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

mouthwash and chewing gum

Have been to Glasto loads of times

Absolute essentials list

wipes/hand sanistiser/dry shampoo
Hand mirror
Bin bags
Toilet roll/tissues
Sunscreen (must wear it - no fun spending the large portion of your festival time suffering from sunburn)
Hat
Wellies (or will be charged through the nose for them!)
Raincoat
Warm jumper or fleece (can get very cold at night)
Water container - can carry around and fill up from water taps so she doesn't get dehydrated or spend loads of money on stupidly overpriced drinks
Money belt - you can get discreet flat ones that fit under the clothes to carry around mobile, money, tissues, sunscreen and hand sanisiter
Tent
Torch

Don't pitch tent too near the road/main pathway or you'll get a tent full of dust and be kept awake whilst trying to sleep and are more likely to get robbed by opportunists walking past.
Don't pitch tent right next to toilets - they stink
Don't pitch tent right near hedgerow - men piss it in
DO pitch tent near water tap and within walking distance of loos and Do tie a flag or something recognisable on tent
On arrival, work out where and how far you are from red cross tent or medical tent in case of emergency.

I first went to Glastonbury when I was 16 with a group of friends. Amazing time - everyone was very friendly and looked out for one another. This was in the days before mobiles or cashpoints being onsite.

I would say take some kind of camping mat/airbed type thing. Sleeping directly on lumpy farm ground is so not fun.

If you are a festival newby, don't go to the front near the barriers and complain for half an hour that the people behind are pushing you.

What did you do gleeb? I went to Leeds in 2001, before it moved and the riots on the last night were immense. Me and my sister just stayed in the tent and hoped for the best . Never felt so claustrophobic in my life despite being in an open space.

My Teen D has booked the Reading Festival, seriously worried after reading about the out of control behaviour in 2009, burning tents, property, anything that can burn basically, lack of security, people fearing for their lives, wish she had not booked this now, but I read it on the net after tickets were bought, had no idea festivals could be so dangerous.

I think the burning tents only happens on the morning before leaving because they don't want to take them home! Most places have banned cooking gas canisters now for that very reason.

hi beaware, I went to Reading festival at 14,15, 16 and 17 and got in no trouble whatsoever if that helps. it was once I got in to house music that the fun problems began.. Reading is basically yuppy rock, theyll be fine

Put up tent as close as possible to boundary wall so you won't have a path( drunk falling down people) on one side of the tent.sleep on this side.
get a shewee
watch and learn what time the loos are cleaned ( 4pm at Glasto last year) and use them just after!
bring a wheelbarrow to wheel your gear to the campsite in.it might be miles from the gate.
bring a slanket/fleece thing with sleeves. you will be smug and warm!
bring water fruit and teabags.
if she is a bit nervous about the experience ask at the festival to be directed to a family or quiet camping area and make friends with the people in the next tents.
bring packet noodles and pasta'n'sauce.
bring an army hexamine stove with solid fuel bricks.
they are small and easy to pack.

Am loving the mumsnet advice: wrap up warm, take some wipes and food....oh and only do half a pill at a time.

Bitter experience

am reading this with horror as my almsot 17 yo festival virgin is going to LEEDS with 3 friends this year

Blimey - I haven't logged in for a few days and have come back to all this, very valuable advice - many thanks.

I wonder if there'll be any wet wipes left in the shops at this rate!

I''m sure she'll have a blast - she's assured me 2000 Trees is a smallish folk festival and unlikely to be quite as wild as I'm now imagining from this thread.

I've just googled it up and, tbh, it looks as harmless as WI tea party! But if in doubt, check out the festival site yourself.
www.twothousandtreesfestival.co.uk

msripley that's what they all say.

dont forget a mirror and lipstick.

and skins (etc...)

Reading&Leeds is great, tips for first time festival virgins:

-camp as far away from arena as possible, do your research on the campsites. Reading&Leeds message boards on the websites are very helpful for this!
you may be far away but youll get more sleep, wont get trampled, and you're away from the riots. the riots are in good fun mostly, there are some idiots who just want to rash stuff, and the other idiots who dont research their campsite at all to find out where the riots happen.
-reading&leeds staff are v. friendly, site map is a must, and familiarise self with location of welfare and first aid tent, just in case!
-when you go to the loos, dont look down.
[you will look down, every time, without fail, and then regret it]

Can I ask - I have agreed to drive 4 of them there and bring them back - not that us mums are nevous or anything, but is this going to be possible or will we still have to leave them 10 miles away they have early bird tickets if thats any use?

Unsure&More - Leeds is fine to drive to there's a drop off area where you can pull up and unload, although they'll still have to walk to the campsite it's not too far. V-Fest at Weston is the same but ds said it was farther to walk. You will be in a traffic jam though, no doubt about it so take your patience with you

Saggar (guessing you're in Staffs with that name ) I'm going to V-Fest at Weston with my friend who is a wheelchair user, would your DS be able to give us any info about facilities, staff help etc? We're only going for the Sunday, going by train then shuttle bus or taxi I'm excited but nervous, but at least I'll have done Sonisphere by then so I'll have some sort of clue!

The dropping off isn't usually too bad, but the picking up is chaos! Especially if they've all run out of phone battery by then.

Line your car out with black binbags - it will be messy. The better thing about picking up is that they are all so exhaused you get a very quiet journey back, as opposed to the loud over-excitable one there!

drop them at the station and pick them up from there.. if you must! Theyll be smelly.

loving all thease replys

LV - - I'll ask him but he's away at the moment. And I can't guarantee a decent answer he's usually worse for wear for most of the festival

Dope is unlikely to kill you, anything else might!

Try going to a 1 day local festival first. I went to one in my local park on Saturday with 10,000 people in attendance and it was a great way to get used to the crowds and the atmosphere. Plus, I had an ACE day with my mates and also my mum!

oh was it good LV. dd registered but didn't get tickets.