A guide to the best family-friendly festivals this summer
With summer just around the corner, what better way to enjoy the holidays with your little one than by going to a family festival? With so many to choose from that host a huge range of activities, you'll not have to struggle planning outdoor games everyday to keep them entertained through the summer.
Your little one will love getting their wellies muddy and dancing to a diverse range of music - it's a wonderful sensory experience for little ones of all ages! There are even some onsite babysitting services, loads of delicious food and drinks to choose from and different camping options that will suit your family.
It's never been easier to take your whole family to a festival with a huge range across the country, and they can be so much fun that you'll cherish the memories for a lifetime. We've found the best family-friendly festivals across the UK this summer that are fun for all the family, so why not take a look?
The best family-friendly festivals 2019:
1) Latitude Festival, Suffolk
Where: Henham Park, SuffolkWhen: 18th - 21st July
This proud family-friendly festival is probably the most grown-up one you can take your children along to, with George Ezra and Lana Del Ray taking to the stage this year. They have dedicated kids and family areas where there's a range of fun activities such as circus skills classes for your children to join in with. They also have an environmentally friendly ethos, so you can teach your little ones all about helping the environment!
Photo credit: © Latitude Festival Facebook
2) Bluedot Festival, Cheshire
Where: Jodrell Bank, CheshireWhen: 18th - 21st July
This intergalactic festival will be perfect for children who love science. The line-up includes everything from live music to a ground-breaking programme of live science experiments, expert talks and immersive artworks! With free entry for all teens, children and under 5’s. With workshops and activities happening each day, such as T-shirt making workshops and a giant balloon mousetrap, your days will be jam-packed! The motto is Observe. Explore. Experiment. And that's exactly what you'll do.
Photo credit: © Discover the Bluedot
3) Port Eliot Festival, Cornwall
Where: St. Germans, CornwallWhen: 25th - 28th July
If you're wanting a picturesque festival that has something for all ages, then this stylish festival is perfect with its fairytale setting. There are plenty of camping options, including luxury boutique camping or staying in fully equipped tents already set-up in the dreamy Tangerine fields! Your days will be fun-filled too, whether you're swimming in the estuary, watching a performance or taking part in a workshop.
Festival director and dad Colin, says: “Port Eliot brings out the child in all of us. Walking through the gates is like opening the wardrobe doors and entering Narnia."
Photo credit: © Sarah Louise Bennett
4) Camp Bestival, Dorset
Where: Lulworth Castle, DorsetWhen: 25th - 28th July
This family-friendly music festival is devoted to blending kids' and adults' festival experiences through spoken word, live theatre and a diverse musical line-up. It's an explosion of music, arts and creativity! While you enjoy singing along to Jess Glynne or the Vengaboys, your little ones will be loving Mr Tumble clowning around!
Photo credit: © Camp Bestival
5) Deer Shed Festival, North Yorkshire
Where: Baldersby Park, North YorkshireWhen: 26th - 28th July
Celebrating their 10th year of this incredible festival, Deer Shed Festival is not one to be missed. Children are at the forefront of this festival as an NCT tent will be on hand at all times, giving you access to changing facilities, feeding areas, milk sterilisation, high chair facilities, microwaves and even sling hire. There are endless childrens activies too, from a meadow sensory, bubble rave to a kiddie pig sty, your little one will never get bored.
Photo credit: © Deer Shed Festival Facebook
6) Wilderness, Oxfordshire
Where: Cornbury Park, OxfordshireWhen: 1st - 4th August
This family-friendly festival is bursting with creativity, with a huge range of arts and craft activities to take part in, including costume making, theatre groups, dance classes, fairytales, poetry and songs for all the family! They even have a designated quiet, family camping area and a babysitting service available too.
Photo credit: © Wilderness Festival Facebook
7) Just So Festival, Cheshire
Where: Rode Hall, CheshireWhen: 16th - 18th August
Get back to nature and your creative roots as a family with this spellbinding family festival. This year they're celebrating amazing art and performances, promising to be just as ambitious and thrilling as the previous years. From dusk to dawn, there's endless activities to join in with, from tribal tournaments (where you get to dress as animals!), to dance and campfire stories, there is so much to do. Kids will love visitng the Spellbound Forest, Fire Gardens and Peekaboo Garden! There's even bath time bubble fun for babies.
Photo credit: © Just So Festival Facebook
8) Shambala, Northamptonshire
Where: Secret Country Estate, NorthamptonshireWhen: 22nd - 25th August
Shambala is an eco-friendly, family-friendly festival celebrating world music. It aims to be as green as it can be and is even meat and fish-free, making it the perfect veggie paradise. With nature workshops and woodland adventures, your little ones will love getting to explore the eco-friendly setting and learn about why it's good to be green. There's even a family camping field close to the car park, with compost loos, hot showers, wash basins, and even kid-sized loos!
Photo credit: © Shambala Festival Facebook
9) The Big Feastival, The Cotswolds
Where: Alex James' Farm, The CotswoldsWhen: 23rd - 25th August
With free day tickets available for under 12s, this festival will be a big hit for all the family. Peppa Pig and members of the Paw Patrol will be making an appearance over the festival weekend, along with Jess Glynne and Lewis Capaldi who will be taking to the main stage. There's a family-friedly pitstop for those much needed breaks your little ones might need to chill out, food for children and you can even hire ear defenders just in case it's a little loud.
Photo credit: © The Big Feastival Facebook
10) Into The Trees, Sussex
Where: Ashdown Forest, SussexWhen: 13th - 15th September
Into The Trees is less of a festival and more of a weekend getting grubby and exploring nature in the woodland of Ashdown Forest. Although it's not a festival, is the perfect way to spend quality time as a family while exploring the great outdoors and learning about nature. There's a whole range of outdoor activities, ranging from pond dipping to tree climbing. Relax in the peaceful forest and watch your little ones run freely around the beautiful landscapes, all while enjoying delicious food. The best part is tickets cost between £5 and £15!
Photo credit: © Into The Trees
Now read:
Top tips for taking a baby to a festival
The best toddler days out in the UK
The best baby and toddler sunhats for the summer
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