Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Reading Festival - is 16 too young?

32 replies

Dockardoodah · 01/02/2019 15:02

Hi All,

I have a generally responsible 16-year-old son asking if he can go to Reading Festival this summer with a bunch of mates, and his girlfriend of a year. I am currently dodging giving an answer!

I am concerned it's not a particularly friendly low key event to be at (I understand it is a camping one over a few days) and I have never been myself so don't want to say yes to something that is totally inappropriate or full of troublemakers, drugs etc.

He goes to parties where friends have alcohol and he tends to be the cautious one having seen friends get ill before.

Then there's the tent sharing/girlfriend issue

Any input to help me work this one out would be great! Thanks.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

lamazdastuff · 01/02/2019 15:06

I went Leeds fest at 16 (in 2010) with my friends and boyfriend at the time. It was great fun! As long as you think he's responsible then I don't see a problem.

Glitterandunicorns · 01/02/2019 15:09

I've been to Reading festival every year for almost 20 years. I was 18 the first year I went. I've got to say, I wouldn't recommend it for a 16year old. There are so many drugs everywhere.
In saying that, there are loads of young people there of that sort of age, but unless you are certain that he's refuse any drugs offered to him and not drink dangerously and always have safe sex, then by all means, let him!

Racecardriver · 01/02/2019 15:10

I have worked festivals in the past. I really wouldn’t reccomend alloeing teenagers to camp at any of the larger ones. I have witnesses/heard about from other staff a lot of sexual assaults, hosputalisations, theft, antisocial behaviour and one death. These things can get quite mad. I would suggest starting him off with smaller, friendlier festivals.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

Original poster

Dockardoodah · 01/02/2019 15:38

Wow Racecardriver Im really leaning toward a No now!! Though you kind of hit the nail onthe head...its everyone else youve got to worry about isnt it...
Thankyou all for your input...I guess it could be totally, fine, and equally could end in disaster :(

OP posts:

blueskiesandforests · 01/02/2019 15:47

I last went over 20 years ago and there were certainly a lot of drugs on offer even then, but only on offer, not being pushed at anyone.

He will obviously have sex with his girlfriend, but if they're both 16 then hmm safe sex and clear consent lectures are probably better than just trying to keep them apart!

It was incredibly crowded, I can't imagine it's better now. The kind of very tightly packed crowds it's difficult to get out from if you don't want to be in the middle of them/ rivers of moving humanity you have to walk with and it's hard to go against the flow if you want to walk in the opposite direction. I hated that and think my kids would too. I wasn't expecting it, never having been to a big festival before, even though I was a university student with a lot of traveling under my belt - big festivals are something else, not like being in a busy city etc.

Tobebythesea · 01/02/2019 18:36

I went when I was 16 to Reading but only for the day, not night. Only stayed when I was 18

yearofthehorse · 01/02/2019 18:37

Most of the other kids there will also be 16. It's a bit of a post GCSE rite of passage.

Fiddie · 01/02/2019 18:42

All the year 11s (16yo) go here, it's usually on GCSE results day so they pick them off and get on the train.

It's a rite of passage for them.

Noname99 · 01/02/2019 18:51

Definitely a rite of passage! I went straight after GCSEs and my DS will be going too! Yes there are crimes - mainly drink and drug related- committed at the festival but remember there are about 90,000 people there! That’s the size of a small town - where similar crimes would be committed every weekend. My DS will probably drink too much but I’m pretty sure he won’t do drugs from dodgy sources and he’s not an aggressive type so likely would stay away from obvious trouble. He may get caught up in something but that can happen in town on a Saturday night.

Noname99 · 01/02/2019 18:53

Half of the public school kids in the uk will be there so he will be part of a huge group of 16 yo.

CoastalLife · 01/02/2019 18:55

If he’s 16 and been with his girlfriend for a year then I think the ship might have already sailed on the sex front, OP 😬 And even if it hasn't, being unable to share a tent at a festival has never stopped teenagers from getting it on. Talking about safe sex and being approachable are the best tactics.

I'm torn on this really. I went to Leeds fest on GCSE results day when I was 16 with a big group of mates (and my boyfriend of a year...) and had an absolute blast. We all drank a lot and there was some weed and some mushrooms that various people got involved with. But we were largely a sensible bunch and we all had a great time, looked after each other and nobody got into any trouble. That said, it's the age old problem of worrying about your kids precisely because you know what you were up to at that age. With my adult head on, I would worry about it. But I also know that some of my fondest memories are of right-of-passage teenage stuff like Leeds fest and I wouldn't want to deny my DC the same experiences I had.

It's a tricky one!

CoastalLife · 01/02/2019 18:55

rite of passage, obviously 🤦🏼‍♀️

RusholmeRuffian · 01/02/2019 18:56

I went at 15. It's a rite of passage the week of GCSE results. Get him a very cheap phone with a long battery life in case of emergencies and he will be fine

Eve · 01/02/2019 18:57

😁 this question comes up every year on mumsnet.

16 is fine - just issue lots of warnings about drugs - there is a lot available.

WeAreGerbil · 01/02/2019 19:00

I wondered about this - in usual teenage style "all" DD's friends are going, but I haven't yet worked out whether they are all just saying that, no one has actually bought a ticket as far as I can see. They are 16 too. I'd probably be a bit nervous. Is it like V where you could take alcohol into camping but not into the arena? Presumably then they'd need fake ID or older kids to buy it for them.

UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter · 01/02/2019 19:05

It’s definitely hugely popular amongst the end of GCSE kids. So many get the results on the Thursday and then go off to Reading.

We live just outside Reading and as a teen I lived in a Reading suburb and we went post gcse as well.

My son sat husband GCSEs last summer and went to Reading with a lot of friends. Yes they drank alcohol. Not in the festival as it’s very strict, but in the camp site with beer brought from home/older siblings. But he says other than one or two smoking weed no one touched drugs and certainly not any hard drugs. They were all too busy going from tent to tent and enjoying the music and the fair.

He loved it so much he’s hoping to get a job there this year as you get a free ticket. If not he’ll buy himself a ticket from his Saturday job wages. I brought the ticket last year on the proviso that he could only have it if he achieved his target grades.

ALadyofLetters · 01/02/2019 19:08

I went to Glastonbury at 17 and sharing a tent with my boyfriend was one of the reasons I wanted to go! As long as your DS is sensible and isn’t planning on taking drugs then he’ll be fine.

Ragwort · 01/02/2019 19:10

I would be very, very anti it, fortunately my DS has got to 18 without ever mentioning going to a Festival. There are so many horror stories, particularly about Reading. Has anyone seen the absolute shocking scenes of abandoned tents and general rubbish left after the Festival? I work for a charity that actually goes in and reclaims and refurbishes all the abandoned tents. Shocking waste of money & resorces (yes, I know this is not the question originally asked).

UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter · 01/02/2019 19:11

Ragwort we work with the scouts to retrieve useable tents and equipment from that site.

littlecabbage · 01/02/2019 19:14

I went to Reading festival about 10 years ago. I remember feeling that the atmosphere felt a bit menacing as night fell. Lots of men just stomping to where they needed to be with their heads down, with no regard for anyone in their way. I've been to lots of festivals including Glasto and felt Reading was the least friendly. Having said that, there seemed to be loads of teenagers there!

RusholmeRuffian · 01/02/2019 19:15

In recent years they have been cracking down on under 18s bringing alcohol into the campsite. I saw lots of bereft teens last year being stopped with their crates of cheap cider. Obviously they still manage to get it in but not in massive quantities so much.

TipseyTorvey · 01/02/2019 19:20

It is a bit of a mad/crazy festival. Not hippy like Glastonbury. Could you compromise on one night? I live close by and used to go when younger. Found it much more aggressive than I like for a festival but if you trust him and can do a prep chat with him. Make sure he takes nothing with him of any value. Hides his cash well and takes no drugs and is just aware of the scams it could be a great experience and learning for him to become a bit savvy. There are dodgy people there but they prey on naive people.

UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter · 01/02/2019 19:29

I’m taking dd who will be 13 this year but only for the day as she loves twenty one pilots and billy eilish. We live three or four train stops away and the festival is a short walk from the station especially as it has the new entrance that is that side of the town now.

My son just said there are lots of charitable groups out and about looking out for the younger ones and the day time you certainly see lots of family’s there. We have friend who go every years since the dc were small.

I’m going back the next day with dh as that’s our preferred day band wise.

Ragwort · 01/02/2019 19:57

unicorn, great to hear that, I am an ex Scouter (used to be involved with a Cub Pack in Reading a long time ago) I am so pleased you can make use of the tents. But I was truly shocked to see the waste & litter left behind, is every Festival like that?

Patchworkpatty · 01/02/2019 20:26

All theee of mine went at 16. All had fantastic time . 16 yr old going againrhia year .
MN will be clutching their pearls though !

Flip

1 2