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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Reading festival questions

20 replies

knackeredmu · 06/01/2023 10:07

Hey
Newbie reading festival parent here and j have a few questions:

Is it worth buying the access to showers/ charging lockers or is there availability on the site if they are happy to queue?

How long is the walk from the car park to the site? Do they have trolleys etc to borrow or is it case of carrying as much as you can on your person (assuming this but useful to know).

Any recommendations for which camping areas are good / avoid.

If a younger teen wants to join her brother for the day - is this viable - can we drop her off near the entrance and he meets her? Will she be able to access his campsite / bring in supplies or can you not get onto the camp site without a ticket? If we drove and dropped her is it easy to pick her up at the end?

I've never been to Reading and don't know the lay out but I assume there must be a drop off - pick up bay somewhere for day ticket holders

Any other advice most welcome - thank you x

OP posts:

Dazedandconfused10 · 06/01/2023 10:12

Take your own trolley

If you have a day ticket you don't get access to campsites
Drop off and pick up is a walk away from the site its self, everything is a big old walk pretty much

Nimbostratus100 · 06/01/2023 10:15

Pay for anything to make the experience go more smoothly - Reading is a bit of an outlier among British festivals, higher risk in every sense - I know this from a close relative who is involved in the legal side of festival insurance

Chickenvoicesinmyhead · 06/01/2023 10:23

As a pp said, younger sibling won't be able to get into the campsite but she can join him with a say pass.

How old are your DS and DD?

Original poster

knackeredmu · 06/01/2023 10:23

Dazedandconfused10 · 06/01/2023 10:12

Take your own trolley

If you have a day ticket you don't get access to campsites
Drop off and pick up is a walk away from the site its self, everything is a big old walk pretty much

Thanks - it what a thought
It's a shame they can't access the campsite with the rest of the group but I'm sure they can manage for one day:)
Especially if I'm paying for their food as they can't get back to cook / leave their sister.

OP posts:

Chickenvoicesinmyhead · 06/01/2023 10:24

Day, not say!

Original poster

knackeredmu · 06/01/2023 10:25

Chickenvoicesinmyhead · 06/01/2023 10:23

As a pp said, younger sibling won't be able to get into the campsite but she can join him with a say pass.

How old are your DS and DD?

He is 18 and going with a group of friends including our god daughter - they are really lovely and would look out for her - she is 16 so post GCSEs and could go on her own for the weekend but it's a bit anxious about it all - hence a day ticket would be a good intro for her

OP posts:

Greatly · 06/01/2023 10:28

Mine went last year - 16 year old went on a day ticket and it was enough. Dd20 met her outside - you can leave and go back in again.

Worth mentioning that dd20 would never ever camp there again. It was absolutely feral.

Oblomov22 · 06/01/2023 10:37

I bought the whole extra package, toilet shower, locker, early pass to get in. I think it's worth it.

Chickenvoicesinmyhead · 06/01/2023 10:41

Has your DD considered Truck at Steventon? It's a smaller friendly festival and perfect as an introductory experience with her friends if she's anxious.

DS17 is going again this year plus some other festivals but he is personally put off Reading as it can get a pretty "lively" particularly on a Sunday night.

Original poster

knackeredmu · 06/01/2023 10:44

Chickenvoicesinmyhead · 06/01/2023 10:41

Has your DD considered Truck at Steventon? It's a smaller friendly festival and perfect as an introductory experience with her friends if she's anxious.

DS17 is going again this year plus some other festivals but he is personally put off Reading as it can get a pretty "lively" particularly on a Sunday night.

Thanks - she loves LoveJoy and Imagine Dragons and they are both playing on the Sunday - I think Truck would be great for her next year with friends as an intro festival but she really wants to see the bands on the Sunday.

The liveliness does worry me (I was contemplating going with her but I think DH and I will find a nice pub and walk with the dog during the day / evening and then deal with the aftermath on the way home :)).

OP posts:

Greatly · 06/01/2023 10:52

Lively is one word for it. Dd20 got hit in the chest with a metal water bottle bad enough to cause a massive bruise, her tent got slashed and pissed on, loads of older male drug dealers hitting on her and her friends, upskirted, groped and spat at. Not sure Bastille was worth it.

Greatly · 06/01/2023 10:53

Having said that - she's going back for the day so...!

louderthan · 06/01/2023 10:55

I am 41 and have only just recovered from Reading 98 😂 feral is the correct word!

Chickenvoicesinmyhead · 06/01/2023 10:56

She can always leave if it gets too much. I would have thought Imagine Dragons will be earlier on the Sunday too.

Original poster

knackeredmu · 06/01/2023 10:57

It doesn't appeal to me at all - I can imagine the carnage / dealers / harassment- it's really shit. I hope they go once and then that's it

OP posts:

Original poster

knackeredmu · 06/01/2023 10:58

louderthan · 06/01/2023 10:55

I am 41 and have only just recovered from Reading 98 😂 feral is the correct word!

Love this xx

OP posts:

Greatly · 06/01/2023 11:02

It was the sexual harassment that really repulsed me, but then I'm an old raver!

Seasonofthewitch83 · 06/01/2023 11:18

I went back in the early 2000s and I swear I can still smell the pit toilets.

A day pass is better - camping is not for the weak!

FallonofDynasty · 06/01/2023 16:12

Dd1 went 3 years back. Had day tickets so she was picked up at the end of the days - we live relatively close so this was feasible.

It was v hot that year and one day would have been enough for her, albeit she did 2.

Hasn't been back since!

Rollergirl11 · 07/01/2023 16:05

DD went last year post GCSE’s. Had an absolute ball, didn’t sleep for 3 days and sick for a week afterwards. Wasn’t really planning on going again but really likes the line-up this year so got tickets for Xmas. Her friends dad sorted out Camping plus for them which meant they had access to private showers, additional security etc. Deffo worth it to ensure all your stuff is kept safe. Having said that though they made friends with some lads that were camping in the orange campsite and saw first hand all the fires on the Sunday night.

I think Imagine Dragons are the headliner for the Sunday so they will be the last act on. So not early.

Funnily enough DD also went to Truck last year too and really really loved it. That was her first festival and definitely helped her find her feet and prepare her for the camping side of it. Totally different vibe from Reading. Much smaller with an older crowd and generally people have gone for the music. Whereas Reading full of 16,17,18 yr olds going for the experience/rite of passage. Utter carnage.

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