Family Summer Festivals Survival Guide

Keep it small

Festivals are hubs of activity and can often be pretty hectic to navigate with kids in tow. Choosing a small, family-friendly event will allow you to keep your camp close to your car and all the fun activities on offer. If you are heading to a larger event, just stick to certain areas for sections of the day for your own mini-fest.

Expect all types of weather

Let’s face it, there’s a lot of weather in the UK – and it often has a mind of its own, so go prepared for whatever the heavens throw at you.

Take extra – of everything!

Nappies, comforters, clothes…you don’t want to be slapping your head in annoyance in the middle of a field because you’ve run out of something. If you’re driving, just keep a stash of essentials in the boot (including a spare box of wine!).

Baby wipes, bay wipes…and more baby wipes

Seriously, what would we do without them? Plus you’ll be every festival-goer’s best friend.

Go with other families

Prices for food and drink are often hiked up at festivals, so bring some of your own (especially snacks for the kids) and plan some campfire meals in advance to keep down the costs.

Don’t expect it to be cheap

Prices for food and drink are often hiked up at festivals, so bring some of your own (especially snacks for the kids) and plan some campfire meals in advance to keep down the costs.

Travel as light as possible

Lugging bags across a packed – often muddy – field from your car to your campsite is not a fun activity, so keep your packing as light as possible.

Lots of nibbles

Keep the kids’ (and your) energy levels up between meals with tasty snacks, like raisins, crisps and bananas.

Get some wheels

Wheelbarrows are great for carting all your stuff around, as are shopping trolleys.

Bring small rucksacks for your kids

If you have room in the car, pack a few essentials into mini backpacks for the kids, which they can carry around with them. Plus, some have wrist straps so you can keep hold of your kids in a crowd.

Ear defenders

If you’re going to be surrounded by loud speakers, it might be worth packing ear defenders for the little ones, as their ears are extra sensitive.

Fun accessories

Glow sticks, face paint, costumes…a festival wouldn’t be a festival without a little bit of dressing up! And, with your little one’s love of that Spiderman/pirate costume, they’ll fit right in.

First aid

Be prepared for all eventualities with plasters, pain medication and plenty of anti-bac gel.

ID your kids

Just in case they get lost…Alternatively, get your kids specially-printed T-shirts with ‘If lost, please call…’ on them.

Finally, a sense of humour!

Things never seem to go quite to plan at festivals, so a sense of humour is essential (especially when mud is involved!).