Should we go to a festival?

[smeerf]

I was a bit of an alternative teenager, I've been to Reading, Roskilde, Download. DP has never been to an overnight festival (but has done Hackney Weekender, SW4 etc).

I'm watching Glasto and thinking we should do some kind of festival with the family. DS1 is 16m and we're TTC DC2. What age is best to take the kids and which festival should we go for? Thing Camp Bestival?

It depends where abouts in the country you live. I wouldn’t travel a huge distance to a festival with a one year old. It also depends what you want in a festival. They have such a broad reach these days. There really is something for everyone. Do you want luxury or basic facilities, indie or world music, laid-back or party central?
Cornbury is quite central in the country and it’s great for first-time festival families, or even regular festival-goers who like their festivals done nicely. Sparkling loos, fancy food and easy to get around. Legendary performers (the Beach Boys are headlining this year) and a kids’ area make it a good all-rounder. You won’t be able to go this year though because it’s starting this week!

I go to a few smaller festivals.

My daughter saw The Stranglers last year when she was 11 and loved them.

So the smaller festivals do have excellent bands on and are quite often family friendly which makes it easier with children. We always camp. It's just the two of us - my eldest doesn't like festivals but she loves them.

I've been taking her since she was about 4. There are often people with babies and toddlers.

We did the family camp at Latitude when DSs were 23 months & 4. It worked really well. We took a solid based festival cart with a big cover, and made sure we knew which child we were watching at any one time. During the morning we hung out in the kids are. There was loads for pre-schoolers/ primary aged children to do - crafts, workshops, forest school, circus skills, pond-dipping, author talks etc. After a nap, we’d then head into the main area and listen to bands. The kids tended to settle in the cart at some point in the evening, so it was all pretty easy.

Latitude is very family-focused though, and we felt very safe and comfortable. I would avoid going during or just after potty training, or if you have a toddler who bolts etc, as it is very busy (obviously).

Bearded Theory. Small-ish, affordable, the site is totally flat, always litter/rubbish free. Toilets and family facilities are always clean, loads of volunteers on hand. They even have an Ofsted inspected school on the Friday so if you have school aged kids you can take them without worrying about the absence records.

If you're down South, Beautiful Days is lovely, and very family oriented.