Where to Live for Top Festivals and Events: Part 1
Posted 24 January 2020 by
Keith OsborneResearch from Ticketmaster discovered that around one third of people in Britain had attended a festival between 2016 and 2019.
With music festivals alone, the latest figures from market research company Mintel show that in 2018, some 26% of adults attended at least one. When asked for their top reason for attending, 41% said that it was to spend more time with friends and family.
There’s a huge number of festivals large and small throughout the UK every year that are perfect for families of all ages, and if you live an easy journey away, what better way to spend a day or weekend together doing your favourite things, or finding new ones?
This year, Chagstock is headlined by Scouting For Girls and hosts a range of bands and artists on its Main stage, Marquee Stage and Live Lounge. If the music doesn’t appeal to youngsters, they’re bound to find something they’ll enjoy, as the organisers offer a real mix of things for kids to do, keeping them busy, happy and safe. These include circus skills, hoola-hooping, a Lego tent, inflatables – even yoga classes. Whiddon Down is on the northern edge of Dartmoor and well under an hour’s drive from places like Exeter, Barnstaple and Tiverton.
Deer Shed Festival, 24-26 July, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire
The organisers don’t provide a separate kids area because they believe this event should be inclusive to visitors of all ages. There are plenty of music acts but also something happening to captivate all kinds of interests – in fact, there are some 2,000 hours of activities being hosted over the weekend. Just a few of the huge array of topics are family-friendly comedy, science, sport, cinema and art workshops. Bring a tent or caravan if you wish to stay overnight. York, Middlesbrough and Leeds are all less than 60 minutes away from the Baldersby Park venue.
Just So Festival, 21-23 August, Rode Heath, Cheshire
Very much a family-focused Bank Holiday event for everyone “from bumps to great-grandparents", it’s hard to think up anything that isn’t offered here. Pregnancy yoga, puppetry, dance workshops, baking and even a “colour fight” (best not wear your Sunday best for that!) are just a handful of the things which will keep people of all ages and interests enthralled. Will three days be enough to enjoy it all? The village of Rode Heath is under 15 miles from major towns including Stoke-on-Trent, Nantwich and Northwich.
This is the new “little sister” of an event which has been going strong in East Sussex for eight years and was shortlisted for the UK Festival Awards in 2019, and is taking place in the grounds of an impressive 17th-century stately home. There’s an extensive list of activities whether out-and-about or sitting undercover. Parkour, climbing, arts & crafts, music and a science dome are among a wide choice to appeal to all ages. Birmingham, Derby, Lichfield, Coalville and Burton upon Trent are just a few of the many major towns and cities under an hour away.
Wychwood Festival, 29-31 May, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
There are many big names performing this year – the likes of The Stranglers, Craig Charles and Basil Brush demonstrate the diverse tastes catered for. Treatments such as reiki, reflexology and massage in the Healing Gardens are a major draw, with activities such as dancing, model making, samba drumming and mime shows making it impossible to find someone who wouldn’t enjoy this long weekend on Cheltenham Racecourse. Market towns such as Stroud and the cities of Bristol and Worcester are all under an hour away from the fun.
The theme for this year’s show is yet to be announced but this free-to-enter event, which has been going for over 40 years and attracts some 30,000 people, offers all sorts of activities for grown-ups and youngsters, with a special kids area hosting things like arts & crafts, bouncy castles, nerf guns, tug of war, a ‘baby rave’ and music performances from the Big Top. Cambridge is seeing developments large and small taking shape, and towns and villages like Huntingdon, St Ives and Warboys are also offering homes which are less expensive and still within easy reach.