Over the course of this year’s school holidays, there’s plenty going on that will keep the little ones sweet if you fancy a weekend break away. Forget catching a plane overseas, there’s a jam-packed calendar of super fun family-friendly festivals taking place in Britain all summer long.
1.The Big Feastival
Fri Aug 25th – Sun Aug 27th
Churchill Heath Farm, Chipping Norton
http://uk.thebigfeastival.com/
Run by Blur bass guitarist and cheese fanatic Alex James, The Big Feastival is the perfect event for a family who love their food. Across the weekend there will be numerous classes taking place at the on-site cooking school, as will be chef workshops, a fresh food and drink market and indulgent banquets. Away from the food, live music will be provided by the likes of Olly Murs, Ella Eyre and De La Soul.
Don’t’ want to camp? Stay in a Travelodge nearby The Big Feastival
2. Camp Bestival
Thu Jul 27th – Sun Jul 30th
Lulworth Castle, Dorset
At Camp Bestival, which will be held at Lulworth Castle in Dorset for the first time this year, offers huge amounts of fun for the kids. Organiser and DJ Rob Da Bank will treat your mini musicians to instrument workshops, hip hop karaoke, loop pedalling lessons and make-your-own-music-video sessions. There will also be a disco for babies plus live music from Mark Ronson, All Saints and Becky Hill for teens.
Don’t want to camp? Stay in a Travelodge nearby Camp Bestival
3. Citadel
Sun Jul 16th
Victoria Park, London
This one-day festival located in east London’s Victoria Park is the ticket to impress a hard-to-please teenager. Highlights of this Sunday shindig include indie band Foals playing live on the main stage, surprise sets taking place in the Bandstand, voga sessions (that’s yoga mixed with vogueing!), a Reggae Beats barbecue and more delicious street food than even a ravenous teen’s metabolism can handle.
Fancy going Citadel? Stay in a Travelodge nearby Citadel
4. Festival No. 6
Thu Sep 7th – Sun Sep 10th
Portmeirion, Wales
Head west to the wonderful Portmeirion for Festival No. 6 this September and you can soak up stunning waterside vistas all weekend long. Held right beside an estuary of the River Dwyryd in Wales, swimming and paddle boarding lessons will keep any active kids (and adults) occupied, whilst the family’s music fans can catch Bloc Party and Rag N Bone Man live in the festival’s main arena. Also on offer is live comedy and theatre, and Carnival No. 6, the festival’s very own street parade inspired by Rio and London’s Notting Hill Carnival.
Don’t want to camp? Stay in a Travelodge nearby Festival No. 6
5. Latitude
Thu Jul 13th – Sun Jul 16th
Henham Park, Suffolk
http://www.latitudefestival.com/
A festival fit for kids of all ages, Latitude has a line-up brimming with music from chart-topping pop groups, immersive theatre, stand-up comedy, plus a kids area that really is hard to beat. Catering for babies, children and “inbetweeners”, the kids can spend a long weekend doing yoga, learning dance, doing arts and crafts, pond dipping at the nearby lake and embarking on woodland nature trails.
Don’t want to camp? Stay in a Travelodge nearby Latitude
6. Jimmy’s Festival
Sat Jul 22nd – Sun Jul 23rd
Jimmy’s Farm, Ipswich
http://www.jimmysfestival.co.uk/
If you’ve got a family of hungry meat eaters on your hands, head to Jimmy’s Festival this August. Food-wise there’ll be foraging talks, a mass barbecue, sausage making workshops and sausage eating competitions. If you’ve room left for anything else after that, Scouting For Girls and KT Tunstall will be playing live on the main stage, whilst TV favourites Dick ‘N’ Dom and CBeebies’ Mr Bloom will be there to entertain as well.
Don’t want to camp? Stay in a Travelodge nearby Jimmy’s Festival
7. Wildflowers
Sat Sept 9th
Hobbledown Children’s Farm, Epsom
Now in its third year, the Wildflowers festival set on Hobbledown Children’s farm in Epsom has a range of activities to keep you entertained. Set in the Field of Confusion, the mini one-day festival is jam packed with fun from music, games and competitions to the Festival of Colour paint throwing extravaganza. Whilst you’re at the festival why not explore the whole of Hobbledown farm with its arts and craft making for the kids, animals, playground and not to mention jumping pillows!
Don’t want to camp? Stay in a Travelodge nearby Wildflowers
8. Curious Arts Festival
Fri Jul 21st – Sun Jul 23rd
Lymington, Hampshire
http://curiousartsfestival.com/
This arts-based festival taking place near Hampshire’s New Forest boasts singer songwriter Tom Odell and R&B singer Izzy Bizu on its live music line-up, while reading fans can get excited for talks with authors Joanna Trollope and Vendela Vida, to name just a few literary figures in discussion at the three-day event. For younger members of the family there will be immersive children’s theatre, kids comedy, an arts and crafts centre, classic film screenings, nature walks and junior writing workshops.
Don’t want to camp? Stay in a Travelodge nearby the Curious Arts Festival
9. Deer Shed Festival
Fri Jul 21st – Sun Jul 23rd
Topcliffe, North Yorkshire
For the sporty ones in the family, Deer Shed Festival is guaranteed to please, with activities such as skate boarding, BMX-ing, cricket, tag archery, orienteering and rugby golf all on the weekend’s bill. And that’s not to mention Quidditch and Wrong Pong as well! For the littlest of little ones, Deer Shed will have a sand pit, soft play area, a sensory tent plus easy access to baby baths. For mums and dads, there’s a solid line-up of live music and comedy, as well the promise of delicious food and drink.
Don’t want to camp? Stay in a Travelodge nearby Deer Shed
10. Shambala
Thu Aug 24th – Sun Aug 27th
Secret location, Northamptonshire
http://www.shambalafestival.org
Held at a secret country estate in Northamptonshire, Shambala is a fantastic festival for both adults and kids who like to experience a bit of everything. Highlights of the four-day event include costume design and monster making in the Crafts Field, climbing frames and sandpits in the Enchanted Woods, plus there will be trampolining, music workshops, crazy golf and fairground rides too. For young babies, the onsite crèche is also handy if you fancy a night off…
Don’t want to camp? Stay in a Travelodge nearby Shambala
