Deer Shed Festival

Deer Shed Festival is an independent festival run by a family for families – with a welcoming atmosphere and a strong passion for decent music, food and entertainment for all the family.

Reviews: 2022, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014

Deer Shed Festival is a stand out event for the discerning festival going family. With an ethos celebrating top quality in everything from music to food, eclectic entertainment to an outstanding array of workshops and activities. Deer Shed ensures that all the family are catered for in an exciting and engaging way whilst maintaining affordability in ticket price and food and drinks on site. Over the past six years the festival has carved out a solid reputation for putting on a fantastic show and an experience that is different from other family festivals.

Run by a family for families

The Deer Shed Festival family know it can be the small things that make or break a festival experience – hours of car park tailbacks, nothing for the kids to do when they’ve woken up early or stewards unable to point people in the right direction. When Oliver and Kate Jones decided to put on their first festival in 2010, getting the little things right was going to be just as vital as a line-up of bands to reflect their record collection. From year one, an easy arrival, catering for the needs of each guest no matter what age and good old fashioned hospitality was as important as booking the bands they love to see live. Thinking about what they like when they go to a festival, listening to audience feedback and most importantly, passing the Jones Children Approval Panel (which generally takes place over tea) has meant each year, Deer Shed has added to the finishing touches that make the festival such a lovely place for all the family.

Camping

Taking place over the first weekend of the school holidays, Deer Shed Festival is a great way to kick off the summer. The Deer Shed Festival team book bands they love, work with like-minded people, keep it chilled and don’t squeeze a thousand tents into a field the size of a postage stamp. Just off the A1, with easy parking and Mr Trolley on hand for those wanting to rent some ground transportation for the weekend, families will quickly be pitching their tents. For those choosing to come by train, a limited shuttle service will run from Thirsk station which is only a couple of hours from London and Edinburgh.

Deer Shed is held on a really spacious and beautiful parkland campsite. Ninety percent of the campsite is dedicated to families and the average distance from the car park to the family camping is only 200m. If you have a campervan or caravan they have a spot for you too as well as glamping, child free and accessible camping options.  

Facilities

There are plenty of clean toilets and baby-changing facilities.  Undercover bars.  Undercover space in a large Big Top. Various food vendors, and stall holders.  Welfare and first aid tent.  Kids tent and outside play area.   Large kids play area in campsite. Drinking water will be available in the campsite.  In the family camping areas they have loads of stuff to keep kids occupied (whilst you argue over which bit of the tent goes up first).

Changing facilities, high chairs, a microwave to heat food and a nursing area mean even the newest mums and youngest family members are looked after.

For a taste of the Deer Shed Festival magic, check out the short video here:

What makes Deer Shed unique?

Their ethos – they are massive fans of music and the arts in general, and they all have kids.  They have, over the years, got increasingly fed up with paying a small fortune to get their families into various festivals only to be disappointed in the music or the entertainment, facilities and vibe for the sprogs. The Deer Shed Festival is their long considered response to this.  Kids are not second-class citizens at DSF.

However, they refuse to compromise on what’s on just because they are ‘family friendly’.  If you don’t have kids to bring along you will still find a lovely chilled atmosphere in which to enjoy a great weekend.
Deer Shed Festival allows children to roam and spread their wings while their parents take a break from everyday life and get back to what’s important – hanging out with their loved ones having fun.

www.deershedfestival.com

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