Children and Electric Picnic Questions?

am i bovvered

It's the first year that I am able to go to the electric picnic gig, I was really excited about being able to bring my kids and enjoy the festival as a family but when I looked on the website the age restriction is 12 years and under. My son is twelve at the moment but will be 13 when the festival takes place. Does anyone know how strict they are about checking ? I don't want to pay out the money for the ticket if I we can't all go together. Also, any feedback from families that have been? Are their any time restrictions or boundaries when you have your children with you? Is there plenty to keep them occupied for the whole weekend?
Any information greatly appreciated.:D

Toast

Well paying for a ticket is not even the biggest issue. People between the age of 13 to 17 are not allowed in... even with an adult. I have no idea how they check that but Im sure at that age they may well ask for some kind of identification as he'll probably be obviously borderline. Id say its a mileage may vary situation and you could easily get a stickler one hour and someone who doesnt care the next at the door.

Theres no time limits to having kids out with you but youd want to be careful as it gets later and crowds get drunker.. if youve never been at an outdoor festival the lack of light in places is quite severe at night and it can be easy to be seperated and mobile phone networks are notoriously glitchy. If you are staying out late with your family arrange rendevous points in case of seperation and make sure they have a torch and possibly bicycle lights as well. Theres lots of circuses and performance acts if they dont care for music so there should be enough in that to keep kids occupied.

am i bovvered

Thanks Toast.
I'm not sure I'm going to chance the dissapointment. I'm mad as I would usually be working and unable to go and I thought it would be a perfect way of introducing them to the excitement of live music and festival atmosphere.
I've been to a few festivals in the past without my children. I thought that they might have sectioned off areas for families to make it a bit safer in the evening and at least had a bit of lighting in the areas of camping where children would be staying when they are advertising it as a family friendly event.

eth0_

There is a family camping area which i'm presuming is safer and better lit.

Personally, if i had kids, I would not bring them to a festival. What if they got separated from you in the crowds or got up in the night and wandered off? It would be pretty difficult to find a missing child at a festival, i'd imagine.