Family festivals

With festival season in full swing, we asked Alex James, who hosts The Big Feastival, for his advice on taking the family to outdoor events.

Come early

If you’re nervous about taking the whole family off to their first festival, I’d recommend starting with a day trip. It’s best to come on the first day, usually a Friday, particularly if you’re coming with kids. Tickets are often cheaper, and everybody is fresh and full of anticipation!

Try everything on offer

Kids love camping – my lot would rather stay in a tent than Claridge’s – and a festival is just camping with bells and whistles. There’s usually something for everyone, with plenty of opportunities to learn something new during the day. We’ve got everything from stop-frame motion animation classes to philosophy school this year.

Be prepared

Weather is the main thing to prepare for – this is British summer, after all. You’ll need the three Ws: wellies, waterproofs and wet wipes. As long as you’re prepared, you’ll have nothing to worry about. Actually, a little bit of rain is a good thing, just for the sense of euphoria across the whole site when the sun comes out again.