29. Am I too old? The group of friends I go with will range from newborn to 70ish.

I told Ds (8) he was going to a festival last weekend.

It was Sturminster Show, a very small country show with one small stage! ( and large open area with karaoke, majorettes etc!)

Not all Festivals are Glastonbury though.

I am 36 and a regular festival goer-in fact were off to a small one tomorrow. Just for the day. However I haven't been to glasto since I was 21 and probably wouldn't bother again. I certainly wouldn't take dd there. You need a lot of money, a lot of energy and a lot of not giving a shit and I simply dont have any of those anymore.

There are far more lovely festivals, much more suitable for families/mature people, dd went to the big chill at 9 months old and she happliy repeated one fo her first words all day "look, Look" she loved it. We all did.

yeah you do sound jealous
if it's not for you surely you would just say "ah each to their own but not my cup of tea"
but to be calling people who want to go "sad" and saying they are too old....well, you sound bitter frankly

YABU
I am going next year wth a bunch of old school friends to celebrate our immpending 40ths!
In my defence have never been to a big festival.
am watching Gorillaz right now wishing I was there.

SoHs I'm jealous. I need to get brave to take m y mob there.

I'm at Glastonbury now....! If you were to watch the TV coverage alone you'd think it was just for kids/studenty-types. But that's just because many of the other bits of Glasto aren't TV-worthy. Sofar this weekend I've spent some time in the NCT tent with my DS, some time at the folk music tent/Avalon Field. Some time at the Alternative Healing fiels. Some time in the KidzField.

It all depends on why you to there IMO. If you're 50 and going there to get drunk out of your skull then it is a bit patheic but then it's a bit pathetic whereever you do that.

And FWIW there are rarely queues for the loos - although if you fancy a hot shower then obviously you have to queue a while for that....!

you are at glasto and are MNetting?

that good eh?

there's SO much at Glastonbury that it caters for every idea imaginable

I'll let my 50something year old friends know you think they're too old to go... it'll amuse them for months

I'd love to go to Glastonbury ... one day, I will

I don't give a toss if I'm too old and sad or not - I'd be there like a shot if I could afford it or had any sort of childcare.

I was last there in 1986. That's how old and sad I am. Still don't care - I'd be there tomorrow if I could.

Poshwellies it is 'that' good. But as i'm 8 weeks pregnant and have my 22mo DS with me I have neither the stamina or inclination to be up all night like the 'good old days'

Why is it sad to still like music and camping? God the day I want to stop going to festivals someone please shoot me. I so wish I were there

I went years ago when you could jump the fence (same as fellow Somersetter orm!),it was rough and still in the old Glastonbury mindset.

I can't be arsed now,it's too polished,and radio one and bloody expensive (2 adults-£500+ for a festival plus the rip off food costs)