Reading Festival - is 16 too young?

[Dockardoodah]

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.

DD is 16 and went last year, I was really concerned but nearly all the yr 11s go so I spoke to other parents whose DC had been previous years and allowed myself to be persuaded.

It's not really her thing but she had a bad case of FOMO 😂😂😂

So if he's sensible and has a good bunch of mates who will stick together they'll be fine.

DD has no desire to go again this year, she enjoyed some of the bands but didn't enjoy the mud, cold and rip off prices for crap food.

I went at 16 and we had a fab time! Ok we smoked a little weed but mostly just saw lots of great music.

Tbh no one drunk a lot as it was so expensive!

I went when I was 18 and had a great time, but obviously we did get drunk. Tell him to stay away from the mosh pit as it's terrifying.

Ds went at 16. Had a great time.

Do you live close enough that he could go for the day? First time I went (Leeds Festival) I think I was 17, but it was just for the day, then my friend's dad collected us (at 1am!!) and we went back next day. Camped from the year after. It does get lairy but it's friendly-lairy if that makes sense - nothing worse than your average provincial nightclub of a weekend! Or at least, hat was true back in 2000 when I first went....

My daughter has asked to go to Leeds-she's 16. I've said she can go for the day only and we will pick her up. A compromise she was happy with-(she had no choice!)