Leeds festival - yes or no

[Flyhigher]

What do Mums think about Leeds festival? Good idea to go or not?
Any advice?

Both Leeds and Reading have changed beyond belief in recent years. They seem to have become a passing out ceremony for the end of year 11. Back in the late 80's/early 90s I was only allowed to go when I reached 18. It was nicer vibe then as well! To be honest I wouldn't want a 16 year old of mine going to either now. But if the child is more sensible than average they would probably be fine. Sorry to be so blunt.

Here’s the link to last years Reading thread. Lots of good advice and then somewhere for parents with DC’s there to chat.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/teenagers/reading-festival-2023-hints-and-tips?page=1

@Rollergirl11 does that work on a pc?
I can't open it!

My DD went in August with her boyfriend and most of their year after GCSE results. They camped in a family area and said it was ok apart from being quite far away from the action. There are other areas that are a bit rowdy all night.
The more expensive areas (camping plus?) are more expensive but seemed to be less tolerant of antisocial behaviour as DDs boyfriends friends got kicked out (as in out of the festival, not just the camping area)
The boyfriend's mum dropped them off and I picked them up. Drop off/pick up places are well organised and if your kid is a sensible one, I'd say let them have their moment! I remember thinking how awesome it would have been at that age to be with all your mates at a festival.
There are lots of safety teams etc and I thought it was particularly well run considering...
Expensive for food/drinks obviously.

Half of DD's year 11 class went.
Not her (relieved)
There will be many 16 year olds there. I think they have a blast.

I've just booked for my dc (will be smidgen off 18 by then). Won't lie, it scares the bejesus out of me, but I was living independently by her age so can't really compare. Will spend the next 9 months seriously focusing on staying safe.

We live close enough to Bramham to hear the lyrics in the lounge every year, can't quite appreciate the need to sleep in squalor for 4 nights....

I should have added that my 16 year old wants to go. She will be nearly 17 by then.

It's primarily teens 16 -18 who go. If not a sensible teen normally, I wouldn't suggest it but as long as she's a fairly sensible lass she'll have a great time. Yes, there is some underage drinking, but not as much as you'd think.

Has she camped before? There was a big difference in enjoyment between DD who camps regularly and her cousin who never has and hated it.

Take lots of instant noodles, soups sachets, snack bars etc etc as food is ruinously expensive. There's a £6 system where you get a mug and endless hot water refills throughout the weekend which DD survived on both times she went.

If it's like Reading which presumably it is, get then out before the end of the Sunday night, that is when it goes tits up.

And there is plenty of underage drinking and drugs.

I’d have thought an almost 17 year old would be fine. I went to music festivals from when I just turned 14 onwards.

Dd16 went last year for one day and I was worried sick however she is not daft and the worse thing that happened to her was getting sun burn (despite taking suncream!).
She is planning to go back next year as she had a great time but she doesn’t want to camp and she doesn’t want to hang out with those of her friends are a bit daft and likely to get into scrapes.

It's her friends and scrapes I'm not keen on!

Are you near enough the festival site to drop off and pick up?

Dd went on a day pass after finishing exams
Then she went again at the end of year twelve but did the full thing and got early access so was there for an extra night too.

She came back in right state. She'd obviously not just been drinking and I found evidence hidden in her room afterwards. That's said she probably would have taken drugs anyway even if she hadn't have gone. I'm hoping that phase has passed in her life now.

Dd went last year at 17. It sounded hideous.
She camped until Monday.
A video she showed me looked like end of days/the purge. Serious concerns around safety with such a young demographic nowadays.
Drugs, fires, assault etc

Going to Reading straight after GCSE results is a bit of right of passage where I live. This year was my DS’s second time (he’s now in Year 13) and he felt a bit too old for it and wont be going next year.

DD will be doing her GCSE’s in 2024, I was worried about her doing until I dropped off DS this summer and saw the majority of kids are indeed about 16. This summer at Reading DS said there were quite a few ‘raids’ on druggie tents. It doesn’t fill me with joy to think DD will be going but she’ll be with plenty of friends.

I went to Reading at 21 and felt really old!

My DD went last year for the first time aged 16 with her friend. We stayed in Leeds to be close by just in case, as we live four hours away. They were absolutely fine, and went back themselves this year. They practised putting up the tent before they went. Loved it!

This!
Last year DD (16) rang me to collect her at about 1am on the Sunday/Monday (and she is very streetwise etc
She went again this year and it was much better
It is full of 14-16year olds and I think that is why it can be messy!
EVERY Year 11 from our area (we are about 15 miles away) went!
It's a rite of passage after GCSEs now

A friend of mine worked Leeds festival last year in the welfare tent. Some of her stories were horrific of what happened to some of the kids - 2 rapes, lots of bad drug reactions, excess alcohol and the consequences of that. Someone died I believe. She didn't volunteer there this year as she hated it. Said it had a bad vibe. She's 52, not a kid.

My 34 year old daughter has just asked me to babysit my granddaughter so she can go !!! So not just kids lol

A friend of mine worked Leeds festival last year in the welfare tent. Some of her stories were horrific of what happened to some of the kids - 2 rapes, lots of bad drug reactions, excess alcohol and the consequences of that. Someone died I believe. She didn't volunteer there this year as she hated it. Said it had a bad vibe. She's 52, not a kid.

My friend lives in a nearby village and where residents get complimentary tickets . She say’s particularly the last night is the worst for antisocial behaviour (setting fire to abandoned tents etc) and that there are issues with nasty side effects from drugs, drink, attacks, and yes tragically there was a drug related death this year, as I remember.

I went when I was 16, 13 years ago with my friends & had a great time. I was sensible, had no interest in drugs, but drank too much. Not sure what it’s like these days though. Just depends on your child, how they deal with the independence, their attitude towards alcohol & drugs & how easily peer pressured they are.

Related question - bought DD tickets for her and a friend as a Christmas present. Now worrying because I bought them on my ticketmaster account and so I will need to transfer them to her, but the transfer button is greyed out! Surely I can't be the only parent who has bought tickets on behalf of DC? How does it work?

Also, just curious, are the PPs who are describing it as a right of passage for Y11s in particularly wealthy areas? The tickets themselves at over £300 this year, so add in the cost of travel, food, possibly buying a tent etc it's a bloody expensive weekend? DD hasn't mentioned anyone else is going, I just got her day tickets for the day her favourite artist is headlining.