Kids in recent years

[becs94]

Now the ticket sale date has been announced me and my partner have been debating whether or not we bite the bullet and take my stepson (he'll be almost 9 by the time Glasto rolls around).

 

I've attended Glastonbury on and off since I was a teenager and when I was younger I always said if I have kids one day I'd 100% take them but now I'm a bit on the fence. I last attended in 2023 after not having attended since 2017. I'm not sure if it's just me turning into an old fart but I noticed there felt a shift in demographics which makes me hesitant. It just felt a lot more claustraphoic, drug fuelled, and the crows felt more hostile but then I can't say I spent any time in the areas aimed at families. 

 

We've been feeling the Glastonbury itch after a year off and debating whether to try for tickets. We know my stepson wants to go so we'd feel guilty leaving him at home but I'm just conscious of people's experiences bringing kids in recent years after reading some negative experiences on reddit - kids struggling with crowds, queues, parents receiving nasty judgemental comments from fellow punters etc. 

 

I understand bringing a kid would vastly change the experience - I expect we'd spend a lot of time in the kidz field and a lot less time at stages! This doesn't bother me, if anything I'd be quite excited to experience Glastonbury from a different perspective! 

 

Does anyone have experience of bringing kids in recent years since they've upped the capacity? 

[Derby_Dave]

We go with a family who take two kids with them one primary school age and one just started secondary school.

 

It is a blast with them and the kids really make it.  You obviously have to cut your cloth accordingly but don’t let it put you off.  Embrace it.

 

They spend loads of time at the stages.

Edited October 14 by Derby_Dave

[A Particular Grey Chihuahu]

No experience of this, but I would've loved my parents to take me when I was a nipper 🙌

[Yokel Again]

Took a 11 year old and 8 year old in 2022, and would certainly do so again. (Didn't get tickets in the 2 years since). We will be trying for tickets for them this year.

 

We loved it - obviously, had to take sacrifices from our old/usual festival experience, but well, that's parenting isn't it.

 

The 11 year old LOVED it, but she's into her music, knew lots of the acts, and is quite grown up for her age (very tall), so was fine in crowds etc. My 8 year old enjoyed it, but not the music as such. He enjoyed the cinema, sitting in hammocks, and a mega game of tag on the big pirate ship in the Greenpeace kids area. But that's him!

 

We were quite ready for a different Glastonbury experience, so as much as we missed some acts we'd have liked to see, most of them we'd seen before, and seen before at Glastonbury, so didn't feel like a big deal.

 

The only hairy moments was we took them to the SE corner, in the day, to show them it... Pigs x7 were playing, unbeknown to us, and it was very, very rammed. Generally, we had planned to walk the long way around, get there early etc etc for big crowds, and consider ourselves experienced in this, know this site etc but this crowd caught us off guard. Stuck the youngest on my shoulders, but it was a bit scary. 

 

It was great seeing stuff we wouldn't have seen, and taking my daughter down the front for Wolf Alice, and her taking us to Olivia Rodrigo were my two highlights, and certainly things that I'll always look back on fondly out of all my Glastos.

 

That said, we spent an absolute fortune on food and never ending 'keep them going' drinks and snacks.

 

[gorfield]

I've taken kids 3 times and although its different you actually get to see a lot more of Glastonbury and be less hungover

Its very tricky if a bad mud year but 2023 was my fave Glastonbury and we had an 11 and a 6 year old with us.

My 6 year old still tells everyone she saw Elton John.

[Nice hymer]

My kids come ever year, they're almost adults now.

 

I think it's the same as ever. Do different things, avoid large crowds, be prepared to change plans at short notice.

 

I've seen parents act like twits in recent years but that's down to the parents, not the festival, common sense seems to have gone out the window for some...

 

It might be worth bearing in mind that we're probably due a wet one (sorry), which does make it harder, particularly with pre-teenage kids. They're too big for buggies and carts but too small to be self sufficient. Something to bear in mind.

 

Some of my fondest memories are young couples telling us what great parents we were for bringing our kids to the party, and how they wanted to do the same in the future, so fully get where you're coming from.

I'd say if you're happy to be flexible then go for it.

[CharlotteB]

My littleun absolutely loves Glasto and festivals in general. I'd recommend it. Difficult but rewarding.

[The other Bellboy]

Mine went this year, now 12 and 10, their 4th time and the first since 2017. I last went in 2019 and was also apprehensive after stories about the crowding issues. We had absolutely no issues and the kids enjoyed it. Not so much the stuff aimed at the kids this time, I think they are in the intermediate stage of what Glastonbury has to offer for them.

 

The kids still talk about it and want to go back, so i wouldn't have any issues on still recommending it to families.

[Kaboom Boxer]

On 10/14/2024 at 4:21 PM, becs94 said:

the crows felt more hostile

 

This is very concerning, tell me more about these hostile crows.

 

Did they only congregate near Crow's Nest or did they venture down close to Park and beyond?

[Crazyfool01]

19 minutes ago, Kaboom Boxer said:

 

This is very concerning, tell me more about these hostile crows.

 

Did they only congregate near Crow's Nest or did they venture down close to Park and beyond?

cant be worse than the seagulls that have blighted the place for years ... @Ayrshire Chris

[stuie]

6 minutes ago, Crazyfool01 said:

cant be worse than the seagulls that have blighted the place for years ... @Ayrshire Chris

 

A bloody hot day in 2023 I had no top on and we were sitting on a bench in T&C eating, when the notorious seagulls went for me... not my food but my nipple... mates found it hilarious, me not so much 🙂 

 

 

Edited October 16 by stuie
off topic, if I had kids I'd take them and wish my folks took us when we were kids! re the hostility, where were you when this was experienced? i've seen parents in SEC at night with kids and not everyone thinks that's appropriate, apparently!

[CharlotteB]

50 minutes ago, Crazyfool01 said:

cant be worse than the seagulls that have blighted the place for years ... @Ayrshire Chris

 

I worked after the festival once, and they owned the place. One heck of a sight!

[Crazyfool01]

5 minutes ago, CharlotteB said:

 

I worked after the festival once, and they owned the place. One heck of a sight!

not sure it was the same ones nibbling Stuies nipple though 

[CharlotteB]

On 10/15/2024 at 11:08 AM, gorfield said:

I've taken kids 3 times and although its different you actually get to see a lot more of Glastonbury and be less hungover

Its very tricky if a bad mud year but 2023 was my fave Glastonbury and we had an 11 and a 6 year old with us.

My 6 year old still tells everyone she saw Elton John.

 

 I've yet to have a muddy one with the littleun 😬

[Miathedog]

On 10/16/2024 at 8:24 AM, The other Bellboy said:

Mine went this year, now 12 and 10, their 4th time and the first since 2017. I last went in 2019 and was also apprehensive after stories about the crowding issues. We had absolutely no issues and the kids enjoyed it. Not so much the stuff aimed at the kids this time, I think they are in the intermediate stage of what Glastonbury has to offer for them.

 

The kids still talk about it and want to go back, so i wouldn't have any issues on still recommending it to families.

What did you find they liked? We have taken our son all his life but last year was the first we really struggled. He’s now 12. Last year he decided he was too old to do any kids stuff but also didn’t engage with the music so it was hard work, to the point where if we get tickets this year we are considering not taking him. It seems such a shame when it’s the last year we could for free. 

[sedra]

2 hours ago, Miathedog said:

What did you find they liked? We have taken our son all his life but last year was the first we really struggled. He’s now 12. Last year he decided he was too old to do any kids stuff but also didn’t engage with the music so it was hard work, to the point where if we get tickets this year we are considering not taking him. It seems such a shame when it’s the last year we could for free. 

You could offer to take one of his friends with you if it’s free so they can go on on adventures? Cinema, Greenpeace kids, circus and circus skills, photo treasure hunt ( eg - they have to find certain places or performances on site and take a photo) for a prize, tree walk etc. He might just enjoy showing a friend ( or cousin etc) around and re-ignite his excitement about Glastonbury? Just a thought. 

[giantkatestacks]

4 hours ago, Miathedog said:

What did you find they liked? We have taken our son all his life but last year was the first we really struggled. He’s now 12. Last year he decided he was too old to do any kids stuff but also didn’t engage with the music so it was hard work, to the point where if we get tickets this year we are considering not taking him. It seems such a shame when it’s the last year we could for free. 

Yeah the only year I took one of the children my son was 11 and although some of the experiences were great - Adele, Ronnie Spector, Wolf Alice the only other active thing he enjoyed was some metalwork. And it was 2016 so the weather was terrible. We didn't bother again until he was an adult!

[Slimeyc]

On 10/14/2024 at 4:21 PM, becs94 said:

 

 

Does anyone have experience of bringing kids in recent years since they've upped the capacity? 

 

Right warts and all time......I took my 13/6 yr old daughters last year and 12 year old on her own in 2023. 

 

They had an absolute blast in very different ways as the eldest is really into music and youngest had lots of time at the circus and kidzfield. 

 

I hardly drink with my kids in tow as you have to be alert especially late at night.  We get to bed around midnight worst case so no late late nights. 

 

Don't take them to SE Cnr for obvious reasons and try and avoid super crammed situations but it's not always possible.

 

This year I noticed a big difference in the numbers of people openly doing Coke at main stages during the mid afternoon. I also noticed a lot more young adults complaining about why the f**k do people bring kids. Much worse than 2023.  But my kids didn't really notice or if my eldest did it gave us an opportunity to discuss adult topics in a positive way 

 

We managed to squeeze six Yr old into her old stroller to save her legs on a couple of occasions but next year will be walking everywhere 

 

Will take them both again next year if the ticket gods shine down. It makes it a very different festival and I don't get to see anything late or in SE Cnr but to see them so so happy more than makes up for it 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 18 by Slimeyc
Spelling

[CharlotteB]

My toddler really enjoyed willow weaving in the green fields. Could've sat there all day doing it 😅

[Superscally]

Personally, I'd say it's too big to do well with kids in the sense that you could have just as good a time at Bearded Theory, without the stress and the scale.

[The other Bellboy]

On 10/18/2024 at 8:41 PM, Miathedog said:

What did you find they liked? We have taken our son all his life but last year was the first we really struggled. He’s now 12. Last year he decided he was too old to do any kids stuff but also didn’t engage with the music so it was hard work, to the point where if we get tickets this year we are considering not taking him. It seems such a shame when it’s the last year we could for free. 

They didn't get massively into the music at all (just a few bits they liked), they also didn't like the kids area's either. They enjoyed some of the science stuff which was new for them there. They are generally pretty easily satisfied, so the food, the stalls and just generally being there was enough for them. My son eats like a horse and my daughter loves the stalls, so that stuff could be revisited quite often, the time flew by just by watching the occasional act, moving around the area's, the pier area they enjoyed as a first visit. I was worried that they didn't enjoy it all as much as I wanted them too, but they have been very positive about it since we got home, so I'm not worried about taking them again in the future, although that's not in the plan for another 4 years, so they will have changed again by then. It will be a shame to miss out on a last free year and a lot can change for them as they grow, its a tough one for sure, you don't want a bored and moody youngster to drag around but you both could be pleasantly surprised and find that he loves it for reasons no one would expect. I think it helped, that mine had each other as company - any chance he could take a friend along? Good luck with the tickets first.

[CharlotteB]

21 hours ago, Superscally said:

Personally, I'd say it's too big to do well with kids in the sense that you could have just as good a time at Bearded Theory, without the stress and the scale.

 

This is true, but if it's a case of either taking kids as a couple and taking turns looking after them or missing Glastonbury, I'd always go with the former.

[Superscally]

2 hours ago, CharlotteB said:

 

This is true, but if it's a case of either taking kids as a couple and taking turns looking after them or missing Glastonbury, I'd always go with the former.

Yeah, but for me, looking after one as a broken man the next day seems a daunting task 😆

[Miathedog]

On 10/18/2024 at 11:44 AM, sedra said:

You could offer to take one of his friends with you if it’s free so they can go on on adventures? Cinema, Greenpeace kids, circus and circus skills, photo treasure hunt ( eg - they have to find certain places or performances on site and take a photo) for a prize, tree walk etc. He might just enjoy showing a friend ( or cousin etc) around and re-ignite his excitement about Glastonbury? Just a thought. 

Thanks, we have talked about this and it likely would be the perfect answer, except we don’t have anyone we could do that with. Think would be different if only it wasn’t in term time. Our / his close friends have never been and don’t do festivals so it’s a big thing to suggest. No handy cousins.  Ah well… 

 

[Miathedog]

15 hours ago, The other Bellboy said:

They didn't get massively into the music at all (just a few bits they liked), they also didn't like the kids area's either. They enjoyed some of the science stuff which was new for them there. They are generally pretty easily satisfied, so the food, the stalls and just generally being there was enough for them. My son eats like a horse and my daughter loves the stalls, so that stuff could be revisited quite often, the time flew by just by watching the occasional act, moving around the area's, the pier area they enjoyed as a first visit. I was worried that they didn't enjoy it all as much as I wanted them too, but they have been very positive about it since we got home, so I'm not worried about taking them again in the future, although that's not in the plan for another 4 years, so they will have changed again by then. It will be a shame to miss out on a last free year and a lot can change for them as they grow, its a tough one for sure, you don't want a bored and moody youngster to drag around but you both could be pleasantly surprised and find that he loves it for reasons no one would expect. I think it helped, that mine had each other as company - any chance he could take a friend along? Good luck with the tickets first.

 Thanks. Sounds like you all had a great time. I totally agree, I’m sure them having each other to hang with would make all the difference. He’s an age where hanging round with the olds is boring 😂 Sadly we don’t have anyone we feel we could ask, it’s a big concept for people who’ve never been to get used to. But yes, it’s a problem for if we get tickets! Good luck to you, too🤞