2014
Festival reviews from the year 2014
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…
Blissfields 2014 Review
4th-5th July 2014
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.
Truck Festival 2014 Review
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…
Guilfest 2014 Review
Guilfest 18th to 20th July 2014
Great to see Guilfest back for 2014.
Very much a music festival there’s lots of variety with a mix of main stream, rock and punk.
Flummoxed 2014 Review
The Flummoxed Festival was tiny. Teeny weeny tiny. Previously I had thought a festival with under 5000 people was small, but this one had 150 people, including the kids.
So I’m not sure whether the Flummoxed Festival is a festival or not, or just a lovely family friendly camping event with lots of live music and activities added for good measure.
But this was actually what made it a very enjoyable, friendly, relaxing experience and one that my whole family would readily do again next year.
This is a fledgling festival which appears to offer something quite different for families, a bit of a middle ground between staying on a normal camp site and going to a large, noisy festival.
Beverley Folk Festival 2014 Review
20th to 22nd June 2014
Website: www.beverleyfestival.com
Reviewed by Lisa Morris and family
Every small festival calls itself “friendly” but with Beverley Folk Festival they don’t have to apply that label to themselves. Before you even pull off the road to Beverly Racecourse, where the festival is held, you are greeted by the friendliest stewards imaginable. We must have stopped for a quick chat three times on the way to our campsite parking space. The campsite itself was on ancient pasture land (hayfever sufferers beware!) and had plenty of space. My husband, our 11 month old daughter and myself headed towards the “quiet” area and parked up. The parking area was right next to the camping field making it very easy to unload and we selected the perfect spot away from other tents who might not appreciate an early morning wake up call from a baby. Our neighbours were a field of sheep and cows who were definitely the noisiest things down this end of the site.
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…
Truck Festival 2014 Review
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…
Flummoxed 2014 Review
The Flummoxed Festival was tiny. Teeny weeny tiny. Previously I had thought a festival with under 5000 people was small, but this one had 150 people, including the kids.
So I’m not sure whether the Flummoxed Festival is a festival or not, or just a lovely family friendly camping event with lots of live music and activities added for good measure.
But this was actually what made it a very enjoyable, friendly, relaxing experience and one that my whole family would readily do again next year.
This is a fledgling festival which appears to offer something quite different for families, a bit of a middle ground between staying on a normal camp site and going to a large, noisy festival.
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.
Blissfields 2014 Review
4th-5th July 2014
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.
Guilfest 2014 Review
Guilfest 18th to 20th July 2014
Great to see Guilfest back for 2014.
Very much a music festival there’s lots of variety with a mix of main stream, rock and punk.
Beverley Folk Festival 2014 Review
20th to 22nd June 2014
Website: www.beverleyfestival.com
Reviewed by Lisa Morris and family
Every small festival calls itself “friendly” but with Beverley Folk Festival they don’t have to apply that label to themselves. Before you even pull off the road to Beverly Racecourse, where the festival is held, you are greeted by the friendliest stewards imaginable. We must have stopped for a quick chat three times on the way to our campsite parking space. The campsite itself was on ancient pasture land (hayfever sufferers beware!) and had plenty of space. My husband, our 11 month old daughter and myself headed towards the “quiet” area and parked up. The parking area was right next to the camping field making it very easy to unload and we selected the perfect spot away from other tents who might not appreciate an early morning wake up call from a baby. Our neighbours were a field of sheep and cows who were definitely the noisiest things down this end of the site.