Am I too old for Bestival?

[Alf Tupper]

I have been eyeing of Bestival for the past week or so as the big un is not happening this year. I couldn't help but smile at some of the comments RE: keeping up with the pace, I'm 41 and was partying when E's were proper E's!

In all seriousness though like Grumpy Hack has said its down to your taste in music, I know 18 year olds who would be flat on their backs after a couple of litres of Scrumpy and 50 year olds still acting like teenagers, just takes a bit longer to recover speaking personally, and there are plenty of us 90's ravers about who still like to have the crack a couple of times a year, you could cut me off at the waste and I would still find a hedonistic experience a couple of times a year.

What I would like to know is what Bestival is like after the bands stop playing? Shangri La can't be beat and I know its going to be a much smaller experience but I'm intrigued to know what the athmoshpere is like after dark, can anyone share any opinions?

Any other advice/tips on the place would be welcoming, cheers.

[grumpyhack]

One year at Glasto when our group's average age was mid-late fifties we found space in our tent for two beautiful young women in their twenties (quite clean but longer story available on request). Every night we'd get back about 1am to find snoring coming from their room. They were crashed out by Midnight most nights and we were still going till 2am-ish. One thing that comes with age / experience is pacing yourself.

[jeanpierre80]

you are never too old for a festival - its a myth. I went to BESTIVAL 2011 and the crowd was very diverse...i would say average ages were between 25 & 60. It is ridiculous to think you cant go to a festival or gigs when you get past a certain age & i regularly still go to ibiza at age 33 - i go to Pacha / Ibiza Rocks & all major clubs and often see 30 / 40 / 50 + people in there...i think it is so expensive that people often cant afford to go until they are older - you would be very suprised once you get the courage up to actually get out there & Bestival is certainly no exception to the rule. My partner is 26 & our friends vary in age from 27 up to 40 and we are all going again this year. Think of it like this - if people like Norman Cook, Rob Da Bank, Grandmaster Flash, Robert Smith are playing at these places at their respective ages, then why cant you be a spectator at your age?....think about it....exactly! see you in the big top lol - you only get one time on this planet so make the most of it!

[Vanderlyle]

What I would like to know is what Bestival is like after the bands stop playing? Shangri La can't be beat and I know its going to be a much smaller experience but I'm intrigued to know what the athmoshpere is like after dark, can anyone share any opinions?

Any other advice/tips on the place would be welcoming, cheers.

[Bradders]

One year at Glasto when our group's average age was mid-late fifties we found space in our tent for two beautiful young women in their twenties (quite clean but longer story available on request). Every night we'd get back about 1am to find snoring coming from their room. They were crashed out by Midnight most nights and we were still going till 2am-ish. One thing that comes with age / experience is pacing yourself.

[dingbat2]

Your age is irrelevant, it's your fitness and health which is important. And your desire to have fun and experience new things and appreciate those experiences. Open mindlessness helps enormously. I go to festivals knowing I know nothing really and love it when I find out something new that I don't experience in the normal 9 to 5. It's you're chance to be your real self, or at least the self you want to be, for a few days, and age doesn't come into it

And I am 41!

[Prawnofthedead]

Agree 100% with your reasoning ....you're a star

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Your age is irrelevant, it's your fitness and health which is important. And your desire to have fun and experience new things and appreciate those experiences. Open mindlessness helps enormously. I go to festivals knowing I know nothing really and love it when I find out something new that I don't experience in the normal 9 to 5. It's you're chance to be your real self, or at least the self you want to be, for a few days, and age doesn't come into it

And I am 41!

[Alf Tupper]

This (and I'll be 47 this Bestival).

If you want to be shackled by the artificial implication that you're too old for Bestival then you lose out. As you are only on the planet once, why cater for someone else's distorted opinion above your own. Go and be happy. There's loads of time elsewhere in life to feel old and miserable!

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Out of interest who was this comment aimed at?

I never said I wasn't going, merely enquiring about the demographics of the festival as a newbie, if it was aimed at me I only ever feel old and miserable in the company of my wife which is one of many good reasons to get down there in September!

[paulomas]

i agree with everyone, age doesn't matter. i've been to loads of festivals and i've never once stopped and thought FUCK ME that person is too old. everyone's too busy having fun

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I have always liked to see people older than me at festivals (which is mostly Glasto) from when I was in my 20's until now. It shows me that you don't have to give in, conform or whatever. Not only that but the fun is still there at festivals. It doesn't necessarily go away just because you get older. Some people tire of it and that's OK too. No point going if you're not enjoying yourself.

[Alf Tupper]

Hello Alf. It was aimed at bexj - the original poster. Hope you can put up with your misses until September!

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

The day you're too old to have fun is the day they nail up your coffin

[bexj]

Haha, I'm far from being old and miserable, even at the ripe old age of 43! However, I was, to begin with, slightly concerned about it being a R&L demographic, which whether you like it or not, can and does have an impact on ones enjoyment. However, I've since read loads of stuff that suggests I'll have the time of my life, and I can't wait!

[fnchy77]

Je suis 35 ans. Only festival I ever felt out of place at was Reading a few years back but I could have been 19 and felt too old there. From what I gathered during my first time last year, Bestival has quite a broad age range.

[grumpyhack]

I did go once to a Secret Garden Party event with my daughters and it was full of late teen girls in fairy outfits. I must admit I felt like a bit of a perv and distincty out of place. But that was a gig not a festival. I'm sure at most fests you can find people you are comfortable with.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I did go once to a Secret Garden Party event with my daughters and it was full of late teen girls in fairy outfits. I must admit I felt like a bit of a perv and distincty out of place. But that was a gig not a festival. I'm sure at most fests you can find people you are comfortable with.

[Lizzim]

I I am definitely too old for festivals but that hasn't stopped me yet. Last year my darling OH who was dressed as a tribute to The Jam, and I in a red and orange wig got in to a conversation with a young lad dressed as the Joker who was a great fan of The Jam. He asked my OH if he had been to the mod and rocker's riots? We had to explain we were a whole generation too young for that (as wasPaul Weller et al). Still made us feel really old though.

Edited May 16, 2012 by Lizzim

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I I am definitely too old for festivals but that hasn't stopped me yet. Last year my darling OH who was dressed as a tribute to The Jam, and I in a red and orange wig got in to a conversation with a young lad dressed as the Joker who was a great fan of The Jam. He asked my OH if he had been to the mod and rocker's riots? We had to explain we were a whole generation too young for that (as wasPaul Weller et al). Still made us feel really old though.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

And punk.