Very happy campers

THIS FAMILY arts festival, launched in 2010, is a weekend-long festival of active creativity aimed at kids and their parents. In fact, it is the only UK camping festival designed just for families (couples and singles may feel outof-place). The expected 4,500 visitors will be able to delve into art, music and literature in the beautiful woods and parkland of Rode Hall in Cheshire.

Huge art installations, gypsy bands, top-name authors and creative workshops illuminate the arts and everyone can enter the jaws of a giant metal whale to be serenaded by a lovesick submariner, taken on a surreal journey on a fantastical flying machine and charged with saving the world from being gobbled up by the alldevouring piggy bank of doom by theatre companies Talking Birds, Pif Paf and Teatro-saurus.

Each evening, Forty Winks will celebrate bedtime with aerial dance performance Fly by Night by the Baretoed Dance Company.

Part of the charm is that all these events are woven into the landscape of the woodland adorned with ‘magical

Al-fresco workshop

decoration’ in clearings and nooks and crannies adding a sense of mystery and discovery.

Weekend Tickets (with camping) costs £85 for adults and £35 Children. Under 3s go free. Day Tickets £25 Adults, £12.50 Children, under 3s free. www.justsofestival.org.uk