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!
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…
Camp Bestival 2014 Review
31st July- 3rd August
Luworth Castle, Dorset.
For many festival goers Glastonbury is their spiritual home, but for me and my daughter it is Camp Bestival.
It was our second visit to Camp Bestival, set in the amazingly beautiful setting of Lulworth Castle, Dorset. First time was our first festival with our daughter and I was pregnant, this time was very different with the children being of the age where they could immerse themselves in things much more.
Starry Skies 2014 Review
Reviewed by Romany and her family.
When you go to as many festivals as I do, it can become a bit of a chore. For me, it’s work – I spend my time wandering the arena with a critical eye, ready to report back on what it offers for families, always being aware of my ‘job’… Unfortunately I forgot to ‘work’ at Starry Skies! I was so busy having a good time, enjoying and immersing myself in all it offered that I thought I was on holiday!! In a way – that says it all.
When we were invited to review Starry Skies I had to do a lot of persuading to get my husband to agree to come. In fact, despite the masses of activities described on the website, even the kids seemed unenthusiastic. Having done 4 weekend festivals in the last 6 weeks was clearly taking its toll.
But persuade them I did, so as soon as school broke up on the Wednesday we loaded the car and set off for Herefordshire. Read more…
Larmer Tree Festival 2014 Review
Larmer Tree Festival 2014: 16th-20th July 2014
Review by Amy Battle and 3 children, aged between 9 and 12.
There comes a moment at any Festival where the adults want to collapse/drink beer/listen to their type of music/visit their inner hippie and the kids don’t. The younger generation wants to roam and wade in mud and buzz around doing their own thing in their own time. And it’s just this balance that the Larmer Tree Festival has cracked. There’s something for everyone and then there still is somewhere to sit and chill when you just don’t want to be doing any stuff at all.
Read more…
Secret Garden Party 2014 Review
24th-27th July 2014
This is ONE SERIOUS PARTY!
30,000 proper party people strip down to their undies and make the most of the glorious British countryside.
Read more…
Chagstock 2014 Review
As the 18th of July approached there was a severe weather warning across the whole of the south west. Fears of thunder and lightning were so heightened that the organisers of Chagstock Festival in Devon had to take to their website and facebook page to reassure people that the festival was definitely not cancelled, contrary to rumours. Read more…
Summer Breeze 2014 Review
18th-19th July 2014
Reviewed by Tim Kaye, partner Caroline, Hazel (4 years) and Gwilym (2 years)
Big Fun at a Little Festival
Summer Breeze is probably the smallest festival we have been to but still had a big festival vibe. We arrived on the Friday evening and after a picnic in the sun we had a look at what the festival had to offer. Despite it being very small there were still two stages, food stalls, a bar, clothing and festival accessories stalls. They decked the festival out with colourful flags, plenty of pink netting and painted bins. The highlight for us was perhaps the ET Games stall where we got to play the games for free and even compete against ‘the master of pucket’ himself….we lost! They were such simple wooden games but seemed to capture the imagination of all ages and even better that he uses prison inmates and Fair Trade Co-operatives to make them.
Festival on the Farm 2014 Review
Festival on the Farm 26th July 2014
Gressenhall farm and workhouse, Dereham, Norfolk
I was delighted to be invited back to Festival on the Farm this year. The wonderful setting of Gressenhall farm and workhouse is a place close to the heart of any Norfolk school child who has attended a Victorian day while at school and has evolved into one of the best tourist attractions around with a working farm, workhouse, play area and delightful grounds.
Jimmy’s Sausage and Beer Festival 2014 Review
We visited Jimmy’s farm last year for a family day out in the school holidays, it was a rainy day but we had a blast and knew we would have to go back again for a visit.
For the Sausage and Beer Festival the weather couldn’t have been better, it was bright and sunny with a bit of cold and was a friendly and buzzing atmosphere. Getting there was fairly simple but we missed the turning off the A14 as there was no signage however once we got there it didn’t take long to drive in and get parked.
On entering we were welcomed by some friendly Jimmy’s Farm employees selling programmes and pint mugs. I love the idea of reusable beer mugs at events as not only is it a lovely keepsake but it’s a way of keeping the site cleaner. Read more…
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…
Camp Bestival 2014 Review
31st July- 3rd August
Luworth Castle, Dorset.
For many festival goers Glastonbury is their spiritual home, but for me and my daughter it is Camp Bestival.
It was our second visit to Camp Bestival, set in the amazingly beautiful setting of Lulworth Castle, Dorset. First time was our first festival with our daughter and I was pregnant, this time was very different with the children being of the age where they could immerse themselves in things much more.
Larmer Tree Festival 2014 Review
Larmer Tree Festival 2014: 16th-20th July 2014
Review by Amy Battle and 3 children, aged between 9 and 12.
There comes a moment at any Festival where the adults want to collapse/drink beer/listen to their type of music/visit their inner hippie and the kids don’t. The younger generation wants to roam and wade in mud and buzz around doing their own thing in their own time. And it’s just this balance that the Larmer Tree Festival has cracked. There’s something for everyone and then there still is somewhere to sit and chill when you just don’t want to be doing any stuff at all.
Read more…
Chagstock 2014 Review
As the 18th of July approached there was a severe weather warning across the whole of the south west. Fears of thunder and lightning were so heightened that the organisers of Chagstock Festival in Devon had to take to their website and facebook page to reassure people that the festival was definitely not cancelled, contrary to rumours. Read more…
Festival on the Farm 2014 Review
Festival on the Farm 26th July 2014
Gressenhall farm and workhouse, Dereham, Norfolk
I was delighted to be invited back to Festival on the Farm this year. The wonderful setting of Gressenhall farm and workhouse is a place close to the heart of any Norfolk school child who has attended a Victorian day while at school and has evolved into one of the best tourist attractions around with a working farm, workhouse, play area and delightful grounds.
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…
Starry Skies 2014 Review
Reviewed by Romany and her family.
When you go to as many festivals as I do, it can become a bit of a chore. For me, it’s work – I spend my time wandering the arena with a critical eye, ready to report back on what it offers for families, always being aware of my ‘job’… Unfortunately I forgot to ‘work’ at Starry Skies! I was so busy having a good time, enjoying and immersing myself in all it offered that I thought I was on holiday!! In a way – that says it all.
When we were invited to review Starry Skies I had to do a lot of persuading to get my husband to agree to come. In fact, despite the masses of activities described on the website, even the kids seemed unenthusiastic. Having done 4 weekend festivals in the last 6 weeks was clearly taking its toll.
But persuade them I did, so as soon as school broke up on the Wednesday we loaded the car and set off for Herefordshire. Read more…
Secret Garden Party 2014 Review
24th-27th July 2014
This is ONE SERIOUS PARTY!
30,000 proper party people strip down to their undies and make the most of the glorious British countryside.
Read more…
Summer Breeze 2014 Review
18th-19th July 2014
Reviewed by Tim Kaye, partner Caroline, Hazel (4 years) and Gwilym (2 years)
Big Fun at a Little Festival
Summer Breeze is probably the smallest festival we have been to but still had a big festival vibe. We arrived on the Friday evening and after a picnic in the sun we had a look at what the festival had to offer. Despite it being very small there were still two stages, food stalls, a bar, clothing and festival accessories stalls. They decked the festival out with colourful flags, plenty of pink netting and painted bins. The highlight for us was perhaps the ET Games stall where we got to play the games for free and even compete against ‘the master of pucket’ himself….we lost! They were such simple wooden games but seemed to capture the imagination of all ages and even better that he uses prison inmates and Fair Trade Co-operatives to make them.
Jimmy’s Sausage and Beer Festival 2014 Review
We visited Jimmy’s farm last year for a family day out in the school holidays, it was a rainy day but we had a blast and knew we would have to go back again for a visit.
For the Sausage and Beer Festival the weather couldn’t have been better, it was bright and sunny with a bit of cold and was a friendly and buzzing atmosphere. Getting there was fairly simple but we missed the turning off the A14 as there was no signage however once we got there it didn’t take long to drive in and get parked.
On entering we were welcomed by some friendly Jimmy’s Farm employees selling programmes and pint mugs. I love the idea of reusable beer mugs at events as not only is it a lovely keepsake but it’s a way of keeping the site cleaner. Read more…