Let’s party! Festivals for the family
THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN TAKING EVERYONE TO A BIG SUMMER EVENT, SAYS CLAIRE SPREADBURY
LISTENING to live music with a cold drink in hand, kids dancing along to the beat and the smell of food stalls wafting through the air - family festivals always make a great day out.
We’ve missed them enormously over the past couple of summers, and this year, they’re back with a bang. But before the rose-tinted specs form images of all the good times, it’s important to remember that taking kids camping for a weekend and trying to negotiate seeing and doing things every family member wants, is not always easy.
Here are some ideas for a weekend escape you’ll all remember.
WHERE TO GO
For music fans, you’re spoilt for choice. Location-wise, Kendal Calling (July 28-31) deserves the first shout out, set in a deer park in the stunning Lake District. Great names return time and again, with Supergrass, Stereophonics and Bastille the big headliners this year. Craft workshops, circus skills and face painting is on hand at the Kids Calling area, and there’s even an inflatable ball pool for under-threes.
Though reception has previously been a challenge, due to the remote location (which can prove troublesome if kids get lost) Vodafone is utilising its 5G network to keep families connected, as well as offering customers extra perks on site through its Veryme rewards programme.
Also in July, at the amazing Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, is the Bluedot Festival (21-24), which has huge appeal for space fans. See real life astronaut Tim Peake, learn some skills at Jedi Lightsaber Training and have a family rave at the Big Fish Little Fish Cosmic Disco – it’s set to be a whole world of fun.
After 17 years, the final Cornbury (July 8-10) takes place. With Bryan
Adams, James Blunt and Ronan Keating heading up the bill, kids can get involved with samba drumming, weaving willow, batik and screen printing and revelling in the array of family shows and activities. Set in the Great Tew Park in Oxfordshire, try becoming a ‘Corner’ before it’s too late.
Mention family festival and the first one most people will think of is Camp Bestival (July 28-31). Epic in every way, after 14 years in Dorset a brand new Shropshire location is also opening up. Happening later in
the summer (August 18-21), Camp Bestival gets the mix of adult-child fun just right, with Fatboy Slim, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man and Shed Seven lined up alongside Horrible Histories, Mister Maker and (foam) axe throwing.
Derbyshire’s Y Not Festival (July 28-31) has a great mix of music and fun with games, magic shows and danceoffs happening alongside performances from Stereophonics, Courteeners and Blossoms.
Victorious (August 26-28) is another festival which always guarantees great music – Sam Fender, Paolo Nutini and James are playing in the Southsea coastal location this year, while the Kids Arena has its own stage, beach, and meet and greets going on.
The Big Feastival (August 26-28) is a renowned weekend escape, with the lure of lovely food from top-name chefs, as well as The Human League and Anne-marie on the big stage, and den building, tree climbing and Aardman Animations, all taking place in the Cotswolds.
And finally, for more of an outdoorsy affair, the Gone Wild Festival (August 25-28) in Devon promises to let kids push their parents down a 50m mud slide, learn new survival skills then dance the night away to the likes of The Script, which sounds like a weekend well spent.