So, I’m a dad. I’m a dad to this Stockholm-born monster of a 5-year-old who was button bashing on the Melfest app before he could count to ten. And it’s little surprise if you know me that I have a child who also absolutely adores Eurovision. He has his favourite songs on his own mini-speaker/disco ball and will request to watch recaps and fan made voting sequences all throughout the on-season (yes, if there was any doubt he was my child or not, his love of voting sequences most definitely proves it).
He’s also a very lucky boy. He’ll be heading down to Malmö to watch Eurovision in person, tickets in hand. And this won’t be his first time, in fact if we combine the number of times this boy has attended the Eurovision Song Contest, Junior Eurovision Song Contest and Melodifestivalen, by May 2024 he will have been at seven different shows in person.
From my experience, while Eurovision is a slice of family friendly musical entertainment, attending it with children might not be so easy to navigate. This article aims to pick out some key points to think about if you are thinking of bringing your children to watch the biggest musical extravaganza this continent offers with your little one.
Getting Tickets For The Show
For the Eurovision Song Contest the first thing to be aware of is that demand in recent years has been enormous. Back less than a decade ago, tickets for the continent’s biggest show were far easier to come by, and semi final rehearsal tickets could be snapped up on the day of the show. The world is different today and even those Tuesday afternoon rehearsal tickets now sell out on ticket release day.
At the Eurovision Song Contest it is normal for 9 different shows to be ticketed, the 3 different live shows and 6 different rehearsals for those live shows. For each of the live shows, there are ticketed rehearsals on the evening of the day before and also a matinee rehearsal the day of the live broadcast.
Those matinee shows are often marketed as ‘Family’ shows. This is because the start time (15:00 in Malmö for the Semi Finals, 13:30 for the Grand Final) means that local children could watch these shows, enjoy the atmosphere and get home in plenty of time for bed on the same day. With finishing times for even the Semi Finals being well after 23:00 CET, a late late show indeed.
Despite this family show label there is no major difference in the production and what you will witness will be the same performances as those later the same evening, with the only noticeable change being that some acts may not be in full make up for this performance.
The key difference is that the live shows will have live, actual results at their conclusion, whereas the family shows will have a fake voting or qualifying reveal sequence prepared. These shows are rehearsals and even the voting needs to be rehearsed, although it isn’t always compulsory for the artists to have to hang around in the green room like they do for the live show.
Furthermore there is a touch less adrenaline in the crowd at a rehearsal (the audience knows their cheers on the afternoon show won’t carry across Europe like they will later) and the toning down of the competitive edge within the audience watching can be a plus for the children in attendance.
So if witnessing the crowd reaction to their favourite songs is key to your experience then there is no substitute to the live experience. However most children are going to prefer the ever-so-slightly more sedentary feelings of a family show. There’s plenty enough to take in for your first time viewing the contest after all.
It should be noted that, while in modern Eurovision it is possible to stand on the arena floor, this area has been a child-free zone at the Eurovision Song Contest and children with their families need to buy seated tickets.
Some Practical Tips for Children
The first practical tip for children will be to invest in a pair of over-the-ear, noise-reducing headphones, especially if seated close to the stage nearby to any of the pyro locations. You may be able to buy some earbuds around the arena, however these are likely overpriced and there’s no guarantee that they will fit the child’s ear comfortably. These were essential during our early visits when all was new and exciting, although now our little munchkin is familiar with the Eurovision experience and not spooked by some of the loud noises. While Eurovision is a loud production, the main focus is on the TV production rather than the arena noise and many music festivals will turn up their decibel readings way beyond where Eurovision lies.
Another tip would be to have some sort of handheld device that the child can wave around during the show. No, not a phone or an iPad, there’s no need for such distraction if your Eurovision fan is suitably excited, but obviously there are pauses throughout the broadcast that may go over the attention span of a little one.
Flags work, but obviously check the flag rules so they are the right size and do have some quiet words about flag etiquette as well so your child doesn’t wave them incessantly during a song’s three minute performance in the eyeline of those behind. Our favourite item though is a little discoball light that shines different colours and is very visible in the dark arena. Especially with it being increasingly normal for some of the quieter songs to request audiences to shine their phone lights, this is a good tool for a little one to be a part of the action (and maybe even spot where they are on the big screen)
The Flags Of All Nations (EBU/eurovision.tv)
Furthermore a parent should make sure there is a good plan for food and drink. Yes there will be food or drink at the arena but it is unlikely to be particularly child-friendly, or, if it is, perhaps not the kind of food that screams healthy eating for hours of concentration. However, planning which song you are ok hopping out of the arena to grab some crisps or popcorn (or an essential toilet break) for your little one is a good idea to keep them fuelled up for what for them is a marathon of music.
This is especially true noting the current rules in Sweden which mean that no bags are allowed at major events. Assuming this applies at Eurovision it means that parents can’t just keep all their parenting supplies in a rucksack for a day out. Note at Eurovision in Malmö that the Emporia shopping centre is directly opposite the Malmö Arena and will have all the goods you need.
The Eurovision Experience In Town
When one attends the Eurovision Song Contest you will not find a spectacle that is purely confined within the walls of the arena the show is being held in. Instead it is conventional for a whole festival of events and activities to be organised alongside the coming together of the Song Contest to that city.
There are very few children who are able to attend Eurovision, especially from other countries. May is term time across most of Europe and therefore few children are able to travel across to the show without missing school. While there are activities going on, the clientele that most activities are aimed at are not for children. While children may miss out on the big EuroClub parties each evening there is far more to take part in and around the city.
The Eurovision Village often is a highlight for many young fans, with the chance to see some of their favourite artists in a more relaxed setting and plenty of food trucks on site for a sweet treat for the little ones. Attending the Eurovision Village is, on the whole, free for all to attend and soak up the atmosphere. The most recent Liverpool edition of the Eurovision Song Contest organised for the Sunday prior to the Contest to be a Family Fun day aimed at children, with characters from kids television and Junior Eurovision representatives performing to the crowd.
As with many things in the 21st century, one aspect to think about is security. Even some of the events outside of the arena will be subject to security checks, and it will be prudent of all visitors to plan what products are and aren’t allowed to be taken inside. This can include large bags and also food and drink, so it is advised to check on any restrictions in advance.
Is It Worth It?
Attending the Eurovision Song Contest is an expensive undertaking for anybody, but especially for a family trip. Small Eurovision fans are likely to find the experience overwhelming, and being stuck in a seat for a few hours might be a nightmare for the most wriggly of bottoms.
However there are other little ones that revel in the experience. Most wouldn’t remember much from when they were three years old, but our little one still adores his Norwegian space wolves and will reply “Let’s go” whenever one starts with “Hey ho”. There are memories for life that attending the Song Contest has nurtured and having this as a shared interest has made parenthood so much more enjoyable, and I think more enjoyable for his little life too.
Sadly for us though, our 5-year-old this year has latched onto Finland’s entry this year, ‘No Rules’, and now any parenting rule imposed is questioned to the nth degree. And being able to see his new found hero in May is going to be so cool. You can’t put a price tag on that.
Thanks for your article and helpful tips, I’m bringing my 11 year old to Malmo and it’s the first EV for both of us! I do have one question – do you know if EV tix have to be in your child’s name? I’ve had conflicting info about this, since I understand adult tix have to be in each attending individual’s name. But how does that work with kids?