Converting the family

[dibbul]

Having totally fallen head over heels in love with Glastonbury 3 years ago I want to take my family to a festival but....

It can't be Glastonbury as it's in term time and the schools are fierce about absence

I thought I would ask you lovely people for some help & recomendations for other suitable festivals....pretty please.

Neither kids are particularly into music so it's important that there is plenty of other cultural stuff.

Son is 13 and reads like his life depends on it, so a thriving literature tent would be good

Daughter is 9 and loves dance i.e. Ballet etc (not acid house !)

Wife is high maintenance hygiene wise and lack of showers is a real issue.

Me- I don't care as long as they have a great time, some new cultural experience ( and start to understand why there father mentions the G word at least 10 times everyday of the year)

Many thanks 

[jameshunt]

Take them to Glastonbury. At 13 and 9 it's not going to adversely affect their GCSEs and you can argue that the festival is an essential part of their education. Play up the music, arts and culture card.

re: wife. Either book a tipi, or one of the "luxury" campsites that adjoin the festival or buy or rent a large enough campervan/motorhome that has an on-board shower.

[crimsonking]

Go to Latitude!!

[gizmoman]

I can't understand why people are so frightened of taking their kids out of school for Glastonbury, there are loads of posts on here about how best to ask for 'permission' to go. It's your life, your kids and the schools are employed by YOU (through your taxes) to educate your kids, you have every right to just send a note in saying ' they will not attend for school for this week as we will be away', if they ask where you are going tell them it's none of their business. As long as it's an isolated absence there is nothing they can do.

Edited August 14, 2010 by gizmoman

[swede]

Getting them there is the only way they will understand the obsession.

I went last year for my stag weekend and when I came home it was all I could talk about, it drove my wife insane. Due to complications we didnt get married until this year and due to having two small children we could only have a few days away for our honeymoon, so we booked glastonbury. I drove my wife insane leading upto it as she couldnt believe something was as ood as I was making out.

She was converted by the Wednesday night as she couldnt believe the scale and beauty, my wifes quite a deep person so all the little touches like the individually painted bins, flagpoles and attention to detail really got to here. We've done Leeds festival when we were younger but she was blown away by glastonbury.

Since we've got back shes my partner in crime when it comes to Glastobating and ive giggled at times as you can see that shes doing other peoples heads in by her glastobating.

Next year were taking both our kids, Ellie will be 4 and Jake will be 2, plus my wifes family are coming for the 1st time.

Have you thought about staying in the tangerine fields just off the main site if your wife has hygeine issues, the tents are already pre-pitched for you and they have better shower and toilet facilities plus you wont have the mad queues to get in which would make the whole experience a bit easier for your family. Its what we're doing next year.

[dibbul]

Thanks for the thoughts guys but the 'just take them to Glastonbury' is simply not a solution.

My wife is a teacher, so the whole term time thing is a nightmare and complete no no.

Furthermore they dont want to go to Glastonbury- and I dont want one of my favourite times of the year ruined by people who don't want to be there however much I love them !

My approach has to be much more one by stealth. Ie go to something smaller and family focused so the kids want to go to Glasto when older.

The campervan or tangerine fields is certainly a good practical step forward.

I did look at Camp Bestival but it looks more for families with younger kids?

[rabid]

Have any of them even been camping?

[ben.illsley]

If your London based - go the Ben n Jerry's Sunday weekender for a start.

Only £15 each, lots of free ice cream, funfair, etc. And then a plesant 6 band lineup of generally guitar based bands - I took my dad this year as a present, headlined by Doves, with Billy Bragg on just before. (Also on the bill were Frightened Rabbit, Cherry Ghost and Goldheart Assembly). It was mostly families chilling in picnic fashion. A good start I guess.

Then, perhaps, Summer Sundae Weekender. Seems very family orientated, I'm keen to go. Guilfest would be pretty good too.

That should get them geared up for Glasto.

[Ricochet]

Why bother? Its what you love doing. Let it be your special time. Im sure there are 51 weeks of the year when you can do other things together as a family.

[jameshunt]

Thanks for the thoughts guys but the 'just take them to Glastonbury' is simply not a solution.

My wife is a teacher, so the whole term time thing is a nightmare and complete no no.

Furthermore they dont want to go to Glastonbury- and I dont want one of my favourite times of the year ruined by people who don't want to be there however much I love them !

My approach has to be much more one by stealth. Ie go to something smaller and family focused so the kids want to go to Glasto when older.

The campervan or tangerine fields is certainly a good practical step forward.

I did look at Camp Bestival but it looks more for families with younger kids?

[bambina]

I have a husband who is a clean freak and I have no intention of taking him to any festivals as I am not prepared to tolerate his complaining. Is your son going into Y10 this year or will he be in Y9, check if he has any modular exams, but most of them should be over by Glasto time. I would take your son and have a fab time.

If you really don't want to take him out of school then go to Lattitude. I have been to Camp Bestival and would say it is best for the Under 10yrs age group.