Glastonbury article

[jessicaleah]

I'm writing an article about Boutique Festivals v Big Festivals.

I need to speak to some people that:

a) think that Glastonbury has kept its small festival charm

take their children to Glastonbury

I would love to hear about your experiences!

Many Thanks.

[jessicaleah]

I now have too many parents in my article saying they wouldn't take their children to Glastonbury because they wouldn't feel safe.

Can anyone disagree with this?

Please help me to get a balanced argument!

[jollynolly]

Totally disagree with that. Glastonbury is probably one of the safest places for kids. I've been taking my 4 since the youngest was 5. It helps you see a whole new side of the festival. The kids area is superb for the little uns and as they get older the circus and the theater fields keeps them entertained for hours.

There is nothing better than watching your kids get called up on stage by the Mighty Gareth for their moment of glory.

My kids used to carry a mobile in case we got separated and we always planned a meeting place for them as well. They make loads of friends. The kids cafe is really good for food and the people in there are lovely.

Most festival goers are brilliant with kids lifting them up to see bands and chatting to them about the festival. Its a brilliant experience for them

[tonyonekenobi]

I don't have any kids...

But would bring themif I did due to the fact the someone told me that Bodger and Badger are running the creche facilities this year.

I'm not sure if they would like mashed potatoes though.. More likely Findus Crispy Pancakes, chips and beans.....

[jessicaleah]

are these parents who have actually been to the festival?

If they are, I don't understand how they could possibly think it's not safe.

We've been taking our kids for about 13 years now, since the youngest was 2 years old. I can hardly think of anywhere safer.

Maybe they don't want to be bothered wth looking after their kids (which is fair enough) and use the 'not safe' thing as an excuse...

maybe..

[lme]

I've taken my 3 youngest girls for the past 2 years. They were 4, 8 and 11 the first year. We find it to be a very safe place. The older 2 happily wander tround for short periods (with mobile phones & a pre arranged meeting point). If they get lost, there are always people they can ask for help. Even if they are trashed, people at Glastonbury are generally nice to kids.

We split out time between green fields / kids field & watching bands. And we are often at the front for bands the girls like if they play on the smaller stages. The only 'compromise' we make is not to watch many main stage headliners, because the kids wouldn't get to see a lot (being too short). Not exactly a sacrifice as we'd far rather be somewhere like the Park. Last year, we saw Dizzy Rascal & Pete Doherty there, finishing some time after midnight, before slowly meandering back to our tent.

[Wickedfaerie]

I've been taking my kids since the age of 2; now 13. The only thing that isn't safe is getting too close to the front of the main stages as it can be fairly squashed! When it's muddy and eveyone is crowded on the road, rather than spreading out, most people don't notice little ones and you have to be constantly on the ready to push people off them.

So, we just stay away from the front of the stages and carry them for as long as we can manage on the busy roads. In no other way is it not safe.

It's harder work taking kids, but they love it so much, and I'd miss them too much if we went without them.

Look up the many advice threads for parents taking kids for the first time and you'll get a good idea on what it's like.

I haven't been to the smaller boutique festivals (unless a day trip to Priddy folk festival counts), but the kidz field at Glastonbury in itself is a mini-festival. A family with youing kids could happily spend the whole time there if they weren't bothered about the music.

Good luck with the work!

[krisskross]

I've been taking my kids since the age of 2; now 13. The only thing that isn't safe is getting too close to the front of the main stages as it can be fairly squashed!

[daisylane]

i don't have any children but if i did, the only reason i wouldn't take them is because i'd be looking after them all the time and wouldn't be able to enjoy myself fully i reckon.

glasto is probs one of the best fests to take children to because of the kids field, which has entertainment specially for kids. i would definitely prefer to take my child to glasto rather than reading/leeds lets say, which isn't child friendly at all.