T in the Park or other music festival questions

[Gaynor]

My eldest DD 17 is going to the T in the Park music festival in 4 weeks and staying away from Thurs-Mon with friends for the first time.

Now the only thing I know about music festivals are you camp out without any decent facilities and have to wear wellies because it's so muddy

Has anyone been and can give us some tips, like how much money she'd need for food etc? How to keep valuables/money safe ( she didn't like my idea of a bum bag )?

Thanks for any help

 

[scottishgirl87]

Been to TITP myself 3 times and tbh I've never had any problems. However, I have known people who've had trainers etc. nicked.

My friend and I took a padlock for our tent, like we zipped it up and padlocked it together to try and prevent people getting in (not that we had any valuables in the tent). I would keep ALL valuables on you at all times (ie. phone, camera, money) which can mean carrying a bit of money around with you but don't leave anything valuable in the tent, we literally left our clothes. At nights, didn't have any trouble either but we tended to sleep with our valuables above our head (so if someone did try to steal anything they'd obviously have to climb over us and most likely wake us up in the process) or even in our sleeping bags.

There are cash machines on site but not alot and they are generally queued out ALL day and night! I didn't tend to take more than £100 and my bank card as back up but never spent that much. We always had enough drink with us and didn't buy inside the event (they mostly sell beer and wine and it's like £3 a time, and again, queued out).

It all depends on where you camp, I've always been lucky and tended to get a decent hassle free camping spot, but it's just luck. There's also a "quiet" (can't remember the actual name) camp area for people who like to sleep at night and stuff.

And, you'll probably be surprised she might end up coming home Sunday night! I always did coz I couldn't handle the dirtyness any longer, lol.

Hope this helps

 

[Gaynor]

Thanks for the reply scottishgirl.

Will tell her about valuables etc.

I'll tell her to try and get the quiet campsite (doubt she will though, she'll want to be in the thick of it)

Don't think she'll be home early she's got train tickets back to Manchester Monday morning. Can't imagine how she'll cope without a shower and hair straighteners though

Thanks Again

Gaynor

 

[Queenie]

Not been to a festival for a few years and never camped (we always came home at nights) but here's what I remember.

Carry some packs of tissues or toilet paper in your bag with you, there's never any in the port-a-loos. Also plan in advance when you think you'll need to go, the queues take forever and you don't wanna miss a band *** you're stuck in the line for the toilet!

The food is overpriced, take more money than you think you'll need, better to bring some back or have a Sun night shopping spree than to be hungry by Saturday.

Try and split up your cash so if your bag/purse gets nicked, you've got some elsewhere on your person, perhaps inside a waterproof bag in your wellies?

Keep your wits about you, there's plenty of nerfarious types about as they know there are drunk/drugged up people who can easily be robbed. Mostly they'll be going after the idiot who's paralytic in a corner somewhere but they won't miss up an unzipped bag or obvious phone in a back pocket.

I always try to avoid meat products as they're the most likely to make you sick. It's harder to get food poisoning from chips than it is from an undercooked burger.

Take some plasters and savlon, those two alone will help solve minor cuts, insect bites and blisters.

Enjoy yourself!!!!!

Hope some of that is useful.

 

[gemmybear83]

I've been to a few festivals (and always camp) hope this helps:

• Take loads of antibacterial wipes and hand santiser to use throughout the day
• Wear suncream - being out of day can get you seriously burnt!
• As others have said keep cash on you and lock your tent - I've never had anything happen to my me or my friends, just be smart and dont take any valuables
• Take ear plugs to get to sleep!
• Take lots of socks to keep warm and to swap around if its raining
• Take a some large bottles of mineral water - and once you have drank fill in empty bottles using the camp tap to keep water handy in the tent
• Learn the times the toilets get cleaned (usually early morning)....and make a run for it then!
• Don't put your tent near a footpath. If it rains the footpath will widen and get very muddy as people try to walk on the grass - your tent might end up in the middle of the path and covered in mud!
• Have fun!!! I love festival they are very tiring and you do smell when you come home but its well worth it!

 

[strawberry blonde]

Been worrying about the same things.
My son's friend won 2 tickets last week to the Isle of Wight Festival which starts tomorrow. Had a sleepless night deciding if my son should go and said yes in the end. Both kids are sensible and a friend who's going has suggested I give my son her mobile no should there be any problems.
Whether or not she'd hear it is another matter

 

[Gaynor]

Thanks for all the replies everyone, some good advice to pass on

Been worrying about the same things.
My son's friend won 2 tickets last week to the Isle of Wight Festival which starts tomorrow. Had a sleepless night deciding if my son should go and said yes in the end. Both kids are sensible and a friend who's going has suggested I give my son her mobile no should there be any problems.
Whether or not she'd hear it is another matter

You'll have to let me know how they get on. I'm sure they'll be fine and we're worrying for nothing. DD already talking about going to the Isle of Wight festival next year

 

[strawberry blonde]

You'll have to let me know how they get on. I'm sure they'll be fine and we're worrying for nothing. DD already talking about going to the Isle of Wight festival next year [/QUOTE]

Will do. DS just come in and I've already made him show me exactly what he's packed. I've added suntan lotion, wetwipes and alcohol gel. Let's hope he doesn't try drinking it THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD!!

hippie:

 

[saratogagirl]

I have no advice Gaynor, but I hope she has lots of fun. I am off to Glastonbury, my first festival in under two weeks, last night Tam Stringer bought me a purple doo dah for peeing with, it will apparently enable me to pee like a man !!!

 

[Gaynor]

I have no advice Gaynor, but I hope she has lots of fun. I am off to Glastonbury, my first festival in under two weeks, last night Tam Stringer bought me a purple doo dah for peeing with, it will apparently enable me to pee like a man !!!

sounds interesting! have fun

 

[strawberry blonde]

Son picked up at 9.30am by his friends mum who took them to the ferry. Just had a text to say tent is now up

At least they're there. Weather very overcast but meant to pick up over the weekend.

Will try not to worry. He could be at Uni next year, then the worrying will really start!!

 

[Gaynor]

At least you know he's got a mobile signal It's nice to know I'm not the only one to worry.
DD will also be off to Uni next year, can't believe it

 

[Lizzybear]

My festival days are now over (went to 5x Leeds and 1x V and all were great fun, something everyone should do at least once I think!) and I would echo most of the comments posted, but have always gone the other way with regards to locking my tent. I see it as locking it can make it look as if you have something worth robbing! Yes it could ward off the opportunists but a tent can easily be slashed anyway (and i've camped with people in the past whom this happened to) I would say keep valuables on your person at all times, even when asleep: It gets chilly at night anyway so I used to just shove stuff in my hoodie pockets!
I'm sure your DD will have a fab time

 

[strawberry blonde]

Hi Gaynor,

DS is back in one piece. Had to leave this morning as friend has an exam tomorrow. Expected him to come back looking like an unmade bed but he didn't. He spent about an hour in the shower then asked me to give him a lift to friends for his birthday...Barbecue then cinema . Guess who'll be the one snoring .

He was very sensible and slept with money and phone in his sleeping bag. The organisers gave clear plastic bags for this but I was on the ball and had given him a zip sandwich bag. Stored some money in his sock in the day and went to the local supermarket for bits for lunch. Didn't want to be ripped off paying for food on site. Amazing the things you do when it's your own money!!

Had a great time but shattered. Next one Endorseit Festival with Dad in August. Will probably prefer it...blow upbeds, cooker, icebox.

 

[Gaynor]

Thanks for letting me know how your DS got on. Glad he got back in one piece.
I got my DD a purse/wallet with a long strap she can wear across the body today from M&S it's quite handy and it should fit her ipod touch in as well. Will also mention putting money in her sock also

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I can tell you that there is a new sainsburys opening up about 2 miles from t in the park, I live only a few miles away,
I dont mean to worry you, but lots of stuff gets stolen, so she will have to suck it up and get a bum bag. They also allow drink into campsite but will pour it out at the actual t in the park.
Also dont expect to get a phone signel to help meet up with others,

That is so important!! we done the great north run and said we would call our friend when we were finished for a lift, doh, no signel for hours, just like at t in the park!