 Despite Britain’s reputation for grim summers and bank holiday traffic
jams, festival culture is booming across the country. If you haven’t
been to a music festival since your student days, you may be shocked
that a parenting magazine should run a feature on these grimy,
booze-soaked gatherings.
Well times have changed! Groups of young people can still enjoy traditional music festivals such as Reading or rave at Winchester’s Slammin’ Vinyl festival, but on the back of Glastonbury’s popularity there has been an explosion of smaller ‘boutique’ festivals aimed at the family market. And many of them are within a couple of hours’ drive of Hampshire.
 The Isle of Wight, home to a legendary festival that attracted the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Who and Bob Dylan back in the hippy era, has embraced festival culture once again with two established festivals on the island. The bigger is the Nokia Isle of Wight Festival (July).
Less well-known but no less well-loved, the island’s Bestival in August is squarely aimed at families, with a dedicated kids’ tent and of course ‘Breastival’- a dedicated breastfeeding/baby temple, described as a haven for mums and their very tiny ones. The setting, in Robin Hill Countryside Adventure Park, could be tailor-made for kids, who will have the run of the park’s playgrounds, miniature village and toboggan run. Headline acts this year include Primal Scream and the Beastie Boys.
For the past few years, Fleming Park has hosted the Eastleigh Festival, which has now outgrown its venue, and moved to Wickham in the Hamble Valley with a corresponding name change. The Wickham Festival (August) has a line-up of mainly old-timers such as Jethro Tull and The Men They Couldn’t Hang. Children under 10 go free, with children’s entertainers laid on, and ‘posh wash’ showers a good part of the festival’s clean appeal.
Not far from Hampshire is the little festival with the big following, the Larmer Tree festival (July), near Salisbury, popular with people of all ages. The 70 live acts are outnumbered by the 100 workshop events for children and adults, culminating in a colourful festival procession on the Sunday for all to join in. No tickets are required for under-fives, although all children are issued with a ‘lost child’ identity wristband. Confirmed acts this year Jools Holland.
Further afield, but worth the effort and drive, is Wychwood, at Cheltenham Racecourse. Wychwood, held in June, proudly sells itself as the best family festival there is. It would be hard to argue, given that they have won the award from UK festival goers for the last two years.
“Families are a priority at Wychwood and we intend to keep it that way,” Wychwood organiser Graeme Merrifield told Baby Hampshire.
“The festival provides a safe, clean environment where families can enjoy live music and participate in whole range of arts and crafts workshops. Everything from mask making to break dancing is provided for all ages; so much fun that adults can’t resist joining in!”
New at Wychwood this year will be a play area with soft toys and games for toddlers and a chance to put your baby in eco-friendly nappies and learn more about using them.
Cheltenham Racecourse is also where the annual Greenbelt festival (August) is held. Based on a Christian theme, the event attracts mainly faith-based acts, with the odd crossover artist like Chas and Dave or Billy Bragg. As you may expect, Greenbelt is free from the rougher side of festival life. With as much focus on the spiritual as the musical, Greenbelt offers kids corners in all the discussion tents, as well as tailor-made programmes for kids banded by age from baby upwards.
Down in Devon, this August sees the fifth year of the festival veteran’s favourite – Beautiful Days. Organised and headlined each year by folk-punks The Levellers, this grassroots festival attracts a crowd that has done Glastonbury a few times, settled down and had kids, but doesn’t want to let go of the festival vibe. It has a huge kids area, with fairground rides, dress up games and storytelling, as well as drum and fire juggling workshops for older kids. Children are given wristbands to write mobile phone numbers on and the dedicated family camping area has its own playground.
Of course, it is possible to capture the festival atmosphere without having to trade it for the comfort of your own bed afterwards. Many festivals offer day tickets, or check out local street festivals such as Romsey’s Beggars Fair or Winchester’s Hat Fair (both July) and forget you’re just a minute’s walk from the High Street. Entertainment close to all your home comforts - and free.
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