Family festival round-up 2021
Festival-going may have changed since having children, but there's really no need to miss out. Check out our round-up of the best family-friendly events coming up this summer.
Image credit: teneightstudios
All events were reviewed by our editorial team. This review contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made. Please read our affiliates FAQ page to find out more. This page was updated in May 2021.
Summer is packed full of fun foodie events the whole family will love. We’ve picked out the ones most geared towards kids, but we haven’t sidelined adult indulgences either – from locally-brewed beer to a lakeside spa, there's plenty to keep everyone happy.
Womad 2021
22-25 July
Charlton Park, Wiltshire
Adult three-day ticket from £185; age 14-17 from £95; under 13s go free
The Taste the World stage invites artists to cook their favourite dishes, resulting in an intimate conversation with performers. The World of Children experience keeps kids entertained with many free activities.
Line-up: Anoushka shankar, Jordan Rakei, Nitin Sawhney, The Comet is Coming
Camp Good Life 2021
Photo: Rupert Russell
17-19 September
Hawarden Estate, North Wales
Adult weekend ticket from £180; age 12-17 from £90; age 5-11 from £25, under 4s go free - exclusively for rolled over tickets for the Good Life Experience, tickets for Good Life Summer 2022 on sale now
If your kids are into crafts, making and outdoor adventures, The Good Life Experience ticks all the boxes. This unique celebration of artisanal living is less music-focused than other festivals in our line-up, instead offering food workshops, craft sessions like screen printing, pottery, weaving, chair-making and carpentry, plus lots of spoken word. There’s also axe throwing, archery, canoeing and wild swimming at the picturesque lake, a strong food offering and, in keeping with its resolutely canine-friendly environment, a dog show for four-legged attendees.
Line-up: Heavenly recordings, Cerys Matthews, Roger Phillips, Honey & Co, Gwenno, The Orielles
Visit The Good Life Experience website
Camp Bestival 2021
29 July-1 August
Lulworth Castle, Dorset
Adult weekend ticket from £230; students from £225; age 13-17 from £150; age 10-12 from £125; age 5-9 from £105; age 4 and under from £85; babies under 1 go free. Buy tickets
This family-friendly offshoot of Bestival has a yearly theme, and this year it's ‘Camp Bestival goes to the movies’. Kids will be kept busy with blockbuster action, theatre shows, a dressing up tend and disco while adults enjoy Dorset Farmers’ Market and The Jam Jar Bar.
Line-up: Fatboy Slim, Groove Armada, Becky Hill, Friendly Fires, Dick and Dom and more.
Visit the Camp Bestival website
Wilderness Festival 2021
5-8 August
Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
Adult weekend ticket from £185; teen ticket (age 13-17) from £126.25; junior ticket (age 6-12) from £39.75; age 5 and under from £6.25. SOLD OUT
This award-winning festival is famous for its family-friendly vibe. Kids can get stuck into everything from yoga to theatre production, and there are also plenty of creative workshops. But if you want to experience the lakeside spa, a meditation class, or one of the famous hot tubs, there’s a handy babysitting service.
Line-up: 2021 coming soon, 2019 line-up:Foals, Loyle Carner, Supergrass, BICEP, Kelis, Elder Island and more.
Visit the Wilderness Festival website
Just So Festival 2021
20-22 August
Cheshire
Adult weekend ticket from £150.50; child ticket (age 3-15) from £53.50; under 3s go free
This is a magical experience where art, music and literature are celebrated. From an opera for children to a lantern parade, a silent disco and storytelling, there's plenty to keep young ones happy. Plus, try crêpes from Cosy Rosie’s, Kroket’s French-style croquettes or tacos from Tacoporium.
Visit the Just So Festival website
The Big Feastival 2021
27-29 August
The Cotswolds
Adult day ticket from £82; teen ticket (age 13-17) from £48.50; child ticket (under-12s) free. Buy tickets
This festival (held at Alex James’ farm) is a bit of a foodie frenzy, but there’s also plenty for children to do, from group games to circus workshops. They can take part in cookery classes, dance lessons and jam sessions. And you’ll be able to tuck into a variety of street-food favourites, including campfire treats from Montezuma and The Alex James Cheese Hub, before taking part in cookery demos.
Line-up: Sigala, Rag 'n' Bone Man, Ella Eyre, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Zara Larsson, Tom Walker
Visit The Big Feastival website
Pub in the Park 2021
Various dates and locations
Adult day tickets from £39.94; ages 6-15 from £23.96, under 5s free. Buy tickets
Tom Kerridge's food and music festival has eight locations across England between May and September – Marlow, Leeds, Knutsford, Bath, Warwick, Tunbridge Wells, Chiswick and St Albans. The afternoon sessions are best for spending time with the children. Pop-up ‘pubs’ include José Pizarro and Angela Hartnett.
Line up: Tom Walker, Sophie-Ellis-Bextor, Rudimental DJ, Beverley Knight, Top Loader
Visit the Pub in the Park website
You may also be interested in the following guides:
- How to camp with kids
- Top 10 camping staples
- Top 10 foods to cook when camping
- 10 super-melty sweet and savoury s'mores
Do you have a favourite food festival? We'd love to hear your ideas and recommendations...
This review was last updated in May 2021. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
