Best Family-Friendly Festivals You Can Still Visit This Summer

If you wish you could switch your favourite UK festivals to “Parental Guidance” mode, then we know exactly what you need.

As the summer holidays near ever closer, it can be difficult to think of fresh ideas to get the whole gang involved. Thankfully, there are oodles of family-friendly festivals to enjoy during July and August.

Set the bar high this summer when you visit one of the UK’s best family-friendly festivals. Here is our pick of the best.

Camp Bestival (27th-30th July)

This family festival is set in the grounds of Lulworth Castle, in Dorset. Backed by rolling hills, you will be hard-pressed to find a more spectacular scene to spend your summer holidays.

Organised by Radio 1 DJ, Rob Da Bank, this is known as the “little sister” of Bestival. Families can enjoy face painting, building cardboard space rockets in one of the many workshops, or chuckle away at the comedy store. And that’s not all: Mark Ronson, Louisa Johnson and Anne-Marie are some of the top UK artists rocking the main stage this year.

Camp Bestival boasts not only the Best New Festival award (2008), but also won the Best Family Festival in 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014. And well-deserved, too!

Just So (19th-21st August)

Rode Hall Estate

Nestled amongst woodland clearings and sprawling parkland, Just So festival in Rode Hall Estate, Cheshire, is an annual family event which combines art, music and literature.

This year’s festival is in association with Guardian Children’s Books, so there’s plenty of opportunity for your children to meet their favourite authors. There are lots of activities taking place across the estate, such as the pop-up dinosaur workshop which is hosted by acclaimed author and illustrator, Paul Strickland.

As the sun goes down, families can visit the festival’s Midnight Feast: a space where authors regale children tales and fables. Respected author, Ian Douglas, is one of the many storytellers who will be present, along with children’s singer songwriter, David Gibb. Just So festival is a North-West gem not to be missed!

Beautiful Days (18th-20th August)

Family time is made extra special at Beautiful Days festival. Located in Escot Park, Devon, this intimate music festival has six lively stages, including spaces for comedy, play areas, rides and storytelling. For a grown-up drink, you can enjoy real ale from one of the many bars around the venue.

Beautiful Days is one of the critics’ favourites, winning the Grass-Roots Festival Award in 2006 and 2015, the Best Family Festival Award in 2011, and Best Medium Festival in 2011.

This is an independent festival which does not advertise and has no corporate sponsorship or branding. Not that it would need any backing anyway – advance tickets typically sell out every year; so secure yours before it’s too late!

The Big Feastival (25th-27th August)

Blur Frontman

The Big Feastival is a three-day star-studded event in the charming town of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. Alex James, bassist of the band “Blur”, hosts this event on his own farm in the Cotswolds alongside celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver. Headliners this year include Olly Murs, Ella Eyre, Faithless and Toploader.

Music and food are the orders of the day here, ideal for families who love tucking in as much as they love a good boogie. You’ll be glad you came hungry at this event, as catering is supplied by the country’s top chefs. Family fun, food and funky tunes; what more could you ask for?

Shambala (24th-27th August)

This four-day festival takes place over the last weekend in August, and is a great way to round off the children’s summer holidays.

Based in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside, Shambala is an award-winning green event which is jamboree of all things jolly. If your family dance to the beat of their own drum, you will love this festival.

Created for those who appreciate variety in music, comedy and the arts, Shambala facilitates for all tastes. Over 200 acts take to the festival’s 12 live stages over the bank holiday weekend, showcasing everything including cabaret and circus acts.

Shambala is the ideal festival for families who simply cannot contain their creativity! Audience participation is offered across all sorts of activities, giving children the chance to get up on stage and strut their stuff. It’s not called the “legendary party” for nothing!

Which festival will you be taking your family to this summer? Let us know in the comments, below!

Image Credit

Image Credit

Image Credit

Image Credit

Image Credit

/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *