Chilled in a Field 2014 Review

CIAF 2014 - 59It’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!

Read more…

WIN! A Family Ticket to Chilled in a Field!

This competition has now closed

CIAF-Logo-Cloud-Single-Line

 

WIN! WIN! WIN! A Family Ticket to Chilled in a Field!

Read more…

Best festivals for toddlers 2014

DSC_0941The toddler stage is possibly the most difficult age to do festivals, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be done!

For really young kids we recommend small festivals, particularly if you are not an experienced festival-goer or camper. For a successful festival experience with toddlers you need space to run around or relax, less crowds, smaller distances between campsite, arena and carpark, a good selection of child-friendly food and a willingness to take things at your toddler’s pace (see also Naomi’s Top Tips for doing Festivals with Toddlers).

Read more…

Chilled in a Field – New Venue!

bentleyNEWS: Chilled in a Field have announced their new home for 2014!

This year Chilled in a Field will be held in the Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum. This location is even more perfect for families as it is a wonderful magical place for children to visit, and entry to Bentley is included in your ticket. Read more…

Best Family Festivals 2014

Here are our top picks for 2014!

Now is a great time to start thinking about buying your festival tickets – most of the festivals offer ‘early bird’ prices, which means they are reduced if you book them early.

Whether a festival is good for you depends on what music you’re into and what other things you like doing at festivals, as well as the age of your kids. If you are new to festivals with kids, you may want to read our guide to Choosing the right Family-Friendly Festival. Read more…

Taking the Plunge!

Is this your first time?

Don’t worry if you’re a bit nervous about the whole idea of a music festival with children. Even if you went to a hundred festivals before you had kids, the first one with them is a completely new experience! Read more…

Chilled in a Field 2013 Review

Chilled in a Field is small but perfectly formed

Chilled in a Field 2013

*Chilled* in a Field will always mean something special to our family, as it was the first festival for our two youngest last year, aged only 2. We wanted to visit it again but I admit I was a little bit concerned that as we had since been to much bigger festivals we might be disappointed in one so small. However I shouldn’t have worried – what *Chilled* misses out in big names and variety of entertainment it more than makes up for with atmosphere, enthusiasm and heart.

Read more…

Best Festivals for Toddlers – 2013

glasto toddlerTweet

The toddler stage is possibly the most difficult age to do festivals, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be done!

For really young kids we recommend small festivals, particularly if you are not an experienced festival-goer or camper.  For a successful festival experience with toddlers you need space to run around or relax, less crowds, smaller distances between campsite, arena and carpark, a good selection of child-friendly food and a willingness to take things at your toddler’s pace (see also Naomi’s Top Tips for doing Festivals with Toddlers).

After much debate, we reckon this year’s best festivals for Under 5’s are:

Read more…

Chilled in a Field 2012 Review

chilled in a field 2012 (c) Naomi Jones
The field to chill in…

It was with some trepidation that we packed what seemed like our entire house into the car, to set out for our first ever overnight festival, Chilled in a Field 2012, with all three children.

We had already taken our eldest to festivals before the twins were born, but this was an entirely different and some might say more insane affair.

A five year old and two year old twins? Were we mad? Maybe a little but we love our festivals so much we had to try!

Read more…

Chilled in a Field 2011 Review

The weather at Chilled in a Field 2011 was wonderfully sunny then heavy rain on Friday, patchy sunshine rest of time with light rain Sunday. A bit cold and windy on the last day.

Review by: Fairy (with 3 year old)

Getting to the festival and setting up camp:

There was no queue at all, and I never saw more than 3 or 4 at a time waiting to get in. The campsite was organised into “quiet in the morning” and “quiet in the evening” with plenty of space in each for us to choose where to set up our family camp. We had 5 children, and 8 tents in our camp area, so were quite self-contained, not affected by other campers, but close enough to everyone to still enjoy. The walk from car to tent was not very far at all, although there is a hill, but there were people on hand to help carry your stuff for a small donation. On the exit day, due to the bad weather, we were able to drive our car down to pack up. This was a luxury I can not thank them enough for!

Read more…

Chilled in a Field 2014 Review

CIAF 2014 - 59It’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!

Read more…

Best festivals for toddlers 2014

DSC_0941The toddler stage is possibly the most difficult age to do festivals, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be done!

For really young kids we recommend small festivals, particularly if you are not an experienced festival-goer or camper. For a successful festival experience with toddlers you need space to run around or relax, less crowds, smaller distances between campsite, arena and carpark, a good selection of child-friendly food and a willingness to take things at your toddler’s pace (see also Naomi’s Top Tips for doing Festivals with Toddlers).

Read more…

Best Family Festivals 2014

Here are our top picks for 2014!

Now is a great time to start thinking about buying your festival tickets – most of the festivals offer ‘early bird’ prices, which means they are reduced if you book them early.

Whether a festival is good for you depends on what music you’re into and what other things you like doing at festivals, as well as the age of your kids. If you are new to festivals with kids, you may want to read our guide to Choosing the right Family-Friendly Festival. Read more…

Chilled in a Field 2013 Review

Chilled in a Field is small but perfectly formed

Chilled in a Field 2013

*Chilled* in a Field will always mean something special to our family, as it was the first festival for our two youngest last year, aged only 2. We wanted to visit it again but I admit I was a little bit concerned that as we had since been to much bigger festivals we might be disappointed in one so small. However I shouldn’t have worried – what *Chilled* misses out in big names and variety of entertainment it more than makes up for with atmosphere, enthusiasm and heart.

Read more…

Chilled in a Field 2012 Review

chilled in a field 2012 (c) Naomi Jones
The field to chill in…

It was with some trepidation that we packed what seemed like our entire house into the car, to set out for our first ever overnight festival, Chilled in a Field 2012, with all three children.

We had already taken our eldest to festivals before the twins were born, but this was an entirely different and some might say more insane affair.

A five year old and two year old twins? Were we mad? Maybe a little but we love our festivals so much we had to try!

Read more…

WIN! A Family Ticket to Chilled in a Field!

This competition has now closed

CIAF-Logo-Cloud-Single-Line

 

WIN! WIN! WIN! A Family Ticket to Chilled in a Field!

Read more…

Chilled in a Field – New Venue!

bentleyNEWS: Chilled in a Field have announced their new home for 2014!

This year Chilled in a Field will be held in the Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum. This location is even more perfect for families as it is a wonderful magical place for children to visit, and entry to Bentley is included in your ticket. Read more…

Taking the Plunge!

Is this your first time?

Don’t worry if you’re a bit nervous about the whole idea of a music festival with children. Even if you went to a hundred festivals before you had kids, the first one with them is a completely new experience! Read more…

Best Festivals for Toddlers – 2013

glasto toddlerTweet

The toddler stage is possibly the most difficult age to do festivals, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be done!

For really young kids we recommend small festivals, particularly if you are not an experienced festival-goer or camper.  For a successful festival experience with toddlers you need space to run around or relax, less crowds, smaller distances between campsite, arena and carpark, a good selection of child-friendly food and a willingness to take things at your toddler’s pace (see also Naomi’s Top Tips for doing Festivals with Toddlers).

After much debate, we reckon this year’s best festivals for Under 5’s are:

Read more…

Chilled in a Field 2011 Review

The weather at Chilled in a Field 2011 was wonderfully sunny then heavy rain on Friday, patchy sunshine rest of time with light rain Sunday. A bit cold and windy on the last day.

Review by: Fairy (with 3 year old)

Getting to the festival and setting up camp:

There was no queue at all, and I never saw more than 3 or 4 at a time waiting to get in. The campsite was organised into “quiet in the morning” and “quiet in the evening” with plenty of space in each for us to choose where to set up our family camp. We had 5 children, and 8 tents in our camp area, so were quite self-contained, not affected by other campers, but close enough to everyone to still enjoy. The walk from car to tent was not very far at all, although there is a hill, but there were people on hand to help carry your stuff for a small donation. On the exit day, due to the bad weather, we were able to drive our car down to pack up. This was a luxury I can not thank them enough for!

Read more…