Top Family-Friendly Festivals for Summer

By Recommended by Ana Sheppard @younglondonist – theyounglondoner.com

Are you ready to party? With festival season just around the corner, we’ve done our usual round-up to help you find your perfect family friendly festival fun!

Looking for a family-friendly festival in London or a musical extravaganza further afield? Look no further! Our selection of kid-friendly festivals has you covered with all the festi details you need to start planning your summer now. From free events to fancy extravaganzas, there’s something for everyone. So, grab your wellies, fancy dress, and some glitter and let’s make summer 2023 epic.

fantastic music and delicious food, the festival offers plenty of entertainment for children, including circus skills, sensory play, fire camp storytelling sessions, arts and crafts and even a swimming pool. The Woodland Tribe is also joining the festival, providing tree swings, adventure playgrounds, zip lines and other Forest School-inspired activities.

When: 20 – 23 July 2023

Where: Hertfordshire

How much: £225 for adults, £215 for young adults, £165 for teens £30 for kids and £5 for infants weekend tickets. More info and bookings at standon-calling.com/tickets.

Nozstock

Standon Calling

If you’re looking for a unique, boutique festival with a love for eccentricity, dressing up and families covered in glitter, look no further. This independent festival welcomes dogs, creating a playful atmosphere for both furry friends and humans. This year’s musical lineup includes exciting acts such as Madness, Gabrielle, The Subways, The Skints and Nadia Rose. In addition to

Nozstock was founded by a fun-loving family, their friends, acquaintances and anyone who loved playing music or telling jokes – just like the very best of festivals. The festival offers a wide variety of activities for young festival-goers, including arts and crafts, yoga sessions and a plethora of diversions that cater to all energy levels. Although this year’s lineup has not yet been announced, the 2022 festival had an incredible lineup that featured Sister Sledge’s soulful R&B, Andy C’s drum and bass, Gentleman’s Dub Club’s dub and Submotion Orchestra’s electronica, among many others.

When: 20 – 23 July 2023

Where: Herefordshire, West Midlands

How much: Full weekend tickets (from Thursday to Sunday) cost £197 for adults and £165 for teens with kids under 12 entering the festival for free. More info and booking via their website www.nozstock.com.

Bluedot

Bluedot festival is the perfect combination of raving and science, celebrating everything related to science, the universe and our planet. This family-friendly festival promises to amaze and entertain both kids and parents alike. With an exciting lineup and plenty of activities for the entire family to enjoy (including science experiments!), the festival’s location at the famous Jodrell Bank Deep Space Observatory, nestled between Manchester and Macclesfield, is sure to leave young ones in awe. This summer, combine science, music and culture to celebrate humanity with your little ones. The 2023 lineup boasts incredible acts like Grace Jones, Annie Mac, Roisin Murphy, Pavement and Leftfield.

When: 20 – 23 July 2023

Where: Cheshire

How much: £229 for adults, £104 for 11 to 15s and £38.50 for four to 10-year-olds, with under-fours going free. More info and bookings www.discoverthebluedot.com.

Penn Fest

Previous years have seen massive line-ups at this festival and this year is no exception. The festival boasts big names such as Noel Gallagher, Bastille, 24 Hour Garage Girls, DJ Luck, MC Neat, NOT3S, Musical Youth, Corinne Bailey Rae, Wes Nelson and DJ Fresh. Young Londoners attending can enjoy the Kids Zone, which is run by Bigtopmania from Camp Bestival and Glastonbury. The zone features a circus tent where visitors can participate in circus skills workshops, crazy bikes, inflatables, trapeze workshops, family circus shows, big balloon disco, big bubbles (with the kids inside them), stilt walkers and more circus fun. Additionally, there are hula hoops, diabolos, plate spinning, devil sticks, tightrope walking, toddler play, balloon twisting, coconut shy and side show games. Visitors can also expect graffiti workshops, arts and crafts and a variety of other familyfriendly activities.

When: 21 & 22 July 2023

Where: The Big Penn, Bucks.

How much: £112 for adults and £28 for kids under 12 – both need to pay extra for camping tickets. More info and booking via their site www.pennfest.net.

Womad

Known as the world’s festival, WOMAD presents an excellent opportunity to introduce children to the joys of travel and adventure. This year’s festival promises to surpass previous years, offering a diverse lineup of acts, including Bombay Bicycle Club, Femi Kuti and the Positive Force, and Kate Rusby. Discover new musical talents as you enjoy cutting-edge performances from world-class musicians hailing from all corners of the globe. The festival is spread across six stages, each equipped with top-notch sound systems. You can choose to soak up the sun on the open-air stage or enjoy a more intimate experience at the leafy Ecotricity stage. With over 200 kid-friendly workshops, including music, storytelling, physics and cookery, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The World of Children is a dedicated area for children under five, designed to provide a safe space for play and exploration.

When: 27 – 31 July 2023

Where: Wiltshire

How much: Adult four-day tickets from £260, teen three-day tickets £140, children under 12 go free – but there are lots of concessions available and day tickets too. More info and bookings via their website www.womad.co.uk.

Camp Bestival

Organized by Rod da Bank and his wife Josie, this award-winning festival is perfect for families and puts children at the forefront of the experience. There are plenty of exciting activities for kids of all ages, including the Wild Tribe area with mudslides, building areas and drumming circles, as well as the world’s largest bouncy castle for some serious bouncing fun. Other activities include go-karting, fairy tale storytelling from Cbeebies, Cosmic Kids Yoga, raves from Big Fish Little Fish, vintage fairground rides, a roller disco, bushcraft and much more. For those interested in science, the science tent provides an educational and captivating experience. Meanwhile, younger attendees can enjoy soft play and sandpits, as well as spectacles from Cirque Bijou to brush up on their circus skills or admire some latenight cabaret performances. The theme for 2023 is “Animal Snap!”, so expect to see plenty of leopard print, zebra stripes, tails, shimmering costumes, glitter and face paint, along with dazzling entertainment. Camp Bestival boasts big-name headliners and up-and-coming acts in smaller tents. This year’s lineup includes The Kooks, Rodigan, Craig David, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Dick and Dom, 24hr Garage Girls, Ella

Henderson, Mel C and more. Various camping options are available, including eco-camping and several glamping options. Get ready for an unforgettable experience!

When: 27 July 2023 – 30 July 2023

Where: Lulworth Castle, Dorset

How much: Adult tickets start at £220 and there are a variety of children’s options. More info and booking via their website www.campbestival.net.

Starry Skies

This festival was born from the realisation that going on holiday with kids can be an expensive battle of endurance. While festivals are fun for kids, it can be challenging once the sun goes down. Starry Skies blends the best of family-friendly festivals with family camping holidays. Despite being a small event, Starry Skies packs a punch with a packed program in stunning surroundings that allow everyone to get back to nature. The festival provides a space and program that encourages a connection to nature, community and togetherness through ceremony, art, craft, performance and play. It’s an opportunity for families to spend quality time together in beautiful surroundings away from the noise of everyday life. Starry Skies offers a wide range of activities designed to keep kids running wild all day, including stargazing, lantern-lit paths, wooden roundhouses and lush meadows. If you’re coming in a campervan, there is a dedicated campervan field with one tent allowed per pass. For larger groups, it’s best to arrive together to pitch tents in sequential order. When: 27 – 30 July 2023

Where: Herefordshire

How much: £202 for adults, children from £60. More info and bookings via their website www.starry-skies.net.

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