The subject of music festivals crops up from time to time in these forums. Often the posts are questions, sometimes they are experiences and observations. So I thought it might be a good idea to start a topic specifically devoted to members' reviews and experiences of camping at various music festivals.
If you have camped at a music festival, what was it like? What were the good points and bad points? For example, was the festival camping suitable for families or was it full of rowdy youngsters? Were there adequate loos and showers; if so, were they kept clean, was the loo roll kept stocked, was the water hot? Were you able to camp next to your car; if not, was it a long walk from carpark to campsite? Were the stewards helpful and friendly and was security adequate? Were the pitches large enough and were there adequate walkways between them? Was there sufficient safety lighting at night; or, conversely, was the lighting too bright? Were safety instructions and fire drills adequately explained; and were fire assembly points clearly marked? Was the camping area adequately prepared (grass mown, cowpats removed, pitches and lanes marked out etc)? Were there enough water standpoints? What quirky or funny things have happened to you while camping at a festival?
Perhaps a way to keep the thread searchable and organised is to start your post with the festival's official title - for example Beautiful Days or Fairport's Cropredy Convention - and its location.
I will be camping at one or two music festivals during August and will post reviews here. Meanwhile, if anyone has been to a festival this year please feel free to start the ball rolling. I bet your reports will be very useful to members - and funny too, I hope!
LOL...! Um facilities aren't quite what you expect...
For example, was the festival camping suitable for families or was it full of rowdy youngsters?
Was all youngsters where I pitched, but some have family areas seperate
Were there adequate loos and showers;
No showers at all
Take your own loo roll (rare to be any)
Lucky if you get a loo that flushes
In the main music arena's expect to queue for the loos!
Were you able to camp next to your car;
no
if not, was it a long walk from carpark to campsite?
probably 1-2 fields walk
Were the stewards helpful and friendly
Not really!
and was security adequate?
No security at the campsite part, only in the main arena
Were the pitches large enough and were there adequate walkways between them?
There are no marked pitches! You pitch wherever you find a gap! And if you leave a gap between a group of several tents, expect a tent to be erected in the middle when you get back
Was there sufficient safety lighting at night; or, conversely, was the lighting too bright?
Plenty of lighting. NIght and day sort of merge into one. Everyone has music playing regardless of time etc, you just sort of become immune and sleep through it
Were safety instructions and fire drills adequately explained; and were fire assembly points clearly marked?
What safety instructions and fire drills?! Only safety process was they confiscated glass bottles when you enter the campsite
Was the camping area adequately prepared (grass mown, cowpats removed, pitches and lanes marked out etc)?
Grass was ok - although thick mud pile by end of concert. Anyone camping next to main walkway to arena has tent splattered in mud normally
Were there enough water standpoints?
Don't think i ever saw a water point - took bottles
Sounds brilliant doesn't it! LOL Despite everything I loved it
We,ve been camping at family sites for 10 + years and also Music festivals for 25+ years and the two experiances are LIGHT YEARS apart.
In the good days of Reading,Monsters of Rock (now Download),Knebworth,Milton Keynes Bowl, there was some sort of order with tents but basically it was and still is, a free for all. The GOOD thing back in the day,you could park next to your tent. Now you need a second mortgage to do this.
Basically it MONEY MONEY MONEY.
Your car is nowhere near your tent.And as for security,toilets,lighting,cooking etc ...Forget it.....If you Pay (VIP) and you might be 100 yards from your tent. As for grass mown,cowpats removed .......you,ve got more chance of winning the lottery.Its a basic field. ALL extras you pay big time.
Dont get me wrong,We go for the Bands,Music first,camping experience is kept for the (glamping?) side that we do,Chedder,Tewkesbury,Salisbury so far, this year Cornwall,Wales etc next.
Worst experience,Bloodstock,Derby.....Both of us while fast asleep in the tent,were woke up (5am) by the door of the tent flapping,both our combat trousers were gone,we rolled them up and put then up by our shoulders,in them were £200 cash,car keys,medication,credit,debit cards,phones,digital camera. Robbed while we slept.
Best Experience,Meeting Bands and fellow musicians.We still go but the set uo now is to sleep in the Renault Scenic with a Royal Traveller Anex attatched on the back with our own chemical toilet,but you still have to pay more.
Keep rockin and have a blast while you can...........and as for Glastonbury..dont get me started! HaHa.
This year I have been to a very small festival (2000 Trees Festival, nr Cheltenham) but for the past 4 years have been to V Festival (STafford) which is a very large corporate affair and money money money!
If you have camped at a music festival, what was it like?
Both festivals very similar camping, no problems but depends where you camp. e.g. V Fest has 'noisy' campsites and 'quieter' ones..some searches on the net reveals which ones are which. 2000 Trees was a good atmosphere, very small and not rowdy apart from a few singalongs
What were the good points and bad points? For example, was the festival camping suitable for families or was it full of rowdy youngsters?
Both. But most festivals have seperate family areas.
Were there adequate loos and showers;
Certainly enough loos at 2000 Trees, campsites have their own loos and others are dotted around. V Fest could do with more I reckon, as there were often queues.
If so, were they kept clean, was the loo roll kept stocked, was the water hot?
No hot water, usually theres the handgel stuff. Loo rolls fine at 2000 Trees, Vfestival runs out..I carry a small pack of tissues. Toilets at V get 'interesting' particularly towards the end of the weekend.
Were you able to camp next to your car; if not, was it a long walk from carpark to campsite?
Never camped beside car. V Fest has a long walk depending on the carpark you end up and the campsite you want.
2000 Trees was a very short walk (200yrds?)
Might take my Bongo if I go next year and do the campervan field but I do like to just camp normally.
Were the stewards helpful and friendly and was security adequate?
Stewards at V can be quite 'up themselves' and seem to enjoy the 'power' but mostly ok
Were the pitches large enough and were there adequate walkways between them?
By law there needs to walkways/firelanes up the centre of the campsites, depending on site you're in the tents are very close but all part of the fun!
Was there sufficient safety lighting at night;
Yes
Were safety instructions and fire drills adequately explained; and were fire assembly points clearly marked?
No
Was the camping area adequately prepared (grass mown, cowpats removed, pitches and lanes marked out etc)?
Yes
Were there enough water standpoints?
It took until my third V Festival to notice there was water pipes in the campsites.
I go to festivals accepting whater happens, happens. I know that V is a money grabbing exercise. I take as much food/drink as I can carry. I enjoy the weekend away with my friends, being 'me' and not 'mum/wife/employee'
Quote: Originally posted by Sceptical Camper on 29/7/2010
Jerrycat, sorry to hear about the theft at Bloodstock. Which other festivals were you at? As to Glasto, do get started!
As to festivals, first was Reading Rocks 1982...then all of Monsters of Rock Castle Doninington (pre Download),a few at the Bowl,loads of smaller ones,Loads of indoor 3 dayers (does that count??) but the furthest must be Atlanta USA..(but that doesnt count either as it was indoor ) but mostly Rock,Metal Music.
....and as for Glastonbury Festival...I think you hit it on the head right there with the term "Glasto".......it the new way to say it and reminds me of the likes of Jo Whiley and the like,immature kids and posh middle class people who need to be at this festival just to be seen........£2500 for a yurt (no ticket inc) to have daylight robbery Beer and fall over the girl from Harry Potter.!!!
Supposed to be at Sonisphere (Iron Maiden,Rammstein headliners) VIP (fellow guitarist friend on the Sonisphere bills) at Knebworth this weekend but had some totally unexpected news and therefore had to decline.
Over the years have camped at loads of festivals- mostly back in the days when there were fewer" regulations" regards facilities/health and safety stuff.
My views/rememberances: don't expect to get any sleep- many festival goers like to party all night;( ear-plugs a MUST ) take a collapsible porta/potty with you as dont expect to be anywhere near toilet facilities, wellies are useful if it rains/ its muddy.
Im camping at Colne Blues Fest. at Rugby Club field August Bank hol- expecting no sleep as bands on late at the club and yes people like to party afterwards. Ill likely be joining them......
sorry to bring this back up but going to my 1st festival and don't want to forget anything but at the same time don't want to look stooopid!!!!!
the night time wee thing is bothering me tho but don't fancy being laughed at with my luggable loo!! any ideas?
also anythign that I might find helpful as normally I take everything but the kitchen sink camping with me :-)
was the festival camping suitable for families or was it full of rowdy youngsters?
It is def not suitable for families
Were there adequate loos and showers;
were showers but has to qfor about an hour and they were wrotten
Loos were erm well erm horrible!! the ones that hadnt been knocked over the night b 4 that is!!! u can imagine the smell
Were you able to camp next to your car;
nope
if not, was it a long walk from carpark to campsite?
1 ish miles!!!! long ong way with a tent!!!
Were the stewards helpful and friendly
Not really!
and was security adequate?
no we had things stolen when our pitch was under the security tower!!!
Were the pitches large enough and were there adequate walkways between them?
There are no marked pitches! You pitch wherever you find a gap! And if you leave a gap between a group of several tents, expect a tent to be erected in the middle when you get back... literally i had someones bum on my pegs!!!
Was there sufficient safety lighting at night; or, conversely, was the lighting too bright?
Plenty of lighting. NIght and day sort of merge into one. Everyone has music playing regardless of time etc, you just sort of become immune and sleep through it
Were safety instructions and fire drills adequately explained; and were fire assembly points clearly marked?
What safety instructions and fire drills?! Only safety process was they confiscated glass bottles when you enter the campsite
Was the camping area adequately prepared (grass mown, cowpats removed, pitches and lanes marked out etc)?
Grass was ok - although thick mud pile by end of concert. Anyone camping next to main walkway to arena has tent splattered in mud normally
Were there enough water standpoints?
Don't think i ever saw a water point - took bottles
Have pinched a few answers and added my own!!
Went to V chelmsford last year!!
never again!!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Festivals - what are YOUR experiences?
but don't fancy being laughed at with my luggable loo!! any ideas? 
