Camping without a car

[checkingforballoons]

I have a horrible feeling I may have posted asking about this before, but I can’t find anything!
DH and I are off to a festival next month with 4 year old DS. I think we’re doing a mixture of train and bus/taxi. We’ve paid for posh loo’s and showers. We won’t be taking cooking stuff - planning to take lots of cereal bars, mini brioches, dried fruit etc for breakfasts and snacks. We’re happy to buy food there for lunch and dinner.
Any tips, advice, suggestions?!

Can you carry rucksacks and push a trolley? My friend and I did a festival with an old lady style shopping trolley and public transport. We survived and I don't remember it being too traumatic. Hope the weather is on your side!

Oh we’ll definitely survive, just after any tips! I think a trolley might be a really good idea. I’m wondering if I should be crazily organised and do a trial pack. I can’t quite picture what everything we’ll need to take will look like!

What kind of tent are you taking? A small frame tent will be easier to transport than a pop up tent.

Is it Latitude?

Apart from the large bags that you'll be taking all your food, clothes, toiletries etc.. in, don't forget a smaller bag for your purse, water bottle etc... that you'll need when you're actually going around the festival.
Take water bottles to fill up at the free water points. We also take the squeezy capsules of dilutable squash that you can buy from supermarkets because my DC don't really drink much plain water.
Take your own glow sticks and bubble mixture.
Some things that your DS can amuse himself with while you catch a band will come in handy.Activity books are great.
Waterproof dungarees are brilliant for kids because it gives them the freedom to sit wherever they like and run around while still keeping warm and dry underneath.
Take a favourite toy for bedtime but not an irreplaceable one.
Make a wrist band for your DS with your mobile number on. Take a full-length photo on your mobile phone of him every time he has a change of clothes. If he goes missing, that's the exact description right there.
Take earplugs, especially child ones for your DS. If you are going anywhere down the front, then for God's sake get your child some ear protectors. Or all you will hear is thousands of Mumsnetters tutting behind you collectively.
Take a bin bag for muddy stuff. Also good for sitting on.
Take insect repellent, painkillers, plasters, hand sanitiser, antiseptic wipes, and lots and lots of baby wipes.
Take a torch. Preferably a head torch.
Take the Mountain Warehouse remote controlled tent finder, which will light up to help you find your tent in the dark.
Take clothes pegs. If anything gets wet or you need to wash it, you can just hang it on your tent ropes. They're also handy for sealing up opened foot packets.
Try to choose a tent spot that is within sight of landmarks you'll remember and as far away from showerblocks and toilets as possible!
Getting to know the people who have pitched their tents near yours can add to your festival experience by giving you a group to hang out and identify with. It can also make your camping area a bit more secure.
Putting a padlock on your tent only invites thieves in and won’t deter them, it will make them think you have something in there worth nicking!
Since you are likely to be up when the sun rises, take a walk and watch the party goers come back from their night out when you’ve already had 7 hrs sleep, and reminisce about when that used to be you.

Tent to be decided..!
Thank you Ricekrispie, loads of good advice there! We’re doing Kendal Calling.
Don’t worry, I’m well practised at negotiating with small boy. Last year at On Blackheath he got ice cream so Mummy could watch Kate Tempest. There’s a great picture of him in his Metallica tshirt, ear defenders on, chomping down on the flake and looking mildly annoyed at me