WHAT’S ON
TOP FIVE FAMILY-FRIENDLY FESTIVALS Forget about routines and embrace the great outdoors by introducing your children to festival fun
Bearded Theory, Derbyshire, 23-26 May
This independent music festival goes above and beyond when it comes to kids, even persuading your child’s headteacher to authorise a weekday absence, if you’ve signed them up for Bearded Theory School. Enrolment has closed for 2019, but your child can still access the fun – you just need to accompany them. beardedtheory.co.uk Latitude, Suffolk, 18-21 July
In keeping with the cross-cultural bent of the festival, the kids’ area has plenty in the Hire a tent that’s big enough for your little ones to play in while you’re getting ready for the day
way of theatre and performance for young children, while older kids will enjoy performances from respected names including Sadler’s Wells. The family camping has a secondary kids area, and there’s even a lake for swimming. latitudefestival.com WOMAD, Wiltshire, 25-28 July
13-and-unders are free at this iconic gathering of world-music artists and fans. There’s a dedicated kids area, but what makes WOMAD so appealing for families is that children feel included across the festival. Don’t miss the Arboretum, a beautiful shady forest zone you can explore with the little ones. womad.co.uk Just So, Cheshire, 16-18 August
Of the many festivals out there designed for families specifically, this one’s hard to beat. Live music is just a small
tent when your little one is ready for bed.
CAMPING When it comes to festival camping, more than any other camping trip, a campervan is your friend: quieter, warmer, more secure, easier to keep tidy and better for making a quick getaway if you need to. If I didn’t own one, I’d seriously consider hiring one for festivals. If you’re going down the tent route, buy or hire the largest model you can afford, particularly if your kids are little – it pays to have somewhere they can play while you’re getting ready to set out for the day. A tent with a separate interior room means you can sleep separately from your child, and a blackout tent is an ideal solution for little ones (or their parents!) who are sensitive to light. LITTLELONDONMAGAZINE.CO.UK
Latitude has activities for children of all ages
element in the mix of innovative kids’ activities and performances, including a ‘tribal tournament’ where you compete with other families in costume. justsofestival.org.uk Big Feastival, Cotswolds, 23-25 August
Big Feastival takes place on the Cotswolds farm of former Blur bassistturned-cheesemaker Alex James and features the likes of Jess Glynne and Elbow. You might get more out of the foodie focus than your children, but kiddie acts like Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol will have them squealing with delight. thebigfeastival.com
A blackout tent is an ideal solution for little ones (or parents!) who are sensitive to light A lot of festival camp sites will feel safe enough to leave your buggy or pull-along cart outside at night, but you won’t know that until you get there, so make sure your tent has enough room to bring your transport inside (and bring a piece of tarpaulin to put it on so you don’t get the rest of the tent grubby). Don’t bother with suitcases and pillows. Designate a different colour pillowcase for each family member and use them to pack clothes into instead. Then cram all your 63
pillow-suitcases into a black bin bag so they don’t get grubby in transit or when setting up camp. Even if your child’s toilet training days are far behind her, it’s a good idea to bring a travel potty and some biodegradable potty liners. Far preferable to a long walk to the loos in the middle of the night if she wakes up needing a wee, and potentially useful in the day time too if your little one finds festival toilets intimidating. L