It’s that time of year again. Whilst the weather is grim and we are still in hibernation it doesn’t hurt to think about sunnier times to come.
We head off to France this Summer for peak festival time so we will be missing the majority of them but fingers crossed we will squeeze in at least two. So here we go drum roll… The Lane families top ten recommended festivals for 2019.. in no particular order.
Green Man – 15th – 18th August – Crickhowell.
Love Green man lots. Absolutely beautiful festival, one of the most beautiful. Amazing camping with loads of space for the children to run around and play. Brilliant children’s area which is not to big and safe as it’s in its own area. It always has a strong line up on all stages and plenty of extra bits to do that could keep you busy without even seeing a band all weekend. Don’t forget you can make a week of it and get a settlers pass if you want to make it more of a holiday.
Nozstock – 18th – 21st July – Herefordshire
We LOVE Nozstock. Dylan was just asking the other night if we will be going back this year. We absolutely will be. So very lucky to have this festival on the doorstep.
This is a snippet of my review from last year, click on the link for the full review ..
“A 30 minutes drive is all it is for us to get to Nozstock, so close we can almost hear it. We are lucky to live in Herefordshire and it does not surprise me that a festival in the Shires has grown from a family party 20 years ago to a large successful festival. I last came with Dylan to Nozstock in 2014. Working at other festivals and holidays having kept us away. The general lay out is pretty much the same but what has changed is the area behind the main stage. Previously it had a few craft things going on but not much else. That has changed very much for the better and had a extra stage called the sunken yard. We loved this space, the stage itself although small was at the bottom of the hill and the children loved sitting on the hill playing and watching everything going on”
Lakefest – 8th – 11th August – Herefordshire
We had a flying visit to Lakefest last year. We had friends playing so popped over to watch them and have a boogie. From the small amount I saw it looked very good, the camping looked nice with lots of open space. The only thing I would mention as I really don’t like them at festivals is the fair ground rides which generally cost a fortune so if you are going maybe give them a dodge as long as you can.
Kendal calling – 25th – 28th July – Lake District
Always a popular lineup at Kendal. It’s not one that I have ever been to but we have friends that love it and go back every year. The website says this about the family area ..
“We have an abundance of family-friendly entertainment for those mini Kendal Callers, and more will be announced once we reveal are theme for 2019.Expect a whole host of age-appropriate activities for those little Kendal Callers aged 0-11, including craft workshops, circus skills, face painting, story-telling and much more. You’ll be spoilt for choice in the fields! Kids Calling is also a welcoming area for under 3’s, where little ones can enjoy an inflatable ball pool and parents can take some time out from all the hustle and bustle of the festival”
Boomtown – 7th – 12th August – Winchester
A few years ago I would never of advised anyone with a family to go to Boomtown but I would actually recommend going now. It’s absolutely on my wish list but unfortunately we will be away again when it’s on. I can’t begin to explain it, you really need to pop over to the Boomtown website to check out its wonderful craziness. https://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/
Chilled in a field – 26th – 29th July – Sussex
I love the look of Chilled in a field, not to big and not to small it is a perfectly formed festival. The website has the following information …
“Grown from the ’90’s London party scene we’re a small, independent Sussex festival for grown up party people and their kids. With free activities for children and adults all day, bands, musicians, artists, science, theatre, performances and awesome dance music from some of the UK’s top independent labels. A festival bar featuring local ales and dozens of ciders, mountains of street food, our not-for-profit festival shop, free hot showers, proper clean toilets, glamping and campervan pitches.
We’re a not-for-profit social enterprise run completely by volunteers, so you can really feel the love.
Tickets are capped – to keep the festival feeling small and lovely – and we sell out every year. We’re a fun, safe family festival, and we take our green credentials seriously. Bring friends, bring children, and see for yourself!”
Starry skies – 31st – 4th August – Herefordshire
Slightly different to other festivals, Starry skies does not have big name bands playing in fact they don’t really have any bands playing. It’s more of a huge camping experience with the people at it creating the music and entertainment. The scale of the festival, just 250 families over three fields, means your kids are never that far away, and the central area feels more like a village green under canvas than a festival site. The main giant tipi, where most of the live music (local bands rather than big names) and kids’ disco happens, is surrounded by a dozen or more other tents and marquees, acting as everything from a kids’ cinema.
Folk by the oak – 14th July – Herts
Folk by the oak is just a day long festival but packs so much in that it actually feels longer. Having a festival over the day actually can create a lot of bonuses, less clothes washing and children that can keep going day and night and sleep the following day so no grumpy tired children to deal with at a festival! A really lovely festival experience and especially recommend it to those that have maybe not tried a festival with children yet. “From the intimacy of our Acorn Stage to the open air festival buzz of our Main Stage, we will bring you award winning musicians and inspiring new talent in one memorable day. Our carefully curated stages are complemented by our lovingly hand-picked caterers and craftspeople. For our younger ‘Folk by the Oakers’ we have a world of creative workshops to discover onsite as well as our dedicated family friendly area”
Camp Bestival – 25th – 28th July – Dorset
“Would I go again? Yes I absolutely would, the camping spot was awesome, walking times were manageable, choice of food and drink was absolutely bang on the money and top notch, as mentioned before the atmosphere is fab”
Jess reviewed Camp Bestival for us last year .. Camp Bestival 2018 Review
Elderflower Fields – 24th – 27th May – East Sussex
Running over May bank holiday weekend Elderflower Fields gives you and your family the perfect chance to enjoy a bit of the may sunshine. Catering for children, this festival allows all the family to get involved with a great range of activities like making giant bubbles, riding down hills on skateboards and learning to cook on a campfire. The fun doesn’t stop there – there’s three stages located around the site providing lots of entertainment for all ages. Each stage has a huge variety of acts performing during the day meaning there is always time to dance to some great music, listen to stories being told and make the most of your experience with your little ones.
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