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Why kids at ACL?
Despite the fact that ACL fest advertises the child-friendly “Austin Kiddie Limits” area and lets kids younger than 10 in for free, the question has to be asked: What possesses parents to bring small children — and strollers and have-to-be-hot strap-on baby-carriers and the whole arsenal of equipment that goes along with kids — to a daylong endurance test of a rock festival in near-100-degree heat?
According to North Austin’s Daniel Malinowski and Diana Damer, parents of 3-year-old Dylan Canyon (yes, he has his own last name), it was because they couldn’t find a baby-sitter.
“It’s a terrible place to be a kid,” Malinowski admitted as his tot tumbled into and out of his arms. The couple said the day was “a little too difficult to enjoy” with him, even though they’d already had prior experience: They also brought him for a day two years ago, when he was 1. They said they didn’t bring ear mufflers or earplugs for him - a precaution most parents seemed to disregard, unfortunately for their children - but they stayed far away from loud stages.
“We spend our whole time standing in food lines,” Damer reported. No wonder. Lines stretched nearly into the middle of the park and waits at dinner time looked to be about 45 minutes – the set length of a band you might have to miss in order to eat at this crowded event.
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Comments
By Kim
September 17, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this
My kids (ages 10 and 5) are three year veterans of ACL fest and they love it. As long as you provide plenty of opportunities for your kids to cool off, like the beach or the Kiddie Limits, and understand what your child’s limits are, it can be a great experience for everyone. And…you don’t have to be next to the speakers with your hair on fire to enjoy the show! My 5-yr old proclaimed Saturday at the fest this year to be the best day yet!
By Todd
September 16, 2006 04:08 PM | Link to this
We have a 10-month old boy, and I couldn’t imagine him making it through the gate, let alone the loud music. I saw many a miserable child yesterday, including an infant who looked like she had just stepped out of a bowl of bisque. Can you say lobster? That poor child!