5 Things to Know About Taking Your Kids to Music Festivals

By Mia Quagliarello
Can a music festival be a bonding experience for a family? Perhaps, but you'll need to know your kid, pick the right festival, adjust your mindset, pack the Purrell and prepare for the fact that you may be creating little music fiends who'll soon school you when it comes to band names and dance moves. I've taken my kids, now ages 7 and 9, to Burning Man twice, Lightning in a Bottle twice, Outside Lands and countless daytime picnic events. Here are a few things I've learned along the way.

1. See if the festival is 'kid-friendly.' To be clear, most festivals are not exactly natural places for children, starting with the sheer volume of sound. But several festivals, including Glastonbury, Lightning in a Bottle and Symbiosis, have kids zones and/or family camping areas where families can hang with like-minded people and enjoy activities and special entertainment together. (Last year, Symbiosis even offered a 'movie night' for tykes allowing their parents to party it up for a few hours for a small fee.) Kid areas make it clear that children are welcome, making it less likely other festival goers will look at you like you've just brought a uniformed police officer into their drum circle. (Cue: needle scratching on the record.)

2. Prepare for a different kind of experience. Forget about losing yourself for hours in music, getting all your sustenance from beer and donut cheeseburgers, and hugging the speakers (guilty as charged). Taking your kids with you means you'll have to change your expectations about how you'd 'normally' enjoy an event like this. If little Johnny's not digging Skrillex's drops, it's probably time to find something more mellow or leave altogether. A trip to the potty during an amazing encore? Sigh, OK. Remember: this concert experience isn't about you. It's about seeing things through your kids' eyes and introducing them to new things. You can help them get excited for the music they'll see beforehand by doing pre-event listening parties at home.

3. Create a plan in case someone gets lost. Needless to say, never let your kid out of your sight during a festival. Still, they can be loud, disorienting places, so you'll need a plan. Write your number on your child's arm or on a piece of paper that you shove into his or her pocket and review procedures, including a meeting point plan, should you get separated. Some events allow you to register your child when you arrive and get a unique wristband with a tracking number and/or "if you find me" details. It's scary to think about, so take care.

4. Pack the essentials: protective earmuffs, sunscreen, blanket, hand sanitizer, extra toilet paper, snacks and water. Pretty self-explanatory, but also: most festivals are spread out and require a lot of walking. Do what you can to alleviate tired little legs with kiddy carriers or a wagon, frequent pit stops, and comfortable shoes. Leave the strollers at home, though. No one wants to be pushing those clunky things across grassy fields or dusty plains.

5. Remember, this is supposed to be fun! Yes, it's going to be dirty and you'll have to brave the Port-a-Potties (hence the bring your own toilet paper and Purrell). But generally people at festivals are in pretty good moods and the sighting of a child can hit their heartstrings in the best possible way. Kids can attract good energy and of course also they exude it, too: a festival is where my kids came to believe in the power of crystals and evoked many smiles with their rad hooping. If you made it this far—moments of discovery, relaxation and joy—then give yourself a high five! You did it. Rock on.

Mia Quagliarello is the Head of Curation at Flipboard, where she curates magazines about music, parenting and betterment (among her many passions). She recently started her own blog called Disco Nap.