How old to Roo? opinions wanted

well, I'm 15. I am a total music fanatic. music = life. ya feel me?
but, I've heard many mixed opinions on what age is appropriate. many say 20 or above, and others say only maturity matters. not sure though.
I know that I'm not a reckless teen, but many people say that it's still not a good idea. also, would I feel "out of place" if I did go? considering many of the people there are older. thanks!

Well our opinions dont matter as much as your parents. You'll be safe, as long as you dont put yourself in shady situations. You will have a good time, unless you dont take care of yourself and end up in a medical tent. You will learn things about yourself, the people you go with, and your fellow humans. You will experience and discover, and have a great time doing it.

Personally I think 15 is on the younger side. I dont think I have seen many people your age there without a chaperon of some sort, but you hit it on the head with "maturity". I was 19 my first Roo and I still dont think I was mature enough. I would say if you havent been to a weekend campover fest, hit a few smaller local festivals in the meantime (maybe even with a parent/s just to prove to them you can handle it). Once you get your feet wet, go to Bonnaroo with a group of friends (that you know will have a good time and not drag down the group)

Speaking of friends. If you do go, make sure your friends (and yourself) know what they are getting into. Recommend them to Inforoo to get some knowledge, basic gear ideas, and survival tips. Knowledge is power.

so, can you list some reasons why it's not
suitable for a mature 15 year old? like, why you think it's unsafe, inappropriate, etc.

This depends on both your maturity and the maturity of your friends. Typically I would say that anyone under 17 would be better served accompanied by their parents.

However, you might be able to make arrangements to stay in Family Camping, which I think would be good. If your neighbors are all families and parents, introduce yourselves on day one, and they'll be sure to make sure you're looked out for.

If you're 15, does anyone in your crew drive? and would their parents even let them take a car to Bonnaroo?
If not, you've got a lot of logistical concerns that you're going to work out.
If so, how far would you have to drive to Manchester? I don't mean to be rude, but a car full of 15/16 year olds on a long-distance road trip is not a good idea.

15 is too young to go alone. if you're going with a parent or a responsible adult then disregard the rest of this post because you'll be fine. i've seen kids and babies at festivals with parents.... but alone is a different story.

1) who's driving? how long have they had their license? who's car is being driven? how far are you driving? 
2) how old are the people you're going with? how big is your group?
3) can you set up a tent and live outside for 4 days with little sleep? sounds harder than you'd think as a teenager.
4) do you have the money it would take to pull this off? this means ticket, supplies, gas money, food, etc. (including all these items and a GA ticket, i spent around $800ish... but for you i'd say $500 if you have all your supplies already.)
5) can you handle the environment? although not everyone partakes in drug use there is a vast majority who do. can you handle being around people are under the influence? are you and your friends responsible enough not to partake? 

these are questions that only you can answer honestly. if you are going because you've heard it's giant party then i'd wait till you're at least 17-18, depending on your maturity level. i went to my first fest when i was 17, but it was a small fest of only a few thousand people. maybe start with something like that.


edit: bonnaroodetective beat me to a lot of these points....

1) Money. Get a roundabout # that you think you will need for survival and a ticket.....now add $200 and $100 for emergency use that conveniently you will use also. Especially for your first time with no experience in case of emergencies/forgotten items/broken things/food/water.

2) In PA, a minor driver cant drive past a curfew at night, Cant have more then 1 passenger, and im not even sure the procedure of out of state driving.

3) All the great and wonderful things you have herd about Bonnaroo are true. But just like any place where 80,000 people converge, chances are there will be some people who do not have your best interest in mind. A group of 15 year of girls can, just like in any real world situation unfortunately, be taken advantage of by that small percentage. From a 6 foot 2 guy cutting you off at a tent show to a robbery back at camp. Thats why its best to make friends with your surrounding camp neighbors.

4) Along with all the hoopla, there are plenty of temptations for experimentation at Bonnaroo from alcohol to drugs. They are just part of the scene and can be tempting for anybody let alone someone who may not know better. "But I dont drink or do drugs" you say?

Grim Scenario, but it can prove a point: Your best friend that you have known your whole life may decide its a good idea to go drink or whatever, starts dehydrating in the heat and passes out in a crowd with 40,000 people to your back, and someone has to end up taking her to the medical tent. Oh and it just so happens to be that one show you wanted to see since the lineup drop. She may in fact be the driver of your crew and her parents want her back home now because you had to break the news at 3am and ask if she has allergies to the iv the medical staff needs to plug her into. You didnt take a sip of a beer, yet you end up having to leave saturday morning when she wakes up because shes in deep sh*t at home.

Regardless of age, the Bonnaroovian code is "dont be that guy". Its just a way of saying dont be a jerk, know your limits, and treat others with respect. At 15 the only limit I knew was if I poured any more then a shot out of a bottle in my dads liquor cabinet he'd know I did it. I can confidently say I wouldnt of been able to afford Bonnaroo let alone handle the scene at 17 let alone 15.

Are your parents even willing to let you go anyway? What's the point of this discussion? If you're going to run away from home for Roo, I doubt getting any of our advice is going to affect you much anyway.

E: didn't see your post that your mom is willing to drop you off.

my mom is still contemplating.
but we have discussed this route of transportation.
and if I do go that way, I will not be alone. I will be with about 4 friends. I'm just trying to gain some more knowledge about this. I know it seems like a stretch,
but, it worth a try.

I think this a very difficult question to really answer accurately. The only people that could give a definitive answer would be those who know you. Having said that, here are my thoughts on it.

In general though, I would agree that 15 is too young to go to Bonnaroo without adult supervision. Yes, maturity can vary considerably between 15 year olds, no doubt about that. However, you lack a lot of the real life experiences that would help you deal with whatever crazy situation you might encounter while at 'roo.

Most of the main points have been brought up in the thread already (travel logistics, camping/weather, substance abuse, etc).

I do think there are 15 year olds that can handle it though, and you could be one of those. Only you can truly answer that question. Thinking back to my 15 year old self. I would have wanted to go, but can't say it would have been the best decision looking back on it.

Just remember, Bonnaroo will still be around next year. You might want to consider a smaller, more local fest as a way to get your feet wet into the festival world. There's a whole subforum on here dedicated to other festivals. Check it out and see if you see one near you that's interesting.

If you do go, Family Camping might be a very good option. Whatever you decide to do, have fun and be safe!

I love your sig!!!!!!!!!

everyone brings up really good points and questions that you should examine.

on a personal view, I was 19 when I first attended a festival - lollapalooza. the crowd there generally skews younger, and the festival is a little less intense overall (within a major city, no extreme late nights, no camping - which can be difficult if you're not experienced, etc.). after that fest I reallyyy wanted to go to bonnaroo, but it was a few years before I felt comfortable elevating to the intensity of roo.

if you're in georgia, there are many more, smaller festivals nearby. personally, I would start with a smaller festival (shaky knees has a pretty fantastic lineup!  and work your way to a bigger setting as you gain experience and understanding of how these big events unfold - especially if no one else in your groups has had any festival + camping experience. 

just be smart!

My stepdaughter has been going with us since she was 13. She is also with her parents, but we shove up front and have fun. That said, she is offered drugs and other libations. It just depends on the person. If you want to be stupid and make poor decisions you can do it at any age at Roo. Then again sometimes stupid decisions lead to the most fun. You don't Roo alone, and you know yourself and your friends. 

If you are apprehensive about things, then it probably isn't the time to go. 

This is another good point. Crowded shows in a tent can get a little crazy. I'm 6'4", so thankfully I can see over the crowd and it's not that big of a deal to me. But if you're on the shorter side, you can get swallowed up into the crowd not be able to see anything but other people packed around you. Not a big deal if you're used to it, but I could definitely see it freaking some out.

Again, this is easily avoidable by staying to the back of the crowds, but just something to be mindful of.

You know your kid the best if we had drug habits or likes to drink and get in trouble with the law obviously no. If he/she hasn't general age would be minimum of 16 they'll be alright the Roo family takes care of each other