Summer is here and the festival season is in full swing. If you're looking for the perfect summer outing for all the family, then a festival could be the answer.
Here's our round up of some of the best family-friendly festivals taking place around the country this summer, all near a Club Site.
Cornbury, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire will be celebrating the 16th Cornbury Music Festival 5 – 7 July in Great Tew Park. This jam-packed weekend features performances from the likes of KT Tunstall, The Specials, Keane, the Beach Boys and Echo and the Bunnymen.
In addition to excellent music, Cornbury also prides itself on providing fantastic food, with the Hairy Bikers Festival Feast being one of the most anticipated features.
Proving a smash hit last year, the pop-up Hairy Bikers restaurant will be back with more wood-fire cooked foods, whether it’s pies, meats, cakes, or veggies. Over at the Comedy Emporium, there will be stand up acts such as Lost Voice Guy, Josie Long and Rose Matafeo, whilst the Cornbury Kids Zone will give kids the time of their life with ukuleles, salsa, magic workshops, tipi building, clay modelling, street theatre and heaps more. Visit cornburyfestival.com for further information.
Nearest Club Site: Chipping Norton
Timber, Feanedock and Boothorpe Woods
The Timber festival is the brainchild of the National Forest Company and Wild Rumpus. Held 5 - 7 July, Timber is a truly unique forest festival that brings together international artists and musicians to celebrate the woodlands. Set in the National Forest, a manmade forest in the heart of the Midlands, it’s the perfect place to appreciate the wonders of the outdoors while revelling in great entertainment.
There will be performances from Another Sky, Stealing Sheep, You Tell Me, and Gwenno. Comedian Phill Jupitus will also be there discussing his six nature related songs, with additional comedic performances from Alex Hylton and Carly Smallman.
Kids will love maypole dancing between the trees, trying their hand at archery, experimenting with crazy and colourful hairstyles, and playing a giant version of Guess Who! Learn more at timberfestival.org.uk
Nearest Club Site: Conkers
Latitude, Suffolk
Latitude will be returning to Henham Park 18–21 July, bringing music, entertainment, games, great food and fun for the entire family. A whole host of brilliant stars are set to perform, including George Ezra, Lana Del Ray and Snow Patrol, with hilarious stand up material from Frank Skinner and Katherine Ryan.
Families will be particularly impressed by the separate areas on the festival grounds, with specially carved out sectors for children and teenagers. Over in the kid’s area, little ones can sing and dance, get creative with crafts, dabble with science, and go on a wildlife adventure.
For tweens and teens, there’s Virtual Realities to explore, plus fashion, music, animation workshops, radio workshops, and street art. For families with kids below 13, check out the Enchanted Garden, which features circus skill training, archery, dance and even a mini zoo! Parents and adults can escape the madness with a trip to the Faraway Forest for some art and theatre, or Cabaret Theatre for something a bit more thrilling. Additional information can be found here latitudefestival.com
Nearest Club Site: Kessingland
Chagstock, Dartmoor
Head to beautiful Dartmoor for two days of family fun from 19–20 July. With artists like Fun Loving Criminals, From the Jam and Noble Jacks performing, plus there will be plenty for teens and adults to enjoy, whilst the Chagstock Village Green will offer heaps for the kids to get
involved in. From drumming workshops to crazy golf to a Lego tent and much more, Chagstock is guaranteed to have something to keep everyone in the family thoroughly entertained. More information can be found here chagstock.info
Nearest Club Site: Tavistock
Kendal Calling, Cumbria
Kendal Calling taking place at Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District from 25-28 July has plenty for both kids and adults to take part in. Parents can enjoy the stunning surroundings, Real Ale tent, and superb performances from the likes of Manic Street Preachers, Years and Years and even Tom Jones.
Kids will especially love this year’s festival theme: Kendal Calling Goes Jurassic. Everyone, no matter the age, is invited to take part in the dinosaur fancy dress parade, where costumed festival goers will go stomping across the fields together. The Kids Calling area will be brimming with arts and crafts, sports and games, theatre and even workshops for little ones. There will also be a kids discos, a Triceratoss hoopla and Dino-egg and spoon races! Check out the website here: kendalcalling.co.uk
Nearest Club Site: Derwentwater
Camp Bestival, Dorset
Down in Dorset, Camp Bestival will be taking place from 25- 28 July. Set besides the astounding Lulworth Castle, the multi-award winning festival is perfect for the whole family, offering a wide range of different activities to cater to all. Youngsters will go crazy for the Kids Garden, which features circus lessons, go karting, biking, fairground rides, sandpits, and even the world’s biggest bouncy castle! The music is one of the festivals biggest draws, with this year’s star-studded line up including Jess Glynne, Annie Mac, Lewis Capaldi, Sister Sledge and much more. The festival will also include comedy routines from Omid Djalili, fancy dress, spinning discos, tai chi yoga, and a rousing fireworks display to top it all off. Find out more information by visiting campbestival.net
Nearest Club Site: Moreton
Deer Shed Festival, North Yorkshire
The Deer Shed Festival is one of North Yorkshire’s most popular family-friendly festivals, packed with every kind of entertainment under the sun. This year, in honour of Deer Shed’s 10th Anniversary, the show is set to be bigger than ever. Taking up 90 acres, the festival boasts music, art, theatre, comedy, a sports arena, plenty of good food and even a science tent for the kids. The music line-up includes acts such as Ezra Furman, Anna Calvi and The Wedding Present.
There will also be plenty of activities for the kids to get involved in, whether it’s BMXing, forensics experiments, arts and crafts, kayaking or tree climbing. There are also a number of workshops for adults to enjoy, such as aerobics, driftwood art, plus a gin taste shop. Deer Shed will be taking place 26-28 July at Baldersby Park in Topcliffe. Be sure to find out more here deershedfestival.com
Nearest Club Site: Boroughbridge
Wilderness, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire will be hosting the highly popular Wilderness Festival at Cornbury Park 1–4 August. In addition to the fantastic line up featuring Robyn, Bombay Bicycle Club and Groove Armada, there will also be heaps of outdoors activities to get stuck into as well, such as Wild fitness, horse riding and axe throwing!
Older kids will be able to enjoy everything from muggle quidditch to voguing workshops, whilst the little ones can explore the great outdoors with a Woodland Wonder or get creative in the Art Den.
For families that like to play together, there is a circuit bootcamp where the whole family can get stuck into team games and challenges, whilst racing against the clock. Don’t forget to visit wildernessfestival.com for more
Nearest Club Site: Chipping Norton
Great Wonderfest, Isle of Wight
The Great Wonderfest, set on Duxmore Farm on the IOW, will be taking place 1-4 August. Hosted by TV stars Dick and Dom, the festival is one of the most anticipated events on the Isle and is geared towards children and families, providing a myriad of fun and games for all to enjoy. The line-up itself includes incredible names such as Example, The Vamps, Conor Maynard, Sigma and Busted.
There will also be exhilarating performances from dance troupe Flawless. Kids and adults can run free out in the fields, and enjoy team sports over in the Pitch field or relax in the Botanical Retreat with a spa session or two. Kids will love the Kids Club Stage, with special shows and sets just for them, plus the Skate park and Robots Live arena, where Robot Wars Live robots will be seen duking it out. You can find out more details by heading over to the website, greatwonderfest.com
Nearest Club Site: Adgestone
Boomtown, Hampshire
Boomtown is one of the more eccentric festivals. Split into several ‘cities’ it has been specially designed to provide something for everyone, no matter the age or interest. Based in the Matterley bowl and taking place 7-–11 August, Boomtown is split into Downtown, Hilltop, Temple Valley and Whistlers Green. Each of these main areas contain a number of districts within them, all filled with different types of entertainment, music and games.
At the centre of the festival is Kidztown, where the kids are let loose to run wild. Karaoke, breakdancing gorillas, glitter showers and Victorian swing boats are just some of the fun draws peppered throughout. They can also learn den making, woodwork, t-shirt printing and even broadcasting skills. Parents and teenagers can enjoy the excellent line up, which includes Lauryn Hill, UB40, The Streets and Chase & Status, plus circus theatrics, poetry, holistic healing fields, saunas, and forest parties. Head over to boomtownfair.co.uk for more details.
Nearest Club Site: Devizes