So, give me something to look forward to, what festivals are you planning to go to this summer?

[meltedmarsbars]

Need lifting out of the January blues - what festival are you going to -

• are you taking the dc's?

• do you know who is playing in it yet?

Cheer me up!

i've not done Beautiful Days but DP has done that and Shambala and he says Shambala is more child oriented. We've done lots of festivals with DS over the last three years (he's now 5) and Shambala is the best by a long shot. DS really, really loves it.

Thanks queenrollo - thats what I thought, sounds great.

Is there an exhaustive listng somewhere of festivals, showing you what their vibe is?

I only know of the ones I know of already, if you get my drift!

Threefeethigh - I didn't mean to offend you about the hippie-dreadlocked comment!

www.efestivals.co.uk/

www.virtualfestivals.com/

You could try these two sites. One of them has a forum too so you can ask questions.

efestivals has probably the best listing. I think you can browse it by month etc. Some of the reviewers are good friends of mine.

The forum's a pretty good place for general advice on festivals but i'd stay out of the chat area if i was you.

I got banned for a really spurious reason but it did eventually lead to me meeting my wonderful DP

I'm definitely going to Reading regardless of the line up. There's always something worth watching. Might go to End Of The Road too.

end of the road without the kids for us. am wondering if i can get away with 3 nights babysitting this year as it's crappy having to pick a day to miss. this would be our 4th time, musically it's my favourite festie by far, although i do think it's a little on the small side atmosphere-wise.

and we might be joining friends and taking kids to beautiful days, but that's more to meet up than anything particular to the festie itself, i've not been before.

I am a Beautiful Days veteran with kids in tow. They adore it. The line-up is always diverse and excellent and the activities fab.
But last time, (2 years ago) I was put off by the dance tent - the sound seemed to carry a LOT in the wee hours. And though I have broken many a dance tent in my yoof, nowadays without chemicals and knowing you are going to be up at 6am with full-on partying kids, I find I NEEEEED sleep.

Anyone got any recommendations for good music, quieter camping options and appealing for boys over 10 years?

Anyone else bought tickets to Reading?

I might go to Download Festival (depends if my friend is back from New Zealand or not. I don't want to go by myself) and if I go, I won't be taking DD.

Yep, got my ticket for Reading. Might go to Download too and End of The Road

We were planning on going to Glastonbury again this year with our baby (will be 7 months then) but I've since found out I'll be 6 and a half months pregnant, might be a bit much. We've not missed one (bar the fallow years) in years and years. I was 4 months at the last glasto and that was fine (if a sobre affair!) but we'll see.. might just leave the littl'un with her doting grandparents!

I can't decide between Green Man Latitude or End Of The Road this year. I've been to Glastonbury loads before but I want to try something new.

Worth looking at www.justsofestival.org.uk it's exclusively for families and utterly magical.

We are off to Green Man - me, ds and 10 others - will be great I hope! End Of the Road looks great - I've always meant to go. Shame there are no tickets left (and no Cass McCombs either)...