Yahoo News 15 fantastic family-friendly festivals for summer
Even the most tent-shy families might find that a music festival is the highlight of their summer. Our experiences in 2022 were varied and memorable. We held space rocks at Bluedot, sang to a pink robot during the Flaming Lips at Womad, danced in butterfly wings to Peggy Gou during a Wilderness sunset, and grew sweetly sleepy listening to Indian night songs beneath a shimmering moon (Luke Jerram’s installation at Womad).
The cost of living crisis has tightened budgets but a festival still offers some of the most fun you can have in a few days. “Festivals can be incredibly life-affirming,” said Gilles Peterson, DJ and founder of We Out Here. This year, food traders at his Dorset festival have been asked to provide a kids’ menu and an “on a budget” option too.
Camp Bestival works especially hard to give children the time of their lives. “The escapism of a festival, particularly our highly produced and endlessly entertaining festivals, means everyone can forget about problems, re-energise and bond over fun activities,” said co-founder and DJ Rob da Bank.
Camp Bestival’s site in Dorset can be combined with visits to the Jurassic Coast, while the one in Shropshire has a lake where paddleboarding, raft-building and swimming are all possible, almost like a mini holiday.
A favourite with indie music fans, Deer Shed is actively encouraging families to turn their festival into a holiday. “We understand that many people will be choosing between a holiday and a festival this year,” said an organiser, “so we have put a little travel guide out there to help them plan, and to provide a shout-out to our Yorkshire neighbours.” A holiday itinerary is available on the Deer Shed website.
Festivals can also be a way of smuggling in learning disguised as fun. As Bearded Theory runs over the May bank holiday, the festival has its own, Ofsted-registered school. The idea is to encourage headteachers to authorise children’s absence so they can attend the festival, which the organisers describe as “life-enriching”.
At a family-friendly music festival, children will have access to a huge range of workshops. They can grow skills in subjects such as woodwork, crafting, circuit-building, science, painting, pottery-making and sports. They are also likely to learn about nature and the environment, while building confidence and boosting creativity. As the Bearded Theory organisers say, education shouldn’t be confined to four walls.
And if you can’t stand camping? You will be amazed by the array of glamping options available at festivals these days, all set up and ready to welcome you.
Bearded Theory, Derbyshire
May 25-28
The Ofsted-registered school sets this festival apart. It provides a broad itinerary of fun classes which meet key stage criteria for those in reception class through to year 10. When school’s out, activities include games on the village green, visiting the festival library, poetry tent or crafting in the Earth Area. The Rogues Hideout is especially for teens, with activities in the day and DJs at night. The main bill features Interpol, Anna Calvi, Beth Orton and Pretenders.
Go luxe: bell tents have access to a pamper suite
Standard camping: £187.25 (under-8s free)
Elderflower Fields, Sussex
May 26-29
Young imaginations run free at this long-running event aimed squarely at little ones. Set in Pippingford Park, families are encouraged to explore the site, with its sports and games in the meadows, art activities and a science dome. The woods are home to beatboxing workshops, family raves, forestry skills and poetry. Sunday culminates in a giant, “taste of Sussex” picnic with a family dance-off to follow.
Go luxe: larger lotus tents have windows and metal-frame beds
Standard camping: £159.83 (child £80.51)
The Great Estate, Cornwall
June 2-4
The fancy-dress theme is “pirates” at this overgrown fete, and families can explore Cornish pirate folklore along an adventure trail. Children join workshops to launch rockets or make T-shirts. Compete in the Victorian sports day or try the skate ramps or hip-hop karaoke. Junior Jungle raves are led by men in outrageous catsuits, plus there is a silent disco under the trees. Adults might enjoy the hot tubs and gin garden. The Selecter and Primal Scream headline.
Go luxe: bell tents come with deluxe bedding
Standard camping: £99.50 (child £22.50, over-12s £40)
Timber, Leicestershire
July 7-9
Set in the National Forest and with a strong focus on nature, Timber is a peaceful festival. It’s a great choice for either very little children, or for older children who are interested in the environment. Lay back and imagine shapes in the clouds in the theatre installation or parents can enjoy an ice bath and wood-fired sauna. Tune into soulful melodies from Bristol’s Lady Nade, folk from the 12-strong Destroyers or live festival podcasts on wilderness music and calming forest sounds.
Go luxe: bell tents have double beds, rugs and a storage crate
Standard camping: £165.85 (child £58.85)
Bluedot, Cheshire
July 20-23
Children love gazing up at Jodrell Bank’s Lovell telescope – seeing its giant dish splattered with visuals set to music is cool too. This space-themed gathering is a winner with families who pair critically-acclaimed music with Stem learning. Various stalls explain the workings of the galaxy. There are meteors to inspect, robots to control and an interactive play area brings retro video games to life. Be sure to book early for popular Jedi lightsaber training. Leftfield and Grace Jones perform, along with Pavement, in a UK exclusive.
Go luxe: sleek Airstream caravans have a table and seating area
Standard camping: £219.25 (child £38.50)
Standon Calling, Hertfordshire
July 20-23
With equal representation on the line-up, this festival offers plenty that others don’t. It is rare in that it has its own swimming pool, with a lifeguard present. It is also the UK’s most canine-friendly music festival. A dog show is staged on Sunday and pooch wellbeing experts will have treats to hand. Families can dress up on Saturday, plus there is family yoga, a daily kids’ rave, laser tag, comedy and hot tubs beside the river. Years & Years, Self Esteem and Bloc Party headline.
Go luxe: yurt suites have a lockable door with dedicated showers and private toilets
Standard camping: £230.75 (child £30)
Latitude, Suffolk
July 20-23
Known for its arts as much as music, Latitude’s comedy line-up is a big draw, with Joe Sutherland, Ed Gamble and Sara Pascoe tickling funny bones this year. Teens have a dedicated Inbetweeners zone with its own stage, while the children’s area offers forestry skills, crafts and science. The Guest Chef restaurant features celebrity names and the lake is an attractive centrepiece, where people swim and kayak. Pulp headline this summer, with Young Fathers and Siouxsie performing too.
Go luxe: safari suites have an ensuite bathroom, a sofa and a covered porch with outdoor furniture
Standard camping: £286.45 (child £15)
Womad, Wiltshire
July 27-30
A feast of sounds from all over the globe, Womad lets families discover new music at a leisurely pace. The variety is huge, with everything from Bugandan drumming to female gnawa and Sufi music represented this year. The children’s field is one of the best, with rock climbing, musical instruments, puppetry and storytelling, plus themed crafts to make ahead of Sunday’s main-stage parade. Look out for surprise, late-night spectacles in the woods. Femi Kuti, Horace Andy and Snapped Ankles are expected.
Go luxe: yurts come with futons and sheepskin rugs
Standard camping: £220.50 (child free)
Camp Bestival, Dorset and Shropshire
July 27-30, Aug 17-20
Celebrating 15 years of entertaining up-for-it kids (and their parents), Camp Bestival is an energy-packed extravaganza with two editions on different sites. Expect exuberant fun for children of all ages, with DJ bars to keep adults happy. Highlights include sets from CBeebies stars, regular theatre, acrobat and circus shows, a mud kitchen, fairground rides, tree-climbing, fireworks and a fancy-dress competition. New for this year is a roller disco. The music has good times vibes, with Grace Jones and Craig David in Dorset and Primal Scream and Rudimental in Shropshire.
Go luxe: dainty LuxPad huts have beds and garden chairs
Standard camping: from £197.75 (child from £83);
Deer Shed, North Yorkshire
July 28-31
This independent festival puts families first, with imaginative, wide-ranging activities that you won’t find elsewhere. The sports field incorporates wrestling workshops, nerf guns, football, BMX, quidditch, pickleball and kayaking on the lake, while the science tent hosts gizmobots and synthesiser building. Comedy shows are PG-rated until after dark. The Feral Farm, filled with hay and bean bags, is a hit with toddlers. The line-up features the Comet is Coming, Public Service Broadcasting and Gaz Coombes.
Go luxe: TriLodge tipis are designed for rain, with a small porch
Standard camping: £189 (child from £34.65)
Wilderness, Oxfordshire
Aug 3-6
Daytime chilling at this festival is all about dips in the lake, watching the festival cricket match or zoning out in a sound bath. At sunset, spangly leotards appear at the main stage, but things only properly get going after hours, when DJs ramp up the atmosphere down in the valley. The children’s area is small but the green- crafts area is also a hit with whittling and clay-throwing youngsters. The Chemical Brothers, Christine and the Queens and Fatboy Slim are unmissable at the top of the bill.
Go luxe: Bedouin tents have Moroccan-style patterned rugs
Standard camping: £275.40 (child £11)
We Out Here, Dorset
Aug 10-14
Inspired by club culture and curated by DJ Gilles Peterson, this festival is due to celebrate jazz, soul, dub and electronic music, plus 30 years of the labels Metalheadz and V Recordings. It moves to a new location on the Wimborne St Giles estate. Family and wellness activities include dance lessons, talks, yoga, hot tubs and a roller rink, plus there is a lake to laze beside. East London restaurant Brawn runs a dining room and Ezra Collective, Nia Archives and Róisín Murphy perform.
Go luxe: ridge tents sleep up to eight, with air beds and full bedding
Standard camping: £228 (child free); weoutherefestival.com
Just So, Cheshire
Aug 18-20
Organisers Wild Rumpus are adept at creating a magical world; their intimate festivals are perfect for little ones who might not like big crowds. Theatrical performances such as Bug Hotel aim to connect children with nature. Other highlights at this festival include two bizarre machines that transport people around while telling stories, a new crafting area and shadow puppets beside the campfire, to say nothing of old favourites including a silly sports day, midnight feasts, an animal carnival, a kids-v-adults dance-off at the silent disco, a ceilidh and a Mother Pukka DJ set.
Go luxe: painted bowtop caravans are handmade
Standard camping: £187.25 (child £64.20)
Big Feastival, Cotswolds
Aug 25-27
Foodies at this festival should get down to Alex James’s farm, where there’s a kids’ cooking school, a wide choice of bars, pop-ups and street food, plus demonstrations from chefs, including Nathan Outlaw. A big top hosts children’s shows, while entertainers from CBeebies take a turn on the main stage. The Crafty Corner is new and the vintage fun fair keeps excitement levels high into the evening. Example, Sigrid and the Vaccines perform, among others.
Go luxe: ensuite huts have bathrooms and tea and coffee
Standard camping: £227.95 (child £58.30);
End of the Road, Wiltshire
Aug 31-Sep 3
Free-roaming peacocks might elicit the biggest squeal from children at this boutique-sized event for indie music fans. With a pretty location in Larmer Tree Gardens, the festival is well-suited to families. Little legs won’t get too tired skipping between stages, plus there are art installations and games to discover in the copse behind the botanic garden. A secluded lawn features craft workshops (upcycled underpants anyone?) and circus skills. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Future Islands and slinky psych rockers Unknown Mortal Orchestra headline.
Go luxe: luxury yurts have a vintage storage chest and a folding table and chairs
Standard camping: £246 (child £52.34)
