Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Teenagers

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

Original poster

Boardmasters Festival

50 replies

WagonWheel1234 · 02/08/2023 10:41

17-Year-Old DD is going to Boardmasters festival next week with three friends. Her first festival and first time camping. Advice please:
a) for her to stay safe and have fun
b) for me to not be over-anxious!
Thank you!

OP posts:
Sausagesandpeas · 02/08/2023 11:07

My DD 16 is also going so following with interest.

LegendsBeyond · 02/08/2023 11:11

Stay away from the cliffs. There have been several fatal falls round there over the years.

Teapleasebobb · 02/08/2023 11:15

Was messaging a friend who is working at boardmasters and they said that they had been briefed on a new method of spiking which is in vapes, so tell your dc not to accept vapes from anyone.
Dc just came back from a festival this weekend (their first) and absolutely had the best time. Their tips were to take food like brioche buns (as festival food is crazy expensive!) take bottled water and pack an extra jumper.

Teapleasebobb · 02/08/2023 11:16

Ooh, don't forget a couple of bin liners and carrier bags (and obviously loo roll!)

McConkeysPlate · 02/08/2023 11:18

Buy rock pegs for the tent.

Original poster
WagonWheel1234 · 02/08/2023 11:35

LegendsBeyond · 02/08/2023 11:11

Stay away from the cliffs. There have been several fatal falls round there over the years.

Oh blimey! That's not helping my anxiety 😂But thanks for the warning - I will pass that on

OP posts:
Original poster
WagonWheel1234 · 02/08/2023 11:35

Teapleasebobb · 02/08/2023 11:16

Ooh, don't forget a couple of bin liners and carrier bags (and obviously loo roll!)

Great advice, thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
WagonWheel1234 · 02/08/2023 11:37

Teapleasebobb · 02/08/2023 11:15

Was messaging a friend who is working at boardmasters and they said that they had been briefed on a new method of spiking which is in vapes, so tell your dc not to accept vapes from anyone.
Dc just came back from a festival this weekend (their first) and absolutely had the best time. Their tips were to take food like brioche buns (as festival food is crazy expensive!) take bottled water and pack an extra jumper.

Brilliant advice, thank you very much. She is currently quite anti-vaping, so hopefully that won't be a problem, but I will raise it with her and get her to tell her friends. They're planning to take breakfast food and snacks, but I'm worried it will all get stolen!

OP posts:
TimeToSleeeeep · 02/08/2023 11:38

Take lots of food as it is extortionate there. I got a huge rucksack (90l) from amazon for £35 to ensure this.

Remember pillow, sun cream (haha), hay-fever tablets, phone charger.

Bobbybobbins · 02/08/2023 11:50

I would remind her about sensible drinking, smoking, drugs and safe sex.

Worriedbf · 07/08/2023 13:51

My gf (17) is going with a group of friends male 🥲 and female and I’m worried that stuff might happen to her. Has there been many incidents between strangers and girls at board masters? Should I be worried about anything?

SomewhereWithSomeone · 07/08/2023 15:13

My son went last year and had a great time. The usual things apply, drinking sensibly, don’t accept a drink from anyone you don’t know, stay away from drugs (there were a lot), looking out for friends, staying with friends, keep valuables with you at all times.

Make sure she knows where her tent is in relation to something else as lots of people were wondering around lost. Keep phones charged, take a powerbank.

No one in my sons group had anything stolen but there’s plenty of staff around should anything happen

She’ll have a great time and come home and sleep for ages. 😅

Original poster
WagonWheel1234 · 07/08/2023 18:02

SomewhereWithSomeone · 07/08/2023 15:13

My son went last year and had a great time. The usual things apply, drinking sensibly, don’t accept a drink from anyone you don’t know, stay away from drugs (there were a lot), looking out for friends, staying with friends, keep valuables with you at all times.

Make sure she knows where her tent is in relation to something else as lots of people were wondering around lost. Keep phones charged, take a powerbank.

No one in my sons group had anything stolen but there’s plenty of staff around should anything happen

She’ll have a great time and come home and sleep for ages. 😅

Thank you!

OP posts:
rainydogday · 08/08/2023 10:29

DD 16 going for the first time too. We are 15 mins away in a holiday cottage. I am a bit anxious about it. She is quite sensible and don't think she will take drugs. More worried about her being wet and cold! We have got a apple air tag to hide in the bottom of the tent so they can find there way back to the tent. Solar and chargeable power bank, loads of food and snacks. Keep checking the weather like a crazy person!

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 08/08/2023 10:32

My 18yo dd is also going. She is very sensible but can't help but worry nonetheless.

Sausagesandpeas · 08/08/2023 14:41

My DD is 16 and heading there tomorrow with a friend for their first festival. Eek! We are on a campsite 20 mins away just in case we are needed! Very nervous. Will be glad when this week is over.

MincedMalbec · 08/08/2023 14:47

I went last year. Its a good festival and not much trouble. If they really aren't up for the real mess of idiots then tell them to head to the Mavericks section of the camp site. Its more chilled and you get sleep and there we no issues there, lots of groups still camped there but its a nice place. Follow the facebook group and you should be able to find what they say about the different sections and what they're like. Also be warned the bus is £9 to go into town and we had very limited phone service when we were there. In fact basically none at all.

mamaduckbone · 09/08/2023 23:20

@MincedMalbec that's interesting about phone service - my ds17 headed off on the Big Green Bus at 8am and I've heard nothing since, but trying to reassure myself that it's just because there's no service. Messages haven't even been read.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 09/08/2023 23:24

mamaduckbone · 09/08/2023 23:20

@MincedMalbec that's interesting about phone service - my ds17 headed off on the Big Green Bus at 8am and I've heard nothing since, but trying to reassure myself that it's just because there's no service. Messages haven't even been read.

Are you texting or using WhatsApp @mamaduckbone? I got an SMS from dd, which she never usually uses, to tell us that she had arrived safely but couldn't put updates on our family WhatsApp group as it wasn't connecting. So could be something like that?

mamaduckbone · 09/08/2023 23:41

I've tried iMessage and SMS, and ds14 has tried Snapchat (I don't have it). He doesn't use WhatsApp. I'm sure he's fine and I'm not especially worried, but would sleep better tonight if I'd just heard something!

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 09/08/2023 23:42

Yeah, I get that @mamaduckbone. Maybe he has no reception at all. Or maybe he's just having too much fun!Grin

I'm sure he's fine...no news is good news!

mamaduckbone · 09/08/2023 23:44

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves - great user name for this weekend 😳
Maybe all parents of festival-going teens should adopt 'PoorNerves' whilst they are away...
MamaduckbonesPoorNerves

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 09/08/2023 23:46

mamaduckbone · 09/08/2023 23:44

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves - great user name for this weekend 😳
Maybe all parents of festival-going teens should adopt 'PoorNerves' whilst they are away...
MamaduckbonesPoorNerves

Grin

It is probably my poor nerves that I need to focus on this week, rather than Mrs Bennett's... what with the festival this weekend and A-level results next Thursday, they are having a hard time!!!

AndyMcFlurry · 09/08/2023 23:55

The easiest way to find their tent is to use what 3 words and pin the location.

Dartmoorcheffy · 10/08/2023 00:00

I live quite near there and there never seems to be much trouble . It appears to be one of the safer and tamer festivals