Return of the great British festival

With restrictions on socialising lifted – we hope – by June 21, a summer of family fun in fields could be just what the country needs. Natalie Paris picks 15 of the best events that are hoping to welcome visitors

Looking ahead to the possibilities of summer has become a national pastime and for many, there will be nothing more freeing than dancing away the year’s stresses at a music festival. Families who have been cooped up for months might also consider that a weekend of fresh air and other-worldly fun is just what they need.

“I’m really looking forward to sitting around the campfire with a drink, listening to stories,” said Sarah Bird, cofounder of the Just So and Timber festivals. “Watching our festival families dress up and be silly, dance, play and adventure around the site. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.”

We will know more about the Government’s plan to run outdoor events safely when it reveals the outcome of pilot projects taking place in April. In the meantime, despite the early cancellation of Glastonbury, lots of UK festival organisers are confident about staging live events this summer.

Bigfoot will be the season’s first festival, set to take place under Step 3 rules. Organisers are performing Covidsecure risk assessments for each event and say they are not relying on a – yet to be agreed – government-backed insurance scheme to go ahead. “No matter what step [of the roadmap] we are in, there’s lots of work to be done to make any event safe and secure,” said Greg Wells, one of Bigfoot’s co-founders. Requirements for pre-event Covid testing could be a possibility, depending on government advice.

Sarah Bird said tickets for her festivals, which are to take place after June 21, have been selling fast since the roadmap was outlined. She plans to use the sites differently this year, spreading out the entertainment and possibly staggering audience arrival times.

“You can expect hand sanitising stations, the increased cleaning of toilets and taking the sides off tents to improve ventilation,” she said. “Also the raising of programming up on platforms so that people can step back and see it while distancing.” Even the most committed campers are unlikely to complain about festivals becoming more hygienic.

Smaller festivals designed for families will not often be affected by international artists cancelling tour dates, but it is worth remembering that all line-ups are subject to change, and that events could still be cancelled entirely, with tickets either rolling over to 2022 or becoming eligible for refund.

The festivals recommended here are all updating their websites with the latest information about how the summer might look. Organisers are adamant the extra effort will be worth it. “Even in normal times, many families see Deer Shed as the ultimate form of escapism,” said Oliver Jones, the festival’s director. “The obvious difference this year is that many who attend will be reuniting with old friends and family for the first time in what feels like an eternity.”

Ben Hall, director of The Great Estate, agreed. “People have been starved of social contact, music and live entertainment for so long that it is on the cards to be the most celebrated and joyous occasion ever,” he said. “We simply can’t wait to open the gates to everyone again.”

BIGFOOT Ragley Hall, Warwickshire June 18-20

Bigfoot styles itself as a craft beer and music festival and promises lots for children, too. Days begin with family yoga sessions, then bounce between mini raves, nature walks and workshops on art, pizza-making and pottery. Alongside beer from independent breweries throughout the UK, there’s a champagne bar, campfire cooking, a cinema, a forest, a boating lake and a wellness area. Thoughtfully, campers will find dedicated parking next to the family campsite, reducing the need to trek back and forth with all your gear. Primal Scream, Fat White Family and Hot Chip Megamix are booked to headline.

Adult camping from £132 inc fees bigfootfestival.co.uk

GREEN MAN Near Crickhowell, Brecon Beacons Aug 19-22

With a main stage that sits in view of Table Mountain with grassy terraces for families wanting to throw down a rug, Green Man is one of the UK’s most beautifully located festivals. Details are still being worked out, but the musical line-up tends to include up-to-the-minute indie, psychedelic rock, intelligent techno and a large helping of folk in the Walled Garden. Older children will be wowed by science-themed installations in Einstein’s Garden, while adults can scope out the craft beer festival. Traditionally, the weekend ends with the burning of the Green Man sculpture and fireworks. Ticket prices TBC greenman.net

TIMBER Feanedock, Leicestershire July 2-4

Timber is a small, chilled-out gathering in the National Forest, perfect for younger children. This year, organisers are venturing even further into new areas of the forest. Space will be devoted to ideas and discussions about sustainability, with leading voices including poets, scientists, policymakers and artists. Every effort is made to enjoy the woods, with plans for tightrope-walking above the forest canopy, forest bathing and tree climbing, as well as augmented-reality sound projects and mindfulness sessions. The musical line-up is special, too, with Gruff Rhys, Field Music and Snapped Ankles expected.

Adult camping from £127.20 inc fees timberfestival.org.uk

LATITUDE Henham Park, Suffolk July 22-25

Even without its large and lively children’s area, Latitude would be a great festival for families. Its perennially laid-back atmosphere is helped by its choice of bands and its dedication to spoken-word acts. The site is sprawling, yet easy to get around, with most of the late-night fun happening up in the woods. Youngsters can enjoy clay modelling, bush craft, cooking and theatre, while families can take a punt on the lake together or watch Lewis Capaldi, Bastille and First Aid Kit, who are the first acts confirmed to play.

Adult camping from £226.80 inc fees latitudefestival.com

ELDERFLOWER FIELDS Pippingford Park, East Sussex July 23-27

Elderflower Fields is ideal for families who have not been to a festival before and the organisers work hard to create a safe space for younger children. Taking place in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, families should expect rousing music, a woodland camera obscura, shadow puppet theatre and a family dance-off. There are supervised sports and arts camps where parents can drop children off, should they want to pop into the spa. Food and drink stalls show off the best local Sussex produce. Adult camping from £143.10 inc fees south.elderflowerfields.co.uk

CAMP BESTIVAL Lulworth Castle, Dorset July 29-Aug 1

Aimed squarely at families, Camp Bestival puts the fun centre stage and has a loyal army of fans. Its musical line-up pits novelty pop acts alongside heavy metal bands, rave throwbacks and more current names. This summer, Fatboy Slim is due to give families the party they deserve after a trying academic year. His ten year-old daughter, Nelly, is DJing too. Elsewhere, there is an area for teenagers planned, as well as a new comedy tent, plus – ahem – the return of Vengaboys, by popular demand. It all takes place in the scenic surrounds of Lulworth Castle, beside the coast.

Adult camping from £209.50 inc fees campbestival.net

DEER SHED Baldersby Park, North Yorkshire July 30-Aug 1

The four stages at Deer Shed are populated with indie bands old and new, making it an excellent choice for parents who still get out to gigs. The children’s programme is packed with original ideas, including the best PG-rated comedy shows from the Edinburgh Festival.

The theme in 2021 will be “Incognito”, with spy-related workshops in the science tent, plus crafts, theatre, Thula Mama’s baby a capella group and Quidditch elsewhere. Baxter Dury, Josie Long, Stereolab and Warmduscher are booked to perform.

Adult camping from £160 inc fees deershedfestival.com

JUST SO Rode Hall, Cheshire Aug 20-22

A trailblazer for family festivals that wish to offer a broader range of content, Just So curates a blend of outdoor art, nature and family-bonding time. Highlights for 2021 include an array of space and science-themed activities and installations, including a luminescent solar system hung from the trees, plus a women-led science and circus show and a new woodland opera. Programme favourites making a return include the festival’s own “bake off ” competition, bands beside the bonfire, premieres of theatre productions and interactive film workshops.

Adult camping from £155.15 inc fees justsofestival.org.uk

THE GREAT ESTATE Scorrier House, Cornwall Aug 27-29

Modelled on a garden fête, silly games and quirky entertainment rule in the attractive grounds of Scorrier House, near Redruth. In 2019 there was a gin garden with classical music, a burlesque tent, pop-up banquet, silent discos and wood-fired hot tubs. The Playground area offers children the chance to try circus skills training, craft workshops and foraging courses, plus there is a skate park for older children. Razorlight and The Sugarhill Gang are among those booked to play.

Adult camping from £92 inc fees greatestatefestival.co.uk

THE BIG FEASTIVAL Alex James’s Farm, the Cotswolds Aug 27-29

The Big Feastival is essentially a music festival with a big programme for families, and a large farmer’s market attached. Daytime scheduling on the main stage tucks crowd-pleasing bands in between turns from children’s entertainers, such as Justin Fletcher from CBeebies. Moseying around the food area, you can expect talks from Michelin-starred chefs, such as Nathan Outlaw, and a host of gourmet food and drink to sample. Sigala, Ella Eyre and Rag’n’Bone Man are expected to perform.

Adult camping from £209.50 inc fees thebigfeastival.com

MEDICINE FESTIVAL Wasing Estate, near Reading August 19-23

Set in wooded glades and around a lake, Medicine has an ecoconscious, spiritual vibe and is a good bet for restoring balance to chaotic lives. It draws a diverse, bohemian crowd who happily throw themselves group yoga, nature walks, alternative therapies, talks on sustainability and discussion around the question, “how can we be the medicine?” Street food, art installations, music and boutique camping is available too. All profits go towards empowering indiginous people.

Adult camping from £210.47 medicinefestival.com