Each year, festivals seem to get bigger and bigger, with line ups that seem to outdo previous years. And 2024 is no different. With festivals aplenty, here are some of the festivals that we think are going to absolutely rock this festival season. From day festivals, to weekends, there is something for every budget for the whole family.
Date: 29/30/31 July 2021- 1st August 2021
Location: Lulworth Castle, Dorset.
Camping: There is plenty of general camping, that is all family friendly. Alongside this, there are specific area's for boutique, backstage and camper camping to fit the perfect festival holiday for everyone. There is a premium camping area, with allocated spaces for everyone, but the camping is all within walking distance of the arena. Be aware that there are some serious hills that can prove quite tricky in adverse weather!
Top acts: A night of club nostalgia with Fatboy Slim, the 90's hype of the Vengaboys, and Friendly Fires bringing the guitars to the main stage. For kids, there is the hilarious Andy and the Odd Socks, Mr Tumble and Braniac Live.
Perfect for families because: Camp Bestival is one of the most popular family festivals in the country. It's a top of the list and the perfect starter festival for those families unsure if festivals are really their thing. With a kids area that spans as big as the rest of the arena, it's full of wonders and fun at every corner. There is something for all ages and it truly does feel fully inclusive from babes in arms to teenagers.
Top tips: If camping, make sure you are prepared for the hills and valleys. It's definitely a bit of a trek to get back to the campsite if you are camped right near the car park. There are plenty of opportunities to upgrade your camping experience and land yourself closer to the action, but these prices can run high at times.
Secondly, there is plenty of free activities for kids to do, including abseiling, high ropes and whittling, but these get booked up really early. Be prepared to get to the booking point as soon as the arena opens in the morning to allow your little ones to get a spot to have some fun.
Finally, bring a wagon/off road buggy etc. It will allow your little ones the time to rest, you will have plenty of storage so you don't have to go to the tent several times a day, and it will allow you the time to dance in the evenings whilst your little ones snooze.
Hidden gems: The Caravanserai is our favourite place to hang out for a few hours. Full of eclectic music, caravans for the kids to explore, and gorgeous cocktails, it's the little gem that packs a punch in the heart of the festival.
There are many places for little ones to chill out and rest, with play parks and climbing area's for the whole family to just rest and take some time to regroup and plan the next part of their day. Don't be afraid to go down a winding path, hide behind the tree's and find your own part of the festival.
To read some of our reviews from Camp Bestival please follow the link here:
Date: 216/17/18/19 September 2021
Location: Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight
Camping: There is plenty of general camping, premium camping and local hotels to stay in. All camping is on the festival site and covers everything from glamping to family camping.
Top acts: A personal highlight would be the Liam Gallagher, Sam Fender and You Me At Six. This festival covers everything from the 80's through to the present day to appeal to everyone no matter the age!
Perfect for families because: Whilst the family area's are yet to be confirmed, in previous years the festival has been incredibly family friendly and brilliant for little ones along with the not so little ones! Be aware that this isn't a dedicated family festival, so there will be more catered for adults as opposed to other festivals like Camp Bestival and Victorious.
Top tips: Plan, plan, plan. As mentioned above, this festival isn't necessarily a family festival. There are normally dedicated family camping area's that are more quiet than others, and it's best to position yourself further back from the action to not get caught up in the rush of people heading to see their favourite bands.
Hidden gems: Definitely check out some of the local acts! There are normally some hidden gems that will quite often hit main stages in years to come.
Date: 27/28/29th August 2021
Location: Southsea Common, Portsmouth.
Camping: Whilst you can camp at Victorious, it isn't on site. There is a free shuttle bus from the campsite to the festival though. So whilst you can't stumble back to your tent or nip back for a nap, at least you don't have to have a designated driver each day.
Top acts: This year the must see acts would definitely be The Streets (oh the nostalgia of being a teenager again!), Royal Blood who are fast becoming Max's new favourite band, Feeder (who always get the crowd going), and my personal festival favourites Frank Turner and Beans on Toast.
Perfect for families because: First and foremost, Victorious is based on Southsea Common. What makes this a unique festival going experience is that the site itself utilises the pavements, roads and green areas to seperate each area. Therefore making it extremely buggy friendly! No big hills or valleys to wade through, it's as simple as walking down the road.
Victorious also have their own dedicated family area. With countless free stalls of activities for the kids to do including bouncy castles, gaming zones, craft and circus skills areas and even a skate park, you could honestly spend all day in the kids area alone. Everything within the kids area is free, there is a dedicated kids stage which has had fan favourites in the past such as Cook and Line, Andy Day and the Octonauts, there is honestly something for every little one to enjoy. It has such a community spirit about it, that everyone I know will attest to how brilliant it is. The kids area closes at 6pm each night to allow the adults time to watch the evening entertainment too.
Top tips: If camping, make sure you take everything you need when you jump on that shuttle bus. It's definitely a bit of a trek to get back to the campsite if you have forgotten something. There are also shuttle bus services running from local areas, it's something that we utilise each time we go to the festival as family live nearby.
Secondly, visit all the local stands in the kids area. They are run by local businesses, community groups and charities and they are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. There are local artists, clothing companies and food stalls that really give this festival a community feel.
Finally, plan your day. We always grab ourselves a timetable lanyard and spend a few moments listening to a band and planning our weekend. There are often quite a few clashes, but with all the areas in such close proximity, it's easy enough to hop between stages and discover something brilliant.
Hidden gems: Pop to the bandstand to see some brilliant tribute acts. You can sit on the hill, look down on the stage and see ferries passing by. It's a surreal experiences, but absolutely brilliant as the sun is setting.
Also pop down to the world music area, not only is the food spot on, but the energy is electric and you can spend hours just dancing and exploring new and wonderful talent.
Finally, take the kids to the skate park. Yes the skate park. The Southsea Common skatepark is in the heart of the festival and they run drop in sessions and also do skills shows. It's something that the kids absolutely love and is perfect if they need to burn that bit of energy so you can then watch a band in peace!
To read some of our reviews from Victorious Festival please follow the link here:
