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Fun fest!

 

It’s cool and fun to take the kids along to outdoor summer festivals

 

writes Devona Anidi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GLASTONBURY

 

Where? Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset

When? June 22 to 26, 2011

How much? £195 per ticket including camping. Children under 12 go free with an accompanying adult. Car parking £20 and campervan parking £75

Find out more @ www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

Booking Glastonbury 2011 sold out in October 2010 so if you don’t have tickets for this year, make a note in the diary for autumn registration for the next one

 

FUN

 

The largest outdoor green field music and arts festival in the world, Glastonbury has a reputation for being family-friendly. Central to family entertainment is Kidz Field - a mini festival within a festival. Packed with clowns, magicians, storytellers, acrobats, face painters, play rangers and imagineers, there is a range of activities on offer to keep children happily occupied. Babies and toddlers have their own area, Little Kidz, with mini playground, shaded sandpit, swingboats, chairoplanes plus a toy and book library. Other family friendly attractions include the Greenpeace Children’s Field and a circus and theatre workshops for older children.

 

FACILITIES

 

Baby changing, bathing and feeding facilities are provided by the National Childbirth Trust. Two dedicated family camping areas are available onsite, one of which is adjacent to Kidz Field. Camping spots are on a first come, first served basis. If camping isn’t your thing, you can also do Glastonbury from the relative luxury of a campervan.

 

 

CAMP BESTIVAL

 

Where? Lulworth Castle, Dorset

When? July 29 to 31, 2011

How much? £160 for an adult weekend ticket including camping. Children aged 10 and under are free of charge but still require a (free) ticket. Car parking is £10 and campervan parking £60. Limited day tickets are also available closer to the festival date

Find out more @ www.campbestival.net or call 0207 379 3133

Booking Through the official Camp Bestival seller.

Visit www.ticketline.co.uk/camp-bestival.

 

FUN

 

Winner of the Family Festival Award for two years running, Camp Bestival puts children at the forefront. Last year, mini festival goers enjoyed appearances from Mr Tumble along with a stage adaptation of The Gruffalo. You can find ‘100 Free Things for Kids to do’ in the Kids’ Garden where children of all ages have access to soft play, a circus big top, dressing-up tent, a bouncy castle, craft workshops and a dedicated toddlers’ area. There’s storytelling in the Penguin children’s book tent.

FACILITIES

 

A comfy breastfeeding and nappy changing area can be found at the ‘Brestival’ Baby Temple. The River Cottage Café is onsite, along with Fine Kids, where you’ll find a range of healthy meals and packed lunches. There’s also a boutique babysitting service manned by fully qualified CRB-checked childcare professionals. There’s also a wide range of accommodation at various prices.

 

 

‘A great experience’  

 

Simon Ward and Lucinda Jones took Ted, six, and Betty Blossom, three, to Camp Bestival

 

‘We normally go to at least one festival a year. Last year, we went to Camp Bestival for a second time because it’s tailor-made for families and strikes a good balance between music for adults and fun for kids.  

 

The first time we went, our daughter was very young and waking in the night. This made camping in close proximity to others a bit of a nightmare. We found it a lot easier second time round as they were both slightly older. We camped just outside the festival on a quiet site, which meant we didn’t have to lug heavy bags from car to camp. We just took loads of wipes, water and sunscreen.

 

For the kids, the main highlight was seeing Justin Fletcher (aka Mr Tumble) and for us it was the SingStar tent, though we weren’t brave enough to have a go ourselves!  The only lowlight was that the kids fell asleep when Madness came onstage on Saturday, which put an end to the evening’s festivities. And, as with other festivals, food and drink were expensive.

 

Overall, it was a great experience and we’ll do it again. The weather helped, as did the BMX and skateboard stunt displays for Ted, face painting and cake making for Betty Blossom and nice food and good music for us.’

 

 

BELLADRUM

 

Where? Belladrum Estate, Inverness

When? August 5 and 6, 2011

How much? An adult weekend ticket including camping is £90. Children aged 12 and under are admitted for free though a (free) ticket must be booked.

A campervan ticket costs £30

Find out more @ www.tartanfestival.co.uk or call 01463 741366

Booking Online through the Belladrum website or official ticket outlet www.skiddle.com

 

FUN

 

With a diverse programme incorporating musicians, dance lessons, theatre, debate and the written word, Belladrum positively encourages parents to bring their children along for a family-focussed experience against the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands. Most children’s activities can be found in the Tir Nan Og area and they include theatre and music workshops, circus workshops, Gaelic storytelling, puppet making, origami and sumo wrestling for older children. There are theatre shows for the under fives.

 

FACILITIES

 

You can camp in style by hiring out a luxury Tipi or Bell tent complete with furnishings, a real fire and access to exclusive showers and toilet facilities.

 

 

HARVEST AT JIMMY’S

 

Where? Jimmy’s Farm, Wherstead, Suffolk

When? September 10 and 11, 2011

How much? Adult weekend ticket with camping £95. Children aged 5 and under are free of charge but require a (free) ticket. Children aged 6 to 15 years £35. Day tickets also available

Find out more @ www.harvestatjimmys.com  or call 02072 927121

Booking Online through the official ticket seller www.bigwheeltickets.com

 

 

FUN

 

Now in its third year, Harvest at Jimmy’s fuses the worlds of food and music. Held at the Suffolk farm belonging to Jimmy Doherty (of TV shows Jimmy’s Farm and Jimmy’s Food Factory) there’s plenty to keep little tums and imaginations busy. Children and parents are kept entertained with cooking lessons. Activities for younger children include storytelling, soft play and an adventure playground. This is a working farm, so animal tours provide a change of pace and there is even a butterfly house. Highlights for 2011 include a musical adaptation of The Gruffalo.

 

 

FACILITIES

 

In addition to family camping facilities, Harvest at Jimmy’s has boutique onsite camping with luxury toilets! Festival goers can choose from a choice of yurts, wooden cabins and Bluebell tents that are kitted out with mattresses and duvets. A boutique crèche service is also available.

 

 

SUMMER SUNDAE WEEKENDER

 

Where? De Montfort Hall & Gardens, Leicester

When? August 12 to 14, 2011

How much? £115 for an adult weekend ticket or £295 a family weekend ticket (2 adults and 2 children aged 5 to 15). A child ticket costs £40 (maximum of 2 children per adult). Children under 5 are free of charge but still need to book a (free) ticket. Camping is not included and costs £12 per adult and £6 per child for a pitch in the designated family camping site. A campervan costs £35. Day tickets also available.  

Find out more @ www.summersundae.com or call 0116 233 3111

Booking Through the website or call 0116 233 3111

 

FUN

 

Set in the extensive grounds of De Montfort Hall, Summer Sundae is unlike most other festivals in that it is located slap bang in the city centre, giving it an urban and boutique feel. Children are treated to a dedicated Kids Zone area packed with activities – and alcohol-free!  A chill-out zone, family films, stilt walkers, jugglers and walkabout artists add to the feel-good factor. Previous years have seen a re-creation of a beach (complete with real beach, sandcastle building and knobbly knees competition) and a Mad Hatters’ Tea Party.

 

FACILITIES

 

Quality food stalls cater for all tastes and there is a separate quiet family camping area available offering extra showers and toilet facilities.

 

 

FESTIVAL CAMPING SURVIVAL GUIDE

 

· Bring spare sets of clothes, torches (and back up batteries),

 plenty of biodegradable wipes, toilet roll, thick rugs to sit

 on/wrap up with and plastic sheets

· Don’t forget sunscreen, waterproofs, sunhat, insect repellent

 and a first aid kit with all your child-related essentials

 

· Try not to over pack. Check out in advance what facilities

 are available. Remember, you won’t be camping beside your

 car

 

· Avoid taking bags of food that need to be cooked or

 prepared. Bread and pre-made sandwiches for your first day

 can be a lifesaver when you haven’t yet found a foodstall

 you like

 

· An off-road buggy or trailer can be a real asset. Use it to

 load all your gear as well as for child transport and a resting

 place for weary children

 

· Bring a bucket with a tight fitting lid to avoid any midnight

 trips to the toilets

 

· Big crowds can be daunting for children. Warn them about

 strangers and explain how they should seek help from a

 policeman, security or another adult with children if they do

 get lost. Make sure that children who are old enough have

 your mobile number and know the field you are camping in

 

· Relax and enjoy! Be open-minded about routines such as

 bedtime and go with the flow.

 

 

 

May/June 2011

All information is correct at time of publishing