festival baby

For most people taking their children to a big music festival seems like a crazy idea. Not for me. I wouldn’t take a kid to an inside gig but open air is much different. I have been attending so many festivals before i became a mother and there was always at least one happy toddler playing around so  it was natural for me to bring my own baby with. Plus i want to share with my daughter my interests and passions so motherhood doesn’t kill my personality.

glastonbury 2007

Anyway, i wanted us to go and see Woodstock Festival which is the one of the biggest open air festivals in Europe, completely for free and takes part every year in Poland in the small town called Kostrzyn on the border with Germany. I have been to this festival a few times since 1998 – alone or with friends, mostly hitchhiking ( 350 km from my hometown ) and usually without a tent or even a sleeping bag, completely spontaneous.  I had planned to go to the festival when i was pregnant and a year later when Vama was 6 months old – both times it failed.  So i was really desperated to go last year. And i have planned it carefully. My friends wouldn’t decide to go ( as usual ) so i found a lift through festival forum,  packed my bags and camera and waited. On the evening before departure a young girl whose friend was supposed to drive said that they are not going because her dad would not give her a car..i was so sad and regretful. Spent the night on searching for other offers and texting people..nothing. The next day  i post an ad myself and got a message that there is a seat! or even two. Went to a friend to borrow a car seat for a baby and we went to Woodstock!

We arrived around midnight and i met a friend  who gave us his tent and moved into his brother’s shelter. We were safe, and the next two days were awesome. My daughter enjoyed camping and sleeping in the tent for a first time. We haven’t seen many music shows as  stage area is hiper dusty but we were exploring  other things instead. There is always Jesus Camp where  Shakira was performing  and Hare Krishna Camp with delicious veggie food and other pretty stuff.

And as always there is so little time to explore everything.

If you are thinking about visiting a festival with your baby for a first time there are few tips you might find useful:

- find a camp site in the shade or under trees so burning sun won’t wake you up early morning.  camp  away from stage and other big gatherings ;  find other families, it is always a better company  than drunk people  singing till morning. bring ear plugs with you. sometimes you have an option for paid campsite, fenced and with more showers. i found it quite expensive though and very close to a big stage so worthless for me.

- be prepared for any kind of weather. if you are going by car there is always better to take too much than suffer later. i don’t like to carry too much and i am always missing a few more blankets or clothes. when i went to glastonbury in 2007 i knew that it will be raining but i bravely believed that i will survive.  i took a lot of clothes but nothing rainproff and  had to buy wellies and spent cash on ugly piece of rain coat.  even though my all clothes got wet and on my way back to Scotland ( via plane ) i was wearing a “skirt” made of black plastic trash bag. ( I  was working as a litter picker in exchange for a ticket ; ) )

– if you are still breastfeeding, keep on until festival.  tap water may be not  good for drinking,  water for sale may be  too warm.  food can be expensive  and not always proper for kids.  Vama survived on a breastmilk, ice creams and pate with salty sticks. she didn’t share my love for krishna food:)

- some kids get bored quickly so take something to keep them entertained.  there is always a lot to explore on the festival but toys or books may be useful while long ride to/from an event.  we have been travelling  by train before and i didn’t expect that car ride is so much different.

the whole 9 hour trip was like that – baby laying on her side or hanging on the boobie. she was totally bored and didn’t like seat belts.

- don’t forget about diapers as you won’t buy them on festival.  you can charge your phone, use internet connection,  withdraw money from a cashmachine and buy all sorts of staff but you won’t find diapers.  don’t forget also about little flash light and other useful things for camping, like plastic bottles so you can use them  for showering .

- prepare that this time your festival time is different. you can’t drink , you can’t get close to stage  and you can’t party the whole night.but you will remember more:)

- find other families who are going ( through forums, etc. ) . i haven’t but i found a babywearing mama who lives in the town and kept her details just in case. it is aways good to have more options.

- before you decide to go check are kids allowed at the festival. i just read that T in the Park doesnt allow  kids under 5 years old.

- and don’t forget to take a sling with you. true little wanderers don’t travel in the strolley.

More  documentary photos from Woodstock 2010 on my second blog here.    Peace & Love.

If you have any festival experience and want to share with other parents use comments box below. Thanks!

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