Top tips for Reading festival (or Leeds!) please

[FoxandDuck]

A level results being out today has made me realise quite how close we are to GCSE results and therefore the Reading festival. DD has a camping ticket, is very excited and also very naive. We’re not a camping family - her only previous experience of being in a tent has been on DofE - and neither DH nor I have ever been to the type of festival where you stay over.
What do I need to know, both in terms of kit and in terms of advice to give DD
Thank you!

Leave on Sunday night. Go and pick them up. Reading is not the same festival it was in the 90s. The demographic is a lot younger. It is full of idiots prone to stupid behaviour that culminates in disorder on the last night.

Make sure she has a large power bank and doesn’t pitch her tent up anywhere near the stage area. Pitch as far a possible. Take a hat. It’s fairly safe as full of 16 year old but she must stick with her friends. None of them must wander off on their own. Stick together. There are loads of welfare points if necessary. 3 man Tent not 2 man way too small, mattress, pump, sleeping bag, torch, trainers, camping chair. Snacks. So long as the basics are decent then she’ll be fine camping wise.

Pre book the headphones online for the silent disco they sell out and are very popular. She collects at a specific point when required.

Just dropped my son off at another festival--they were advised to take face coverings of some sort because of the dust.

Unfortunately Reading is attended by loads of people who have no idea how to behave at a festival or indeed, how to behave. Stick together with friends at all times, do not get drunk, do not take drugs, do not accept anything from people (ie men) you do not know. It is predator heaven.

I am very pleased that DS and his friends are planning to go to Bloodstock after GCSEs and have no interest in Reading.

I dont think the age has changed as im 48 and it was a post gcse ritual when I was at school!

I always think anyone at a festival needs a plan for loaing their phone or their friends.

Get her to memorise some key numbers. Write them on a piece of paper and keep it safe

Make a phone free plan for meeting friends if lost. Ie. Back at the tent.

I honestly think they also need to develop some resilience ! When we did all.this without phones we understood we might end up spending a few hours alone if we got separated. Its not the end of rhe world.

Other than that....proper wax earplugs are my camping tool for survival. Bring many pairs.