There’s no need to miss out on the festival experience now that you have a family. More and more family-friendly festivals are emerging with plenty to keep young and old alike happy and entertained. You don’t need to embark on an arduous drive from Leeds either. Whether you’re into music, wellness or space and technology, there’s a festival to suit you within a couple of hours drive.
Location: Topcliffe, North Yorkshire
Date: 26th -28th July 2019
A “live music/child friendly utopia”. That was the vision of husband and wife team Oliver Jones and Kate Webster when they set out some ten years ago to establish the inaugural edition of Deer Shed Festival.
While the carefully curated and ever-expanding music line-up – spanning indie, folk, rock, electronic, hip-hop and global there is so much more to the Deer Shed Festival experience.
Over 125 arts, craft and science workshops are run for kids throughout the weekend. The science tent features a disco-themed forensics challenge, a retro video games arcade, algoraves, music production tutorials, Fortnite tutoring (strictly for adults only, to level the playing field), VR and the chance to DJ on tech from the ‘80s, ‘90s and the modern day.
Location: Rode Hall, Cheshire
Date: 16th-18th August 2019
Just So describes itself as a ‘family weekend adventure beyond your wildest dreams’ with the emphasis on exciting activities for the whole family to enjoy. With everything from stunning circus workshops to raucous pillow fights, great live music to magical woodland storytelling, you’ll be kept busy. The weekend culminates in the tribal tournament with families encouraged to express their tribal allegiance through costumes and join in the wild rumpus parade. Which animal tribe will you belong to?
Location: Cumbria
Date: 14th -16th June 2019
Feel Good Festival launched in 2018 focused on health and wellness, with great entertainment to help you feel good in mind, body and soul. Try out meditation, yoga, tai chi, circus skills or indulge in one-to-one therapies such as massage or reiki. Children can get involved in forest school and outdoor activities like paddle boarding and childcare slots are bookable on the day, to give mums and dads chance to relax into a therapy or activity of their choice. The whole family will enjoy live music and entertainment.
Location: Cheshire
Date: 18th-21st July 2019
Look no further for budding space and science enthusiasts. Bluedot is an award-winning festival of discovery at the grounds of a deep space observatory. Set against a backdrop of the iconic Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank, bluedot combines a truly stellar line-up of music with a ground-breaking programme of live science experiments, expert talks and immersive artworks. The Planet field is crammed with interactive stalls, experiments and activities for kids of all ages.
Location: Lancashire
Date: 21st-23rd June 2019
Cloudspotting Music and Arts Festival is a long summer weekend retreat, celebrating the Summer Solstice deep in the woods. The event isn’t overscheduled, but there is plenty of live music and activities for all the family going on throughout the weekend, with a dedicated area specifically for babies and nursing families to relax and chill. There are art and creative workshops using many mediums suitable from babies to grannies, nature trails and hunts, performance and dance, and creative play. Exploring the woods is part of the festival experience.
