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.
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…
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…
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…
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.
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.
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…
Blissfields (or ‘the one with the hammocks’ as my eldest calls it) secured its place in our festival calendar last year, with its perfect blend of great music and small friendly vibe. This year it did not disappoint, improving on its facilities and offering even more for families.
Starting Truck Festival 2014 on the last day of school before the summer holidays was a genius idea. The kids finished early at midday and we made our way straight over to set up camp.
One thing that’s amazing at this festival is you’re allowed to take in your own alcohol. As long as you have no glass, you can take whatever drink you like.
As we made our way through the local village it seemed everyone was making great use of the nearby Co-op to stock up.
Although of course, there was a superb selection of drinks available inside the festival. Roughly £4 would get you a pint of cider/ beer or a glass of wine, and £5 would get you a cocktail at the beach bar – yes a beach bar, with a sand floor and even a surf board! Read more…
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.
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…
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…
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.
Blissfields (or ‘the one with the hammocks’ as my eldest calls it) secured its place in our festival calendar last year, with its perfect blend of great music and small friendly vibe. This year it did not disappoint, improving on its facilities and offering even more for families.
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…
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.
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…
Starting Truck Festival 2014 on the last day of school before the summer holidays was a genius idea. The kids finished early at midday and we made our way straight over to set up camp.
One thing that’s amazing at this festival is you’re allowed to take in your own alcohol. As long as you have no glass, you can take whatever drink you like.
As we made our way through the local village it seemed everyone was making great use of the nearby Co-op to stock up.
Although of course, there was a superb selection of drinks available inside the festival. Roughly £4 would get you a pint of cider/ beer or a glass of wine, and £5 would get you a cocktail at the beach bar – yes a beach bar, with a sand floor and even a surf board! Read more…