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!
Elderflower Fields 2018 review
Elderflower Fields review from guest writer Christine and family.
We rocked up at Elderflower Fields and were bowled over by the beautiful views. There were lots of happy children climbing trees and excitedly observing a resident vole family they’d found. We immediately felt relaxed and the cares of every day life just drifted away.
Wood Festival 2018 Review
When you arrive at a festival and immediately feel as though you’ve come home, you know it’s got something special. Wood Festival feels like that to us.
Back to the 80s Cruise
A festival on a cruise ship?
When Festival Kidz received an invite for an 80s cruise I did wonder – can a cruise really be a festival? But I’ve never been on a cruise before and I love to try new things.
It was an excellent deal. For the price of a festival glamping ticket, festival goers had a whole week in a lovely cabin on a ship including heated pool and spa and all meals (and 24 hour snacks!). This together with some of the really big names of the 80s playing every day, plus parties and activities, and brilliant childcare so you can even go out to some of the parties without the kids! And on top of all that there was the chance to explore three cities during the cruise – Bilbao, Vigo and Lisbon.
So – how did I get on?
The Big Feastival 2017 Review
First celebrity selfie – tick; first silent disco – tick; first big concert by someone famous (for 7 and 9-year-olds, that is) – tick; first time at the front of the stage among a heaving crowd – tick. The Big Feastival proved to be a big hit with our boys.
The sixth Big Feastival, on Alex James’ Farm near Kingham, Oxfordshire, fell on a gloriously warm and sunny August Bank Holiday weekend and the crowds turned out to bask in it and revel in the fun and frolics.
While we were half expecting to bump into David Cameron or Jeremy Clarkson as part of the Chipping Norton set at Alex James’ annual shindig in the Cotswolds, we were pleasantly surprised to discover a family festival that spanned the generations with enough varied offerings to satisfy kids, parents and even the ‘silver shakers’ of the family.
WOMAD 2017 Review
By Tim Kaye, Caroline Gilbert and Hazel (7) and Gwilym (5)
There is a very good reason why WOMAD is called ‘The World’s Festival’ it is like visiting 50 countries in one weekend.
This is our third foray into the many different sounds and experiences that are on offer here and it didn’t disappoint. The festival was notable again for being on the wet side but the organisation was strong throughout and despite a few near slippages outside the Siam tent we remained fairly mud free!
England’s Medieval Festival 2017 Review
This year England’s Medieval Festival celebrated their 25th year. There was drinking, dancing, feasting, fireworks and (historically accurate) fighting. We were there with Evelyn (8), Martha (4) and baby Ada to party like it’s 1399.
Green Man 2017 Review
The Lights from the Late-Night Lock in
The Lights from the Late-Night Lock inby Julian Lane – and family Vicky, Dylan (8), Matilda (2)
So here we go again. Green Man Festival. Our 7th year, the Festival’s 15th. I have waxed lyrical over this festival for every year we have been, we fell in love with Green Man, we made lifelong friends and have told anyone who will listen that Green Man IS the best festival in the country.
I don’t want to over the same old ground again. Festival Kidz’ review of last year will tell you everything you need to know about this wonderful festival. You can also read our review from last year on our blog.
So, what the hell am I going to write about? What’s new? How do I keep you, dear reader, transfixed?
Lakefest 2017 Review
With a new baby in the family we wanted our first festival this year to be fairly small and very easy. Lakefest certainly fitted the bill and, although it lacked some of the little extras that I’ve come to love about family festivals, everyone had a good time. The kids were wowed by BMX riders, the grown ups saw some old favourite bands and the ducks had a great time too.
Just So 2017 Review
Just So is a land where, for one weekend each year, the line between childhood and adulthood are blurred. This is a place where real and fantasy blend into a smorgasbord of the weird and wonderful. Where pillow fights and midnight feasts compete with live arcade games and roaming theatre. And most importantly, where families can be families without the commitments or worries of the outside world.
Boomtown 2017 review
Boomtown is a 60,000 person capacity music festival held on the Matterley Estate, Winchester in August and has been running since 2009. It is described by the organisers as a pop up city of wonderment, theatre, escapism and community with eleven districts filled with a fully immersive and theatrically led experience, with hundreds of actors bringing the film-like street sets to life.
Elderflower Fields 2018 review
Elderflower Fields review from guest writer Christine and family.
We rocked up at Elderflower Fields and were bowled over by the beautiful views. There were lots of happy children climbing trees and excitedly observing a resident vole family they’d found. We immediately felt relaxed and the cares of every day life just drifted away.
Back to the 80s Cruise
A festival on a cruise ship?
When Festival Kidz received an invite for an 80s cruise I did wonder – can a cruise really be a festival? But I’ve never been on a cruise before and I love to try new things.
It was an excellent deal. For the price of a festival glamping ticket, festival goers had a whole week in a lovely cabin on a ship including heated pool and spa and all meals (and 24 hour snacks!). This together with some of the really big names of the 80s playing every day, plus parties and activities, and brilliant childcare so you can even go out to some of the parties without the kids! And on top of all that there was the chance to explore three cities during the cruise – Bilbao, Vigo and Lisbon.
So – how did I get on?
WOMAD 2017 Review
By Tim Kaye, Caroline Gilbert and Hazel (7) and Gwilym (5)
There is a very good reason why WOMAD is called ‘The World’s Festival’ it is like visiting 50 countries in one weekend.
This is our third foray into the many different sounds and experiences that are on offer here and it didn’t disappoint. The festival was notable again for being on the wet side but the organisation was strong throughout and despite a few near slippages outside the Siam tent we remained fairly mud free!
Green Man 2017 Review
The Lights from the Late-Night Lock in
by Julian Lane – and family Vicky, Dylan (8), Matilda (2)
So here we go again. Green Man Festival. Our 7th year, the Festival’s 15th. I have waxed lyrical over this festival for every year we have been, we fell in love with Green Man, we made lifelong friends and have told anyone who will listen that Green Man IS the best festival in the country.
I don’t want to over the same old ground again. Festival Kidz’ review of last year will tell you everything you need to know about this wonderful festival. You can also read our review from last year on our blog.
So, what the hell am I going to write about? What’s new? How do I keep you, dear reader, transfixed?
Just So 2017 Review
Just So is a land where, for one weekend each year, the line between childhood and adulthood are blurred. This is a place where real and fantasy blend into a smorgasbord of the weird and wonderful. Where pillow fights and midnight feasts compete with live arcade games and roaming theatre. And most importantly, where families can be families without the commitments or worries of the outside world.
Wood Festival 2018 Review
When you arrive at a festival and immediately feel as though you’ve come home, you know it’s got something special. Wood Festival feels like that to us.
The Big Feastival 2017 Review
First celebrity selfie – tick; first silent disco – tick; first big concert by someone famous (for 7 and 9-year-olds, that is) – tick; first time at the front of the stage among a heaving crowd – tick. The Big Feastival proved to be a big hit with our boys.
The sixth Big Feastival, on Alex James’ Farm near Kingham, Oxfordshire, fell on a gloriously warm and sunny August Bank Holiday weekend and the crowds turned out to bask in it and revel in the fun and frolics.
While we were half expecting to bump into David Cameron or Jeremy Clarkson as part of the Chipping Norton set at Alex James’ annual shindig in the Cotswolds, we were pleasantly surprised to discover a family festival that spanned the generations with enough varied offerings to satisfy kids, parents and even the ‘silver shakers’ of the family.
England’s Medieval Festival 2017 Review
This year England’s Medieval Festival celebrated their 25th year. There was drinking, dancing, feasting, fireworks and (historically accurate) fighting. We were there with Evelyn (8), Martha (4) and baby Ada to party like it’s 1399.
Lakefest 2017 Review
With a new baby in the family we wanted our first festival this year to be fairly small and very easy. Lakefest certainly fitted the bill and, although it lacked some of the little extras that I’ve come to love about family festivals, everyone had a good time. The kids were wowed by BMX riders, the grown ups saw some old favourite bands and the ducks had a great time too.
Boomtown 2017 review
Boomtown is a 60,000 person capacity music festival held on the Matterley Estate, Winchester in August and has been running since 2009. It is described by the organisers as a pop up city of wonderment, theatre, escapism and community with eleven districts filled with a fully immersive and theatrically led experience, with hundreds of actors bringing the film-like street sets to life.