It is 27°C at Glastonbury Competition and 200,000 folks transfer at completely different speeds via this gigantic, makeshift metropolis. Stand for some time and folks watch the massive crowd, and also you quickly understand how many individuals have introduced their younger youngsters.
At 10:30 p.m. on Friday, a three-year-old and a one-year-old, carrying earmuffs, are curled up in a wagon as their dad and mom sing alongside to headliner Arctic Monkeys.
On Saturday afternoon, Ian Beavis rests in The Therapeutic Fields along with his seven youngsters, whom he and his spouse have taken to Glastonbury. The youngest are five-year-old twins Rosie and Lily. Then there’s Eden, seven, River, 9, Evan, 12, Anais, 14, and Bianca, 16. The Beavis household have been tenting in two tents since Wednesday, and that is their massive summer time trip.
“My spouse and I push two trailers with the teen in them, and folks get out of the best way fairly properly,” says Ian. After I ask if he’s a laid again mum or dad to get this completed, he says ask the children. There may be quite a lot of nodding, after which a “mother is a bit much less relaxed”.
Ian says the one time he felt burdened was with the Foo Fighters, who have been “actually heaving, and the group was a bit a lot”. The five-year-old twins sat on their dad and mom’ shoulders throughout Arctic Monkeys as a result of Rosie specifically says she is an enormous fan of Alex Turner.
Not all dad and mom have such a relaxed time. I ask a harried dad pushing a stroller via a crowd of individuals if he has two minutes to speak and he says, “Sorry, I am making an attempt to get the child to sleep.” I say; “In fact, good luck. I solely write about bringing infants to Glastonbury.’ He replies: “My recommendation? Don’t do it. It is hell.”
Siobhan’s two-year-old Firion and five-year-old Olan appear to sleep extra simply. The mom from Brighton has come along with her mom, Nikki. “We camp proper subsequent to Block9 [Glastonbury club tent, open all night] however they sleep soundly, in all probability as a result of they’re so exhausted from the day! They love the liberty right here.”
The kids each put on wristbands with their mom’s identify and telephone quantity in case the worst occurs they usually get misplaced in a crowd. “However we now have a rule,” says Siobhan, “that if we’re in giant crowds, they should be within the wagon and may’t run round.”
A mom cradles a 12-week-old child beneath the tiny shade she managed to seek out. “I used to be fearful, however we’re in a caravan as a result of my companion helped construct the levels, which makes it simpler. I’d discover it exhausting to camp with such a small child however this fashion is good for us. He should even be at Glasto, as a result of he was conceived right here final 12 months!”
Ben and Nicole additionally introduced child Rex, who’s 16 weeks previous. Nicole breastfeeds him and holds a small fan to his face. “You simply cannot do an excessive amount of with a child right here,” she says. “And I used to be somewhat nervous as a result of he is nonetheless so little, however that is the perfect age for us to do it as a result of he is nonetheless in a sling and may’t run round.
“He is truly been right here twice as a result of I used to be pregnant with him right here final 12 months, though I did not know that on the time.”
Again to the Pyramid stage – the biggest stage at Glastonbury – a father named Jake is crouched within the shade, by a portaloo, making an attempt to get his two-year-old to eat a sandwich, which she refuses to do.
“I completely love Glastonbury, it has been an enormous a part of my life and I needed to maintain going once I turned a father. This was the primary time I introduced a toddler and to be sincere I feel will probably be the final.”
