What advice would you give to a 17yo going to a festival?

[msripley]

This will be her first time, with a group of friends. They're going to the 2000 Trees festival.

What advice would you suggest? I've never been to one, so have no idea what she should expect.

She's quite an innocent, but mature 17 - no boyfriends so far (that we know about), doesn't normally drink alcohol and says she's never been offered drugs.

tia

Plastic sledge is good for taking stuff from car park to campsite.

Most important items are anti-bac gel, tissues and condoms. All other items are surplus to requirements pretty much

Get to know your camping neighbours - ie, we'll look after yours if you do the same.

Don't get too hung up about looking/smelling perfect - everyone is in the same boat.

Padlock on tent is a big no-no - screams I've got something worth stealing.

Invest in some comfy wellies, don't by a cheap plastic pair as you'll be living in them and walking for miles.

Get there early to pitch in a decent spot, those poor people arriving late having to pitch near a path and getting their tent trampled on.

Be prepared that wonderful, spacious spot you have found wont last long - 10 tents will suddenly spring up pretty much right on top of you.

Try all of the fabulous foods, it's not just skanky burger vans at festivals.

Baby wipes are your alternative to a shower. Dry shampoo spray is a fabulous invention.

Get some small pouches of sun cream to shove in your bag. You can be sitting/standing in a field with no shade for hours each day.

A torch is essential if your trying to go to the loo in the night.

ENJOY IT!!!!

eeeeeeee, I'm off to Glastonbury again next week and this thread has got me really excited!

oooh oooh EAR PLUGS, for if she wants to sleep that is
Your neighbours will chat/sing/laugh/yell allllllllllll night!

oh don't sit on your boyfriend's shoulders to get a better view of the stage - you will have bottles of piss lobbed at your head by the angry people behind you.

Don't endlesly arrange to meet friends at different parts of the festival otherwise you will spend the whole time trudging about, waiting for latecomers and miss all the fun

mark your tent in some way and pitch it near a landmark otherwise you will lose it

drugs - well I would say better some recreational drugs that give you energy, keep you awake and dancing happily than alcohol which will just make you tired and stupid.

But I am probably in the minority on that one

My 17 year old just got back from Download yesterday and he's going to Sonisphere as well. He went last year too.

drugs/ booze - in moderation! - you want to enjoy being at a festival, not being in your drugged daze which after all, is something you don't have to go to a festival to do.

agree hash cakes bad idea for this reason- you don't want to waste a day possibly too stoned to walk and missing loads of events.

i think taking food is unnecessary, as finding nice munch is part of the fun. at least one bin bag v. useful though. if your tent is rubbish you can use a bin bag as an additional liner between fly & outer.

arrive as early as possible so you & mates get good pitch.

The only drugs you should take are Imodium and resolve.

When you find your spot on the field, make sure it's near something recognisable (like a flag) so you can find your mates after you go for a whizz.

Eat a decent breakfast - then if you don't eat anything else you will at least survive the day.

But cartons of fruit juice with screw tops and freeze them so they will stay cold(ish) and fresh, and will give you a much needed energy boost that isn't pot noodle related. Tip a bit out first or they explode, hnece the need for screw cap ones.

Buy cartons...sorry.

I would say

A festival is not the place to be trying anything new so don't take any drugs you are not used to.

Don't take anything with you that you would be upset to lose and keep your money and phone/camera on you at all times

Wet Wipes.

went to a festival a few years ago with a very innocent sensible 17 year old, there was a big group of us youngest 17 oldest 30. classic momment 17 year old ' what's that lovely smell?' as we enjoyed some music in an enclosed tent. tell her there will be people taking drugs she will get offered drugs. Will save her embarassment on all fronts. My friend will never live that down it was even mentioned at her 21st.

sunscreen, put it on anyway, even if cloudy in the morning
stay away from nitrous oxide
try to eat something

Don't sit down in the dark in the portaloos.

To avoid the horrendous portaloo situation (Glastonbury worst offender IME) - I have taken Immodium to deliberately bung myself up a bit

Just made sure I had adequate amounts of Senna on my return

Am aware that makes me sound like I have issues, but avoiding having a shit in these places is quite refreshing (literally)

Does she have long hair?

If so, put it in lots of little plats (sort of dreads) then she can forget about it for the duration.

I did this with my lovely long purple locks...those were the days...sigh

ah, but then you get sunburn on your scalp between the braids...

also, give magic mushrooms a chance to work before necking more

Hmm maybe purple dye acts as a sunscreen

Oh god yes, def stay away from the poppers

MrsChemist what year were you at Leeds?

Oh I forgot about the poppers, they were great.

Herbal highs are rubbish.

My advice, honestly, would be... If you take drug sonly take pills in halfs and leave an hour between each one. Dont take magic mushrooms full stop and always have a bottle of water with you. take 100 baby wipes, cereal bars and find a non geeky bumbag type bag so you dont lose your money or have it stolen...
I'd rather assume theyll take drugs and advise them of how to do it 'safely' or as safely as possible than assume they are not going to take them and have them take too many risks..

Oh, share a tent with someone. Dont sleep alone.

Oh god and how could I forget, dry shampoo! And condoms!

Just read some of the posts on this thread... oh poppers! Thiose were the days!

notnowbernard - some people we met did that. It didn't work for one of them though and he had to do a HUGE shit on the sunday. Gutted.

I went the year I got my GCSEs, so... um..... 2002, the last year they had it at Temple Newsam (sp?) Park. I've been a few other times after that, but that was the only time I went and there was a lot of trouble. There were many many riot police and people were just abandoning their tents and belongings and leaving sharpish.