Anybody going to a festival with kids this year?

[cardy]

Not quite ready to handle Glastonbury with dds (4 and 6), but thought it might be good to do a day (not necessarily a whole weekend) at a festival. Any suugestions of where is good with kids and has some decent music?

[UnquietDad]

My children have been to Glastonbury.... in the living-room! They got the play-tent out and watched the BBC coverage before "Doctor Who". They stopped short of face-painting, but they had a flushing toilet to go to and no mud...

"Daddy, who are the Pigeon Detectives?"
"No idea, DD"
"Are they from the south? I've never heard of them!"

[sophiewd]

We are going to go to Camp Bestival in Dorset.

[cardy]

I considered Camp Bestival. Have you been before?

[aDad]

was going to say camp bestival looks fun. New this year.

[sfxmum]

we are going to Latitude again this year

[aDad]

I guess if you are only going for a day you don't want to make a schlep to the other end of the country, so I'd pick one locally.

[aDad]

so many small ones to choose from now

[charliecat]

tiny local one with dds in a couple of weeks.

[sophiewd]

Haven't been to Camp Bestival before (this is the first year they are holding it) but as it is only in the next door village it seemed silly not to.

[Boco]

Latitude. Is very child friendly.

[puppydavies]

we're doing the green man in mid wales with dds 5 and 1, it's one we've not been to before but we're old hands, although the weather plays a big part in how it all goes. is supposed to be a very good one for families, if your folk tolerance threshold is high enough

i'd go for something within an hour and a half's drive if i were you, go for the weekend with the option to head home early if it doesn't work out. try to arrive the day before everything starts to give yourselves a chance to set up in peace.

obv depends on your music taste and where you're based but wychwood (on the racecourse in cheltenham) is usually good lineup-wise and is on the "suburban" side (if excessive wildness concerns you). the end of the road in dorset is a fabulous little festie, although again perhaps too civilised for my taste, but music is fantastic if you like folk/blues/americana. is late in season though, sept.

let us know where you are roughly and we can pick one for you

[cardy]

In the North West - not aware of any locally. Don't mind travelling and combining it with a weekend away, possibily in a B&B, so happy to do just a day a festival (for starters.

Went to Glastonbury lots in the 90s but without children...it's a different story now.

I have to say I'm more into the indie band scene rather than folk...bit can do some singer/sondwritter type stuff.

[aDad]

Big Chill in Herefordshire is quite nice and perhaps not too far for you?

It's grown quite a bit but is fairly family friendly in that loads of people bring children, there is a huge family camping field, and activities for children. Music not so indie but a bit of everything really.

They are selling Sunday day tickets but tbh I'd recommend a full weekend - i think it's £65 a day ticket, but £130 for the full weekend, starting Thursday. Children free.

www.bigchill.net for details.

[aDad]

latitude looks great. Never been myself

[sfxmum]

would love to get back to Glasto but not with toddlers
the thing about Latitude is that it is pretty much geared for young families it is very diverse and it is of a manageable walkable size for little kids

[puppydavies]

i would say main difference is with kids you can't rely on getting to see anyone (although tbf we were pretty much like that pre-kids, we'd often get - erm - distracted on our way to see somebody ). i've had to walk away from one of my favourite singers playing my favourite song because dd had had enough, it's bittersweet. but if you can deal with just trolling around and maybe hearing the bands from a distance, or taking turns to babysit so you can each see one band properly then i reckon it's the best kind holiday for kids - camping with food and ents laid on.

my experience is that the smaller fests which are more family friendly are less likely to have big name lineups and be more sedate folky/bluesy, but tbh if you're old hands you'll be fine anywhere i'm sure, just pick a lineup.

this is cheap: indietracks

[OverMyDeadBody]

I've been to the Big Chill with DS and highly recommend it. He loved it, I loved it, allround the bast £120 I ever spent for four days of fun.

The big chill is very child orientated, big kids tent, loads for them to do, lots of space for them to run around, arts trail, kids entertainment and kids films showd around the site, and loads of superb food stalls. Not a chip van in sight

Going to try to make it to the secret garden this year, as it is more local to me.

[cardy]

yes did see the big chill in Herefordshire a colleague is going and recommended it.

Latitude does look good but but Suffolk is a bit too far, I think.

[nappyaddict]

I would love to go to glasto with ds but I don't think I would brave it until he was at least 4.

[Spillage21]

We're going to WOMAD this year, which is v child friendly apparently.

Have been to Green Man for last couple of years (excellent children's activities) but have had it with the weather...rain rain rain. 8 yo DS loved the music and playing in streams and 3 yo just liked trundling around with parents. We had babysitting rota in evening so the olds (DH mainly) could see Robert Plant.

[aDad]

Secret Garden Party is great and lovely to be on such a small site too.

[mazzystar]

We're doing the Green Man again, love a bit of folkey dokey action, and its in a great spot. Very child friendly. [will look out for puppydavies]

There is a bargainous festival in the North West first w/e August - Kendal Calling - its only £55. We are thinking of going there too - its quite small and low key.

[aDad]

I will also vouch for WOMAD and it's child-friendliness and guarantee no out of order behaviour from anyone there. I only ever went when it was in the centre of Reading though , but even then it was nice!

[aDad]

*its

(will be banished from the pedants' corner for that)

[puppydavies]

there's also shambala which is small but has quite a party vibe, rough round the edges if you like that kind of thing. northants i think (they keep the exact whereabouts hushhush).