MANCHESTER, Tenn. — Randy Eddy is spending Father’s Day with his son Austin at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

Mr. Eddy broached the idea of attending to Austin and said he saw the event as a chance to spend some time with his son, to bonding, enjoying some music and when the chance arises, teaching a few life lessons.

“I saw it as a chance to spend four days with my son,” the Franklin, Tenn., resident said.

The two are tent camping in the VIP section and have enjoyed themselves, they said.

“It’s been fun,” Mr. Eddy said. “I wish there was less dope smoking, but it’s given me a chance to talk to him about it.”

Austin said the festival has been different than he expected, but fun.

“I’ve seen some weird people, but they’ve been nice. Weird, but nice,” he said.

Jack Davis, 45, brought his 15- and 18-year-old sons and their friends from St. Louis. It was the boys’ idea.

“They’ve been following it for about three years,” he said. “I thought I’d bring them the first time. I’ve never done this before.”

The group is staying in an RV for the weekend. Mr. Davis likened it to “dipping your toe in the water to get used to it.”

Fifteen-year-old Justin said having dad around hasn’t cramped his style and the festival has been “better than I imagined. I didn’t imagine anything like this.”

The Davises said Bonnaroo has been an experience, but nothing like they’d been told.

“Even driving here, when we’d stop to get gas, people said, ‘Oh, you’re going to see all kinds of things, all kings of sex and drugs everywhere,’ but I think it’s like most things, people exaggerate.”

Matt Wynia brought his three boys, Kavon, 16, Aiden, 13, and Zan, 10, from Illinois to enjoy the festival.

“There is a wife, but she is home in Chicago,” he said. “This is a boys’ trip.”

All three families said they have tried to get the full experience, including catching the late-night and early-morning shows.

“They always say they will stay till 4 a.m., but we went back (to the camp) after Metallica (before midnight),” Mr. Wynia said.

It was Kavon’s idea to attend.

“The cool thing about these festivals is that I get to experience them,” he said.

Bonnaroo concludes tonight.