Festivals. Something I left behind in my 20s. Along with Hollyoaks, Bacardi Breezers, shopping in Miss Selfridge and attending Weight Watchers classes. Those things pretty much sum up my 20s. (OK, throw in a bit of friendship angst and massive overdrafts if you really want a proper picture.)
In my 20s I loved a festival – V98 was my first ever one and after that, I probably went to around 10 before hanging up my welly boots and deciding it wasn’t for me anymore. A big sign? The last couple I went to, I drove there, didn’t drink and drove home again. Who doesn’t drink at a festival? No, I was 28, and couldn’t be doing with camping. I like hot showers. I like my own bed. I like being able to get to sleep without some drunken bloke stumbling into the side of my tent. This was the last time I went to a festival – 2007 (er, not 1997 like the picture says. Must fix that)…
So for the past 5 years, my life has been a festival free zone.
Until now. I’m repopping my festival cherry. I’m going to Camp Bestival 2013 next week… and I’m taking my toddler.
This is the question I’m asking myself. (Ooh, is that animated GIF hurting anyone else’s eyes?)
But I have been reassured by many that no, I’m not mad. Because Camp Bestival 2013 is bit unique in that it’s aimed firmly at families. Yes, it has music acts for the grown ups (Richard Hawley, Ash, Labrinth and the MIGHTY Proclaimers are all on the bill) and comedy (Alan Davies and Andrew O’Neill feature) but it also has a CRAZY amount of stuff for kids.
Including (deep breath)…. a Big Top where they can learn circus skill, a bouncy castle, go-karts, a toddler area, a Dance Space where they can learn contemporary dance (*jazz hands*) an Insect Circus & Museum, an area called Art Town where they can get messy and creative, fairground rides, face painting, a soft play area and sandpit, gardens for them to run around, kids’ yoga workshops and a Soul Dome 360 Cinema.
Oh and some live shows from some people your kids may have heard of – Horrible Histories, Mr Tumble and Dick & Dom.
Photography: Dan Dennison and Victor Frankowski
So basically, the payoff in my head is this: one weekend of being dirty, potentially having a knackered toddler who is out of her routine and putting myself MASSIVELY out of my cosy-bed-shaped comfort zone in exchange for what will quite possibly the best weekend my nearly-three-year-old will have ever had. Heck, us too probably. I can nearly taste the Pimm’s…
If you’re reading this now and fancy joining the fun, the last few tickets are STILL AVAILABLE! But you need to be quick, I’m told. Adult Weekend Camping tickets are £190, Age 15 to 17 Weekend Camping tickets are £113, Age 11 to 14 Weekend Camping Tickets are £98 and under 10s are free (but they still need a ticket). Day tickets are £60 a day.
Never too old for a festival! Forget routine, kefir get washing go feral – you will have a ball!
Couldn’t read my comment as on my phone and it disappeared under feed back.
It’s a bit weird! Anyhow. Never too old,
Forget routine, really you will all have a ball
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Hope so! I’m going to be totally out of my comfort zone but that’s probably a good thing, right?
We will never be too old for festivals, having a good time, enjoying live music and doing what we want to do – despite what some snotty teen tried to tell me at the Killers concert. Enjoy and see you in the bar!! 😀
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See you at the bar!!
I’m with you. Went to at least one festival every year for about 10 years, then stopped when we had our daughter. We went back to glastonbury without her this year and just couldn’t enjoy it in the same way. We missed her SO much and felt like we were the only parents there (despite the hundreds of families around!). Now planning only family centred festivals like Camp Bestival, it’s just who we are now. We’ll be there next year!
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I think if I went to a “normal” festival like Glasto without my daughter I would feel the same as you! It would probably make me feel ancient. But Camp Bestival looks so geared towards families. I just need to survive the camping bit – eeeek!
The packing and trying to get my head round it all beforehand drove me a bit bonkers last year (our first year) but it was completely worth it. I admit Thurs night the kids wouldn’t sleep,and we were wondering what we had done…but as Gemma says let them go feral and they soon wear themselves out, the rest of the weekend was utterly amazing!
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Great advice! I’m sure I’ll go bonkers trying to pack everything this week, Penny!