Family Friendly Live Events in the UK
Big music festivals are no longer the preserve of adults. Now all the family can enjoy dancing all day and skipping in the woods, without the adults losing out in enjoyment of the music in any way. Now festivals can teach you to make flower-crowns, turn your hand to carpentry and listen to some famous author readings too Here are some of the best family friendly live events in the UK.
Geronimo Festival
Knebworth House 30 June – 1 July 2018
Started in 2014, Geronimo Festival takes place in June at Knebworth House. There’s a main stage with stars of children’s television, particularly from CBeebies, performing to entertain the masses. There is a wide choice of eco-friendly activities along with archery and axe throwing as part of the fun.
Wychwood Festival
Cheltenham 1-3 June 2018
Regularly nominated as the Best Family Festival in the UK Festival Awards, when not dancing to the live music, kids can be found running around, chasing bubbles and practicing circus skills.
Cornbury Music Festival
Cotswolds 13-15 July 2018
Most of the children’s activities are completely free, though you will have to pay for the fairground rides.
Latitude
Suffolk 12 -15 July 2018
A festival that focuses not just on the youngest children, but on teenagers and their parents too. Spread across three areas, Latitude has been the winner of Best Family Festival and Best Family Day Out awards. This is a proper pop festival in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk.
The children’s area offers entertainment including fire shows, pizza-making, traditional woodland crafts and a variety of intriguing science experiments. The Inbetweeners’ Teen Area lets teenagers get immersed in music, media, fashion and technology workshops, or learn wildlife survival skills.
Curious Arts Festival
Hampshire, 20-22 July 2018
Considered by the Guardian as one of the top boutique festivals in the UK, Curious Arts Festival takes place in the beautiful nature of the New Forest where it celebrates artistic talent. The Institute of Imagination offers children interactive imagination pods that complement a magical and innovative programme of events including puppetry workshops and a hunt for the Jabberwocky.
Deer Shed Festival
North Yorks, 20-22 July 2018
Deer Shed Festival is run by the most enthusiastic organisers who cater for everyone from babies through to teenagers. There are several art tents for children to make just about anything, plus a science tent manned by the University of York where you can disappear for hours as you explore the universe or solder circuit boards. The site is small enough that you can easily walk from your car to the campsite and the festival site and the music tents are all in easy distance.
Camp Bestival, Lulworth Castle
Dorset, 26 – 29 July 2018
Considered by many the best in the business, there are activities and safe play spaces for children from the age of 2 and up. The Lower Kids' Garden for slightly older children includes at art tent, fairground rides, face-painting and more. There are also performances by some big names in children’s entertainment among the live music acts on stage. There’s a music club for older children who can also learn how to make fires in the wilderness, how to carve a wand or build a home for faeries, how to identify the trees, get up close to a falcon and much more. 2018 sees a new teen area dedicated to 13-17-year-olds.
The Just-So Festival
North Yorks, 20-22 July 2018
Rode Hall Estate, Cheshire
17-19th August 2018
The Rode Hall Estate is a beautiful location of woodland clearings and parklands. The Just So Festival provides an imaginative outdoor adventure including magical midnight feasts, curious creatures, hilarious pillow fights, hidden retreats, the best food and drink plus boutique camping options amid breathtaking beauty.
Green Man Festival
16-19 August 2018, Powys, Brecon Beacons
The Green Man Festival will keep children entertained all weekend in the Little Folk area that has activities and workshops for younsters and teens. There’s an eclectic mix of live music and dance acts. The family camping area has hot showers, toilets and fresh water taps.
Towersey Festival
24-27 August 2018, Thame, Oxfordshire
This independent music festival began in the 1960s. Its All About Children strand has added to its offerings of activities for 5-11 year-olds, with an emphasis on creativity, play and discovery. There is now a Kindergym and a Stone Age skills course as well as bedtime stories and a festival choir. For those aged 11 and above, there are DJ workshops, a Big Build challenge, theatre workshops, and space to just hang out.
The Good Life Experience Festival
Hawarden Castle, Flintshire, 14-16 September
Curated by Catatonia’s Cerys Matthews this is a back-to-basics festival where children’s activities are free. There’s a vintage fairground, axe-throwing for young Vikings, archery and abseiling for the fearless.