The Best Festivals for Families and Kids
Festivals are a great way to spend time with the kids in your life. From music and comedy to arts, theatre, and cinema, there are plenty of festivals around the world that offer kids programs to keep them happy.
Often these areas are separate from the main event and kids don't need to go through the hassle of getting their ticket or being tared to the adult experience. Check a festival's website to see what they have on offer for families.
Deer Shed Festival
With a raft of comedy, arts, theatre, and sports events for kids and families there is something for everyone at Deer Shed Festival. The three-day festival held in Baldersby Park near Thirsk, North Yorkshire is a fantastic family-friendly event.
Unlike most festivals, Deer Shed aims to make its program accessible and inclusive for all ages. You can take part in a wide range of activities ranging from sports and science to theatre and children’s workshops – many of which are free and drop-in.
It’s got a great family-friendly camping experience too, with lots of options available in Sky View Observatory Promo Code and including glamping and child-free camping. It’s a spacious parkland campsite, so you won’t feel crowded if your little ones want to run around and play.
This year’s line-up includes some of the most exciting music acts around. Leeds-based indie band Yard Act will be making a welcome return to the festival for the first time since their debut album climbed to number two in the charts earlier this year, while Brighton four-piece Lime Garden is another act who should bring a great show to Deer Shed.
The festival’s other main stage headliners include the likes of John Grant and Nadine Shah. The rest of the music line-up is packed with exciting new talent.
I went to Deer Shed with my nine-month-old daughter this year, and it was a brilliant experience for both of us. The music was fab, and the whole vibe was so relaxed and friendly. It was a great way to start the summer holidays and spend some quality time with my daughter.
One of the things I loved most about Deer Shed was that there were so many activities aimed at children and babies. They had an NCT tent where I could bathe my daughter, as well as a range of baby showers and bottle sterilizers.
Deer Shed also offers a really extensive range of entertainment for the kids, from wrestlers to circus performances and more! There was even an area dedicated to arts and crafts for the under 5s. I was a bit worried that my daughter may become bored at such an early age, but she enjoyed everything from milking a wooden cow to painting her hands with glitter!
Camp Festival
Camp Bestival is one of the most popular festivals for families and kids in the UK. It's held in Lulworth Castle, Dorset, and has been a family favorite for years.
There are lots of activities for the little ones to enjoy including circus skills, mud pies, tree climbing, bouncy castles, and Horrible Histories. There is also a range of food available at the festival, ranging from pizzas and pasta to fruit, wraps, and kebabs!
It's important to take plenty of water and snacks for the little ones. The toilets and changing facilities can get very busy, so it is worth taking a large box of wipes and an extra loo roll!
The program for Camp Bestival changes every year but there is always something to keep the whole family entertained. The bouncy castle is huge, there are dance classes, bushcraft activities, magic acts, and more. There is a fantastic selection of music to listen to.
If you are planning a trip to Camp Bestival, it is best to arrive in advance to make the most of all the activities and entertainment available. There is always a big queue and you will want to be able to find a spot in the crowd.
Unlike many festivals, at Camp Bestival the people around you tend to have small children so they understand the challenges and frustrations of being at a festival with little ones. They will often be a lot more friendly and chatty than other festival goers which can help make it a good time.
Another great thing about Camp Bestival is that it is run by the people behind Bestival and they are dedicated to making sure it is a fun festival for the kids! This means that there is a wide range of musical acts on offer, which is perfect for younger children and they will have a good time listening to their favorite music.
The line-up at Camp Bestival is very age-spanning and many bands are suitable for all ages. They include a range of pop acts such as The Kooks, Grace Jones, and Craig David.
Teddy Rocks
The Teddy Rocks Festival is a three-day family-friendly music event that raises money for children’s cancer charities. Founded in 2011 by Tom Newton in memory of his little brother Ted who passed away from a rare bone cancer, it has grown to include four main stages, a disco dome, a comedy tent, stalls, and a fun fair.
With a host of top-notch artists on board, Teddy Rocks is a must for any music lover. Its organizers say it will be the biggest year yet, and headliners include Feeder, Jake Bugg, The Amazons, Vengaboys, and East 17.
Teddy Rocks started small in a back room of a pub in Blandford and raised PS400. This was used to fund the first event in 2012 at The Corn Exchange, which raised PS2,500.
Throughout the years, Teddy Rocks have changed locations, with it now being staged on a site large enough to accommodate camping and parking. It has raised over PS460,000 since the festival began, and it continues to be held every year to fight children’s cancer with Rock.
Tickets for the event are now on sale, and it’s a great way to support a charity that has a big heart. The festival donates all of its profits to the Teddy 20 charity, which was founded by Tom and his family in 2011.
It’s also a good place for families with kids to meet new people, as well as listen to great music. It’s also a great place for adults to relax and enjoy the weekend.
The festival is hosted at Chatsworth Farm in Blandford, and it’s easy to get to. Shuttle buses run from Morrisons Supermarket Car Park in Blandford to the festival, leaving regularly.
There are many activities for families to enjoy, including a fairground, axe throwing, and bull riding. There’s also a large number of food stalls, bars, and more.
This was my first time attending Teddy Rocks, and I had a brilliant time! The weather wasn’t perfect, but I was glad to be there. The line-up was a good mix of local bands and international headliners, and the atmosphere was excellent. If you want to save huge money then check out the Seasonal Coupon Codes.
Doune The Rabbit Hole
Doune The Rabbit Hole is an intimate, independent music and arts festival located amidst the glorious ancient oak trees of Cardross Estate in Port of Menteith. Taking place from Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 July 2022, it will feature headliners Belle & Sebastian, Amy MacDonald, Teenage Fanclub, and Patti Smith, as well as a variety of workshops, yoga activities, a cinema, and more.
It has been described as “like a mini Scottish Glastonbury” and is renowned for offering hundreds of workshops, educational talks, comedy events, and yoga activities, alongside jam sessions and pop-up performances. It has been expanded from a five-stage event in 2019 to nine this year and is putting on more than 100 additional acts across the weekend in comparison to its last run in 2022.
The festival has a huge family-friendly vibe, with hundreds of activities for kids to enjoy, including a muddy Mermaid Cafe mud kitchen, Bubbles vs Balloons, and a Family Field, which features everything from circus games and storytellers to Lego and ping-pong. It is a safe, fun environment for children of all ages and will offer 96 hours of free entertainment for the wee ones.
After pandemic-related postponements in 2020 and 2021, the popular festival returns with an incredible line-up of more than 200 Scottish and international acts, along with a host of workshops, talks, and family-friendly activities. It is expected to draw a large crowd of music fans from all over Scotland and the rest of the world.
There will be an array of exciting and interactive workshops for adults, too. These will include Douniversity Talks, which will cover topics like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths), the climate crisis, activism, LGBTQ+, and feminism.
This year the festival will also feature Doune-on-Sea, a giant 'Doune-on-Water' themed area with inflatables and games for all to enjoy, as well as a 'Mermaid Cafe' mud kitchen. There will also be storytelling, an outdoor play arena, and an 'Out of the Ordinary' arena, as well as various children's workshops.
Conclusion
There are a variety of festivals available that cater to families and children. Whether you're looking for music, arts and crafts, or food, there's something for everyone. Keep these festivals in mind when planning your next family vacation or weekend getaway."
