Festivals

[BackforGood]

Can anyone point me in the direction of any meet ups / festivals in the UK where you don't have to camp ?

I'd like to share worship with big numbers of people; learn and sing some contemporary hymns / songs; listen to speakers; join discussions

but the idea of spending 5 days in a tent doesn't appeal.

Sorry, I should have been clearer - I was meaning Christian Festivals.

spring harvest you stay at a Butlins I think. Other festivals all do day passes so u could stay in aB&B nearby. I know lots of people who do this.

New Wine moved to Peterborough last year. On of the advantages they listed, along with it being more central, was that over 1000 hotel/travelodge etc rooms within a few miles.
We went for the first time and camped, but one of my friends stayed off site and drive in each day.
We had a fantastic time. We’ve also done Spring Harvest too, so ask if you want any info.

Thanks both.
Have you been to both rachrose8 ?
How do they differ ?

I've only ever been to Greenbelt and that was about 35 years ago

Been to green belt, just drove for the day as I'm nearby

Yes noticed there were some hotels v close to new wine site in Peterborough, easy walking distance.
Haven’t done spring Harvest but sometimes they have some of the same speakers.
I’ve got mixed feelings about new wine but that’s partly down to the difficult camping experience I had last year. And basically going solo with the 3 dc due to unhelpful/absent dH. Despite that we are booked to go back for a 3rd year running because the kids love it!
There is something for everyone to be fair it’s just quite hard work with young kids. I’m sure Id it if i was child free or had older ones and could stay in a nice dry comfy hotel room!

Thanks Sharkyfan.
My dc are all grown up now so I'd be going on my own.
Never occurred to me that I could drop in and out on a day by day basis

Hello @Sharkyfan and @BackforGood. We are long attenders at Spring Harvest. Great Bible teaching, choice of seminars, evening main session in Big Top (4000 people) with alternative smaller celebration (500). Good space with cafes, bookstore, swimming pool, fair. Really good kids work too.
New Wine - much bigger, so more choice. 4 morning sessions and 4 evening sessions at same time, of varying size. New Wine always has opportunity for prayer ministry at the end of meetings (this isn’t usually the case at SH). Huge number of seminars of varying topics. They have cafes in marquees so plenty of opportunity to drink coffee undercover if it is wet, art workshops, marketplace (stalls and charities and bookshop).
Worship is good at both and with so many Christians and hearing stories of God working is encouraging.

@Sharkyfan if the weather is bad I think New Wine is tricky, particularly with kids. We ere there Week 1 and the weather was awful at the start. My kids are teens, and I have loads of camping experience through being a Girlguiding leader most of my life, and I still found it challenging.
I have great admiration for those there with young children, so well done for surviving.
Hope you had some positive times too.

Thanks @rachrose8 - that is really helpful information.

Anyone else recommend anywhere else ?

Little disappointed here- just getting fired up for Imbolc!

You can go to Greenbelt just for the day - we did a couple of years ago. You used to be able to do the same at Spring Harvest; whether that's the case now, I don't know.

What is the traffic / parking like if you do that @Catinabeanbag?

@Sharkyfan well done for doing NW on your own with little ones. The weather was bad last year wasn't it, makes it all more difficult. I do think there's so much on offer for families now - right from the 5am stepping stones venue with tea and toast for frazzled parents, which some of our party made use of. When mine were little there was pretty much nothing except their groups so I remember some very challenging years trying to entertain a baby and toddler in the pouring rain. Loved it though and kept coming back!!

@BackforGood I'd definitely recommend New Wine as well. There are actually two hotels on the showground itself, and plenty more nearby, so definitely a great way of doing it if that option is affordable to you. I love it - been going for 25 years.

I like Spring Harvest too, and the chalets are definitely a dry option (unless you're a kids team worker in 1990 and allocated a chalet straight out of hi-de-hi, damp patches, great cavernous gaps under front doors and all. Happy memories...)😂

@Madhairday thanks yes they do have loads going on - the kids work really is fantastic and that is why we’re going back really. I think last year people would have enabled me to go to more sessions had I taken Tim to think what I wanted to go to, planned ahead and asked for help so I’m going to try and do that next time. And the weather was a big factor last year plus some teething issues with the site and toilets etc. I’m hoping next year will be better in that respect! Plus my youngest will be 5 next time so she will have sessions she can go to in the evening for the first time which will make a difference.
Eldest will be 12 so curious/apprehensive as to how she’ll get on being more in the youth bit.

Time not Tim!

Thanks @MadHairDay