According to UK Music, UK festivals’ popularity has sky-rocketed in recent years, with 30.9m people come to join the events in 2016 compared to 27.7m in 2015.
CBJMagazine picks out the top five festivals that cater for kids as well as adults this year, meaning we can all get down to the same beat while avoiding breaking the bank or becoming bored.
PORT ELIOT 25-28 July 2019 | Cornwall
The definition of an experienced and decidedly hipster festival go-er’s gathering, Port Eliot festival hosts fun for all ages with a focus on literature, science, nature, wellbeing as well as the music. Talking music, the amazing Lily Allen joins the bill this year. Also, activities for kids are really thought about here, with there this year being children’s workshops on outdoor photography, an aerial silks and hoops session and model-making workshop with the Wallace & Gromit creators Aardman.
GREEN MAN 15-18 August 2019 | Brecon Beacons
Green Man’s fabulous ‘Einstein’s Garden’ is the centre piece for families seeking more than amazing live music at this year’s Green Man festival. Set amid the surroundings of the enchantingly sparse Brecon Beacons, the festival features Idles, Four Tet and Amadou & Mariam this year. Fun for the kids can be found in the Little Folk area. Be sure to get your astronauts inspired by the stars and stuck into the Little Folk parade, which takes place on the Sunday.
LATITUDE 18-21 July 2019 | Suffolk
Described as the festival for those parents who want to get as close to the Woodstock days as possible, and perhaps for those are a bit jealous of teenagers having all the fun, Latitude is a true festival experience with its fun forest areas rich with little quirks to gawp at. And this year it features man-of-the moment George Ezra. Where can you go wrong?
CAMP BESTIVAL 25-28 July 2019 | Dorset
The young’ uns can take in the unique experience of the Isle of Wight’s ever-popular Bestival just a click north on the map at the slightly smaller Dorset festival site of Camp Bestival. While Bestival is more niche, this is aimed at family fun. The activities in the Upper Kids’ Garden and Lower Kids’ Garden double up as their own mini-sites for children featuring some of the best acts in kids’ entertainment alongside circus workshops, ‘feast’ halls and even the world’s biggest bouncy castle. Over at the main stage, Big Top and Bollywood tents you’ll find family-friendly music featuring Lewis Capaldi, Jess Glynne, The Human League and Nile Rodgers & Chic. So you can all show each other some moves.
BEAUTIFUL DAYS, 16-18 August | Devon
Described as ‘organised chaos for all the family’, ‘Beautiful Days’ – run by 80s folk band The Levellers – has to be this Summer’s headline fest. See our story and interview with The Levellers bass player Jeremy Cunningham.