Reviews
The good bits, the bad bits; all the fun and frolics of a festival brought to you by Festival Kidz reviews… and don’t forget the mud!
Green Man Festival 2014 Review
Come for a Cwtch
Come for a CwtchWe fell in love with Green Man Festival last year and I have to admit to being worried about how it could possibly meet the expectations we had from it being so wonderful. I need not have worried because yet again this beautiful festival filled my heart with happiness. I did not think it would be possible for us to love it even more than we already did.
Just So 2014 Review
15-17th August
A perfect little celebration of the arts and the glorious outdoors all wrapped up in a weekend of family fun.
This was our first Just So festival and we would happily return every year. The festival is only in its 5th year but it is now a firm favourite on the festival calendar for families, and it’s easy to see why.
Lakefest 2014 Review
Lakefest is a true family festival held in the grounds of Croft Farm Waterpark near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire.
The music takes place over the three days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but for a small extra charge you can buy a ticket that also allows you to camp on the Thursday night.
We opted to travel up on Friday afternoon and after a short journey from Bristol (there’s something to be said for local festivals!) and just a five minute queue to get into the car park, we were good to go.
The Green Gathering 2014 Review
31st July – 3rd August 2014
Review by Tim Kaye accompanied by Caroline Gilbert and Hazel (4) and Gwilym (2)
I don’t think we have ever been to a festival that is as welcoming and warm as it is at this one. The organisers have tried to make a community feel to the gathering and this was certainly in evidence.
Although I wouldn’t like to start off on a negative note that’s the situation we were plunged into on Thursday afternoon trying to get into the festival. It’s a bit of an odd set up when you arrive; you wait in your vehicle in a ‘holding area’ before moving onto to the box office area to drop all your kit off and collect your wrist bands before parking up again. Since we have a trolley we decided to plod over from the car park with all our kit before queuing for our bands. Unfortunately that queue was quite substantial, we overheard one little boy ask his mum ‘Is the Green Gathering one big queue?’ but after quite some time got our treasured bands… We could finally join the world of magic and adventure up the long track beyond. We got split up at one point but with help from the loveliest stewards, info tent and the guys from Assisted Camping we eventually got reunited – just one of many examples of the genuine friendliness of the Green Gathering.
Chilled in a Field 2014 Review
It’s easy to define what makes a good festival (organisation, facilities, activities and entertainment) but much harder to define what makes an exceptional one.
It’s just something about the atmosphere, the mix of people and the imagination of its creators. You get this right and you see magic happen, and that’s what Chilled in a Field manages to do every year.
I believe the main reason for this is because it is currently a non profit venture and run purely for the love of it – much like Festival Kidz in fact!
BoomTown 2014 Review
7-11th August 2014
One CRAZY pop-up city!
Review by Sarah, Jeff, Ash (aged 15) and Poppy (aged 8)
We drove from Brighton on Thursday the 7th excited and looking forward to our very first Boomtown Fair experience with our two children Ash (15) and Poppy (8). The sun shone, radio played and we set off. Winchester here we come. The festival is set in the beautiful surroundings of the Matterley Bowl.
Wilderness 2014 Review
7th to 10th August 2014
Sit back, relax, and savour the delights of a quintessentially English weekend.
Don’t mind if I do!
We have been to a lot of festivals as a family and Wilderness has certainly topped the most idyllic setting for us.
Just gorgeous. You can’t help but relax.
Little Monsters Bash Review
9th August 2014
Reviewed by Catherine Prescott and her family
A Fun Day Out for our Little Monsters
Lollibop 2014 Review
August 15-17 2014
Hatfield House, Hertfordshire
I’ve always been intrigued about Lollibop and its ambition to be the “big bash for little people”. But having been held in London for the last few years I’ve been put off from travelling down and negotiating the Underground with small people, so was pretty happy to see that the new venue was in the grounds of Hatfield House. As my husband had a prior commitment my dad came with me and Evan stayed with my mum for the day.
Read more…
Nozstock 2014 Review
Friday 1st August – 3rd August – Nozstock the Hidden Valley
It was a short but incredibly fun packed day for us at Nozstock this year. We only managed to get to the hidden valley full of dinosaurs and cave folk for the day this year but still had a brilliant time. Keeping myself and Dylan company was my sister in law and my niece, both experienced festival ladies who jumped at the chance of spending the day with us.
Arrival to Nozstock is simply and painless. Lots of stewards to guide you into parking and the entrance onto sight was quick and queue free when we arrived. As we were not camping we did not have all the kit to carry but did hear about a horse and cart service for carrying kit onto site for people, quite a novel way to help with all your kit if you needed it. Although we did not camp I did look at the family camping area and it looked to have plenty of space and far enough away to have some peace at night if needed with children. The general camping does have a lot of younger people in it and I think at night could get quite hectic so I would recommend only camping in the family area.
Read more…
Green Man Festival 2014 Review
Come for a Cwtch
We fell in love with Green Man Festival last year and I have to admit to being worried about how it could possibly meet the expectations we had from it being so wonderful. I need not have worried because yet again this beautiful festival filled my heart with happiness. I did not think it would be possible for us to love it even more than we already did.
Lakefest 2014 Review
Lakefest is a true family festival held in the grounds of Croft Farm Waterpark near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire.
The music takes place over the three days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but for a small extra charge you can buy a ticket that also allows you to camp on the Thursday night.
We opted to travel up on Friday afternoon and after a short journey from Bristol (there’s something to be said for local festivals!) and just a five minute queue to get into the car park, we were good to go.
Chilled in a Field 2014 Review
It’s easy to define what makes a good festival (organisation, facilities, activities and entertainment) but much harder to define what makes an exceptional one.
It’s just something about the atmosphere, the mix of people and the imagination of its creators. You get this right and you see magic happen, and that’s what Chilled in a Field manages to do every year.
I believe the main reason for this is because it is currently a non profit venture and run purely for the love of it – much like Festival Kidz in fact!
Wilderness 2014 Review
7th to 10th August 2014
Sit back, relax, and savour the delights of a quintessentially English weekend.
Don’t mind if I do!
We have been to a lot of festivals as a family and Wilderness has certainly topped the most idyllic setting for us.
Just gorgeous. You can’t help but relax.
Lollibop 2014 Review
August 15-17 2014
Hatfield House, Hertfordshire
I’ve always been intrigued about Lollibop and its ambition to be the “big bash for little people”. But having been held in London for the last few years I’ve been put off from travelling down and negotiating the Underground with small people, so was pretty happy to see that the new venue was in the grounds of Hatfield House. As my husband had a prior commitment my dad came with me and Evan stayed with my mum for the day.
Read more…
Just So 2014 Review
15-17th August
A perfect little celebration of the arts and the glorious outdoors all wrapped up in a weekend of family fun.
This was our first Just So festival and we would happily return every year. The festival is only in its 5th year but it is now a firm favourite on the festival calendar for families, and it’s easy to see why.
The Green Gathering 2014 Review
31st July – 3rd August 2014
Review by Tim Kaye accompanied by Caroline Gilbert and Hazel (4) and Gwilym (2)
I don’t think we have ever been to a festival that is as welcoming and warm as it is at this one. The organisers have tried to make a community feel to the gathering and this was certainly in evidence.
Although I wouldn’t like to start off on a negative note that’s the situation we were plunged into on Thursday afternoon trying to get into the festival. It’s a bit of an odd set up when you arrive; you wait in your vehicle in a ‘holding area’ before moving onto to the box office area to drop all your kit off and collect your wrist bands before parking up again. Since we have a trolley we decided to plod over from the car park with all our kit before queuing for our bands. Unfortunately that queue was quite substantial, we overheard one little boy ask his mum ‘Is the Green Gathering one big queue?’ but after quite some time got our treasured bands… We could finally join the world of magic and adventure up the long track beyond. We got split up at one point but with help from the loveliest stewards, info tent and the guys from Assisted Camping we eventually got reunited – just one of many examples of the genuine friendliness of the Green Gathering.
BoomTown 2014 Review
7-11th August 2014
One CRAZY pop-up city!
Review by Sarah, Jeff, Ash (aged 15) and Poppy (aged 8)
We drove from Brighton on Thursday the 7th excited and looking forward to our very first Boomtown Fair experience with our two children Ash (15) and Poppy (8). The sun shone, radio played and we set off. Winchester here we come. The festival is set in the beautiful surroundings of the Matterley Bowl.
Little Monsters Bash Review
9th August 2014
Reviewed by Catherine Prescott and her family
A Fun Day Out for our Little Monsters
Nozstock 2014 Review
Friday 1st August – 3rd August – Nozstock the Hidden Valley
It was a short but incredibly fun packed day for us at Nozstock this year. We only managed to get to the hidden valley full of dinosaurs and cave folk for the day this year but still had a brilliant time. Keeping myself and Dylan company was my sister in law and my niece, both experienced festival ladies who jumped at the chance of spending the day with us.
Arrival to Nozstock is simply and painless. Lots of stewards to guide you into parking and the entrance onto sight was quick and queue free when we arrived. As we were not camping we did not have all the kit to carry but did hear about a horse and cart service for carrying kit onto site for people, quite a novel way to help with all your kit if you needed it. Although we did not camp I did look at the family camping area and it looked to have plenty of space and far enough away to have some peace at night if needed with children. The general camping does have a lot of younger people in it and I think at night could get quite hectic so I would recommend only camping in the family area.
Read more…