As a festival organiser, a requestor of funds from the local authority and father of 5 I do tend to have a view or two on this subject...;-)

Dad hat on. Yes I like to go to folk festivals. Yes I did like to take the brood when they were younger (At least 2 take themselves and their partners now). No I didn't mind paying for them. Yes I did expect there to be something for the sprogs.

Organiser hat on. Spending an inordinate amout of time arrange a session that does not realy have anything to do with folk music. Parents turning up dumping their kids in a session and then getting pissed up. Not turning up to pick their kids up when the session is finished. Kids who are not in the slightest bit interested. Parents stamping and shouting because little Jimmy complained that he was bored.

Local council hat on. Does your festival do anything for underprvelidged? Do you provide childcare? Is there a registered childminder for every 4 children? Do you have full creche facilities? Are you insured to mind children? Do you mind if we investigate all your committee, their husbands, wives, children parents and pets to see if there are any known sex offenders?

Need I go on?

I always felt that my children were primarily my responsibility. If there was something for them to do at a festival all the better but if not they stayed with me. If they misbehaved, which fortunately was extremely rare, we left.

I believe, rightly or wrongly, that most festival organisers are just like me. We make no money out of it. It often costs us dear in terms of time and effort and often purse! We love to see people enjoying themselves and would realy love to please everyone but it is not always possible.

We now no longer have creche facilities at Swinton. We do not charge for under 16's. Adult tickets are usualy about £6 for a full day. We do expect people to keep their children under control. We do get ones who complain that there is nothing for the children to do. I usualy suggest that if the children do not like music and dance and the parents cannot be bothered looking after them the money may be better spent on a play station 2;-)

Sorry if I have offended anyone - there is no inferrence that any of the scenarios presented apply in any way, shape or form to any Mudcatter, living, dead or imaginary. Just my views...

Cheers

Dave the Gnome