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Original poster

Festivals that are good for kids

25 replies

MBailey99 · 30/08/2023 08:39

I usually go to 3 or 4 music festivals a year instead of abroad holidays as for me they are better value for money. Bluedot is our favourite but this year was a washout (did anyone else go?) and sadly not sure it'll be on next year. Does anyone have any recommendations?

OP posts:
Original poster
MBailey99 · 30/08/2023 08:41

Forgot to say I'll be going with a 1yo, 3yo, 4yo, 5yo, 9yo, 12yo, 15yo, 17yo, 18yo and a handful of adults (not all mime!) so ideally festivals with something for everyone! We're planning to do a string of festivals together

OP posts:
AlyssumandHelianthus · 30/08/2023 08:43

Shambala is great with kids. There's a crèche, kids field, family camping, loads of art installations, craft field, woodland play area, and a really nice vibe.

ReeseWitherfork · 30/08/2023 08:45

Camp Bestival maybe?

If you want to go big…. Glastonbury

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Lastqueenofscotland2 · 30/08/2023 08:45

I was going to say Shambala (although maybe not the best if you want lots of crowd pleasing big name/singalong bands)
Latitude was always very family friendly too

imnotwhoyouthinkiam · 30/08/2023 08:46

We've just come back from Greenbelt and had the best weekend in a long time. We are Christian though. Well I am. DC1 is undecided. DC2 is atheist.
It's not just music, there's also comedy, plays, talks and art.

Trixiefirecracker · 30/08/2023 08:47

What was wrong with Bluedot? It’s usually a fantastic festival.

Original poster
MBailey99 · 30/08/2023 08:49

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 30/08/2023 08:45

I was going to say Shambala (although maybe not the best if you want lots of crowd pleasing big name/singalong bands)
Latitude was always very family friendly too

Edited

Shambala is the one we do, and always will do every year. We prefer world music so tend to avoid really big festivals as none of us are much into mainstream music (for example we live Cambridge folk festival and Kendal Calling).

How amazing is shambala though? It's the only festival I've ever been to where I've genuinely felt like I was part of a unique festival family.

OP posts:
FlorenceTheFerocious · 30/08/2023 08:51

I'm interested in this for next year too so just shamelessly placemarking here!

Original poster
MBailey99 · 30/08/2023 08:52

Trixiefirecracker · 30/08/2023 08:47

What was wrong with Bluedot? It’s usually a fantastic festival.

Wasn't their fault. It rained very heavily for a significant portion of the festival (every day). They had to cancel all day tickets. Lots of people went home so it felt empty. A lot of disabled people had to leave. They had to get most people out of the car park with tractors. Kids crying and upset because they were all getting stuck in the mud. Lots and lots of people fell. Tents ruined (floating). It wasn't great.

OP posts:
FFSWhatToDoNow · 30/08/2023 08:53

Carfest?

Trixiefirecracker · 30/08/2023 08:54

What a shame! Although that’s the problem with festivals in the U.K.! 😩 Solfest in Cumbria is a lovely smallish but very friendly and vibrant festival. It’s one of the cleanest I have ever been to and great kids area.

Thenthatsthatthen · 30/08/2023 08:57

We went to camp kindling this year. It's fairly new but the adult version has been around for years. You spent the day doing activities (we did aerial hoops, quad biking, axe throwing, kite building, survival skills and a few other bits). The evening starts with patrol games (think scout camp) and then there's music, comedy etc.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 30/08/2023 08:59

Underneath the Stars in South Yorkshire is a lovely family friendly festival. Usually the last w/e of July.

HippyChickMama · 30/08/2023 09:14

Beautiful Days is a great family festival. We went a couple of years ago and camped in the family field, there was security watching over the field all night and a curfew for noise in that field, it was very quiet. Lots of activities for everyone, a children's area with circus skills and drumming workshops, theatre tents with family shows and some lesser known bands as well as headline acts (but even they weren't current mainstream). Food was fab and it was a very friendly atmosphere

JaninaDuszejko · 30/08/2023 09:17

Deershed is small and very family focussed.

TheBitterBoy · 30/08/2023 09:18

We have enjoyed Wychwood for many years with a large group with children of all ages. It's small enough to let the younger teens roam free a bit, decent range of acts and craft and other kids activities, many of them free.
Always the last weekend of May half term, we've never had bad weather.

bert3400 · 30/08/2023 09:22

Womad is brilliant for kids. Family camping, kids field with so much to entertain them . Great location. We used to walk into Malmsbury on the Saturday afternoon (as been on the festival site since Thursday morning ) to enjoy a pub lunch and stock up with supplies . Lots and lots of diverse amazing music .

Acommonreader · 30/08/2023 09:33

We’ve just been to Gone Wild with Bear Grylls with primary age dc. We had a brilliant time. Music in the evenings and lots of BG style adventure activities in the day. Clean, good camping too. Queues were an issue however.

rbe78 · 30/08/2023 11:12

Latitude is supposed to be good for kids, but annoyingly is usually in the last week or two of term so we've never been.

unfor · 30/08/2023 11:14

I think Latitude are moving their dates to a week later next year, so won't clash with end of term. I went last year with my teen and we had a great time. It's at the more corporate end of the festival spectrum but the stuff for young kids looked amazing.

CDRposts · 29/10/2023 09:01

Have you been to Chilfest in Hertfordshire? It's in July and really kid friendly.

AJMUNN · 01/03/2025 22:22

Sunshine Music Festival is a great family festival. It purposefully books acts that appeal to parents while avoiding teen bands. This ensures families are present, not hordes of unaccompanied teens.

I have never witnesses drugs, fights or ego filled encounters.

The setting is beautiful and very close to the gorgeous riverside town Upton Upon Severn. Great shops and pubs.

The loos are clean and there are hot showers.

cheapskatemum · 01/03/2025 22:32

Latitude is great for kids of all ages. It used to be mid July, but is now later in July and seems to coincide with state school end of term.

DappledThings · 01/03/2025 23:24

Black Deer was great for children when we went and Green Man.

jolies1 · 01/03/2025 23:38

Kendal Calling

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