Festivals with kids

swededmonkey

Question to anyone that has done it before. What do you feel is an appropriate age to take kids to a festival? I know a lot of it will depend on the festival itself, but what have been people’s experiences with different ages?

We’ve got a toddler and my wife wants to do ATN as a family. Personally, I’m not keen on the idea as I think they would be too young to appreciate it

I know there are options like kaleidoscope, but that doesn’t suit our tastes

Del2005

Are you camping in a tent, motorhome/caravan or glamping?

I wouldn't take a baby to a festival if I was sleeping in a tent. But a motorhome or glamping is the same as a hotel, people often bring babies to hotels and travel with babies in motorhomes.

grudgehugger

We’ve done festivals with kids from 1 up (Body and Soul annually for several years pre-Covid). Imo, for it to work, you have to accept it’s a totally totally different experience to going without them and that apart from bits where your better half takes on all the minding, you’ll generally be looking to do whatever the kid DOES appreciate as opposed to going to see the music acts you want to see.

We had great times and hence did it a lot but prob not for everyone

We did ATN twice and it’s a pretty good one to do with kids although the bigger it gets the less that may be true. We last brought the kids in 2022 (they’re older now, have done it before and less keen on it)

Hoping to all go to Latitude next year!

grudgehugger

And we always did it in a tent

RangerToby

Our lad comes with us to all the festivals he's 11 now and starting to develop his own tastes which is good.

Only downside in the early years was that he tended to crash iut early but was happy enough to sleep at our feet!

Also for the love of all things - give them hearing protection. (And yourself too)

Wildsurfer

We did ATN a few years ago with 3 under 6 and it was a great experience. The youngest was small enough to carry in one of those harness type things which was perfect. The other 2 loved the kids area and all the lights and sculptures. We went again a few years later and it wasn't as good. They had moved the family camping carpark and the walk in and out was much further. The youngest needed a buggy which was tough going on some of the hills there and the oldest was a bit more clued in and starting to notice some 'inappropriate' behaviour as the night went on. And as mentioned you will be back in the camping area early enough having a few cans with your neighbours in the same boat!

reubenreuben

Bring good ear muffs and spare wellies.

fits

I just brought an 8 year old to ATN. He loved it and was very into the music. He lasted until midnight. We camped in a tent in the family area.

I don’t think I’d bother bringing a younger child but that’s me. It’s a lot of walking.

grudgehugger

Festivalling with younger kids would never have worked for us without extensive use of slings and wagons. This cut down a lot on the amount of walking involved for them! Also worked great for sleeping while we enjoyed a gig (from the back of the arena / tent if gig at all popular)

MrMusician18

I couldn't think of anything worse than having children at a festival. They are either so young that you'll spend all your time attending to them or they're old enough to comprehend the inappropriate behaviour around them.

sasal

We've done ATN twice with our kids, now 11 & 8.

The family area is lovely with games, facepainting and a DJ.

I was surprised by how much they enjoyed the music. They danced to all sorts and enjoyed the novelty of staying up so late.

A lot of walking and had to leave Junior brother as the tiny tent was packed and hot. However the outdoor stages were grand.

Would highly recommend a decent blackout tent and wagon.

jimosterberg

We've done ATN a good few times with our kids.

We were there this year with 3 kids under 6. We usually get them listening to some acts beforehand. They were very excited for Nelly Furtado and CMAT this year.

Between myself and my partner we took a night each where we would stay up late and we all stayed up for Nelly Furtado.

We did it in a tent a few times but now have a campervan. It's definitely made things easier.

We've always had a great time and the kids love it. They are always excited to go. We have always used a double bike trailer/jogger turned into buggy mode for the very young kids. They usually have a good sleep in it.

I'm sure next time I get to go to a festival without my kids I'll really enjoy that too in a different way but I love sharing the experience with them too.

FullBack Jam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788193#Comment_123788193

I love going to concerts with my kids, but would not bring them to a festival. Way too restrictive. Wanting to go to the toilets, wanting food, drinks etc. Everything would revolve around them, and I would be missing out on too much. I couldn't take missing out on a band that I would be really looking forward to because I need to queue for 20 mins for a pizza for my son on a account of his pretend hunger. And kids are too small to be up far in the crowd to see anything, so have to hang around the back with them. And then of course the night time is completely up in the air, as they get tired. And are cranky in the morning from waking up early cause can't sleep in a tent.

No thanks.

bodhrandude

I fully recommend Stendhal Festival in Limavady, Derry to be a great family friendly festival worth checking out.

RangerToby

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123793543#Comment_123793543

And it's independent too!

Also, and only a couple weeks away is the last Vantastival. Equally very family friendly.

poteen

Night and Day festival is definitely the most family friendly festival I have been at. Not at the big scale of EP amd ATN. A good starting point for families.

rino87

The demise of Body and Soul leaves a big hole in the "real" festivals you could experience with kids. It was just the right size, both in terms of people and facilities, site size etc. The likes of Kaleidoscope do not appeal to us in the least bit!

ATN might just be getting a little too big, but we're going to bring our 3 next year and see how we go.

We brought our then 3 year old girl to body and soul in 2023 and it was an amazing experience. There was no soul kids that year, which was kind of good in a way, as we got to explore the full festival site and all its goings on with her. I worked in Soul Kids a few times in the past, can only say good things about it, but having it as a crutch so to speak meant maybe the kids didn't get in to the full festival experience as much, as there was so much to do in the kids area.

Before we had kids I was firmly in the "I cant believe people bring kids to a festival camp"...but after bringing our little girl that time it fully convinced us it was the right thing to do. Ive been going to festivals for more than half my lifetime, and with my wife for the best part of 15 years, with a few solo trips here and there when they were babies, so the summer festivals are a big, big part of our lives and its only bloody fantastic to now include the offspring as a part of that. Hard work at times yes but so, so worth it.

ATN next year our little girl will be 6, and twin boys will be 3, so we'll see how it goes. Looking forward to it anyway. If we do find its too big then maybe we will look at Night and Day or the likes, but feel they might be missing out on experiencing what a "full" festival can be.

Le Bruise

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123788193#Comment_123788193

I would be firmly in this camp. Love bringing the kids to outdoor gigs, but I couldn't fathom bringing them to a festival. I fully respect those who can do it. I'd imagine it's a good bit of work (for the younger kids anyway) and you end up missing out on the late night stuff where some of the really great craic's to be found. ATN is the one weekend a year when myself and my wife can let loose and pretend we don't have any responsibilities. Might be selfish, but we do what the kids want most other weekends of the year!😅

swededmonkey

Really appreciate all the feedback on this, it’s great to get the different perspectives. We’ve decided we’ll get a babysitter next year and wait until he’s a little bit older before going as a family.

Wooderson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058423610/festivals-with-kids

Have done it from infants to teenagers. Prep well / all eventualities catered for, don't try do too much, don't expect much, dig deep.

Stillill42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123796732#Comment_123796732

Sounds like you're prepping your battalion to go over the top at Verdun, Woody. You're not selling it.

Wooderson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123797323#Comment_123797323

Glasters '16 with a buggy dude. Didnt make it over the railway line once all weekend.