5 Benefits of taking your kids to a Family-Friendly Festival this Summer

Joanna Armah-Kinson Author

May 15, 2024 |

Learn why taking your kids to a family-friendly festival is so popular and how they can strengthen your family relationships for months to come.

In 2024, at least 39 large family-friendly festivals are happening on August Bank Holiday weekend alone.

That’s a lot of people who think that taking their kids to festivals is a good thing.

We’ve been going to family-friendly festivals for over 10 years now and in that time, we’ve experienced the good, the bad and the ugly of them. From arriving to fields with nothing but thick mud underfoot to four-hour traffic jams on leaving day, they don’t always go the way you would want.

If you’ve never been to one you might be wondering why we bother. Well, the benefits of taking your kids to festivals far outweigh any negatives. They always feature heavily in our Family Adventure Jar and I’m going to share 5 compelling reasons why they should be in yours as well.

So, read on – but be prepared that when you're done, you might find yourself booking tickets and if so, I look forward to bumping into you in a field somewhere this summer!

#1. You have the opportunity to try lots of new activities.

From the minute you wake up, to when you finally fall asleep, there is always something you can get involved with when your  at a family festival. You might compete in a paddle boarding race, climb trees, do some crafts, throw axes, take part in a science experiment, enter a talent show together or get involved in any number of unexpected fun activities. 

New Experiences are a great way to Bond

With so many different activities at a festival, there's plenty of opportunity to try something new. Having a go at something as a family is a great way to make memories, and the benefits go even deeper than that: 

* Stepping outside your comfort zone shows your kids it's ok to be vulnerable, giving them the courage to try new things as well. 

* The first time you try something, it's likely to be difficult and you're going to need to use resilience, problem-solving, and communication to get better. Practising these as a family helps build trust and cooperation between you. 

* Hopefully there'll be lots of fun and laughter as you try, which releases endorphins and reduces everyone’s stress and anxiety levels. 

* Finally, when you succeed everyone's self-confidence will get a boost.

Phew, who knew there were so many benefits from opening yourself up to maybe looking daft!  And the good news is that family festivals are filled with opportunities to try something new.

I've had many proud mum moments at festivals watching my child do something I didn't think was possible. On one memorable hot sunny day, he first climbed a tree despite being scared of heights. Now I'm not going to claim his dad and I climbed one with him, but we had done other things together earlier in the day which gave him the confidence to have a go!

So, stop standing on the sidelines and get involved! You never know what might happen. You could discover a brand-new talent, or you could look really silly. Either way, you can be sure you’re going to make some fantastic family memories you’ll never forget.

#2: A whole weekend spent outdoors is a brilliant mood booster

Fresh air. Fun camping. Lots of walking. What could be more wholesome?  Sure, it doesn’t always seem fun when you’re sliding around in the mud and it’s chucking it down with rain, but when you’re drying off in your tent laughing about it, it doesn’t take long to see the funny side.

You’ll get lots of exercise just walking around the festival – I’ve seen step counts well over 20k per day just from wandering around. The open green spaces will encourage your kids to run, skip, dance and play – why not join in with them? And generally, however bad the weather, there will be some sunshine where you can soak up the vitamin D.

The remote, countryside locations of many festivals give you lots of chances to enjoy nature which helps reduce stress and depression. And they often mean festivals don’t have great (if any) Wi-Fi, so you’ll have no choice but to switch off from the stresses and strains of everyday life and embrace the moment.

The combination of movement, fresh air, green spaces, and shared laughter you experience at festivals reduce cortisol and increase oxytocin boosting your physical and mental family health. You may find a weekend at a family festival inspires you to spend more time outdoors together afterwards too, as the benefits for your family can last long after the festival ends!

#3 – Nearly all of the Entertainment is included in the ticket

At most family festivals, the music choices alone ensure there's something for everyone spanning decades and genres (so whilst my cousin has a good singalong to Dick and Dom, I’m able to go to another stage at the other side of the festival where I can’t hear them at all!).

But great music is only a small part of the amazing entertainment a family-friendly festival offers. In between the various stages, you'll uncover lots of different types of entertainment.

You’ll find amazing magic shows that captivate your kids and comedy shows that get the whole family giggling. Acrobatic circus acts will astound you as contortionists and aerialists show off their jaw dropping skills. There may be book readings by famous authors, fascinating science experiments, cultural dance performances from around the world, and brilliant plays performed in creative and unusual ways.

With so many enticing options available, there is no reason at all for any family member to be bored or feel forced into participating in something they don’t want to. And as busy parents, I just know how much you’ll appreciate getting some time to relax whilst you watch your kids having the best time with talented and professional entertainers.

There will be acts that you know and are excited for - make sure to plan to catch those. But don’t limit yourself just to what you already know. Keep an open mind and try watching things you wouldn’t normally. You just might discover some shows you love but would never have sought out on your own.

The cornucopia of entertainment, both already loved and newly discovered, will keep your family happily entertained all day long. The best part? Your festival tickets cover all of these entertainment expenses so you can relax and enjoy the shows without worrying about the additional cost.

#4: With a little planning, you can have fabulous adventures with minimal effort.

Family life is busy and when you’ve only got a few days to have an adventure, you want maximum fun for minimal hassle. Well hello, family festivals! You get a whole weekend packed with well-organised entertainment and activities which are designed to keep every member of your family happy. There will be loads of different food choices readily available and you’ve got minimal washing up to do!

Plus, if you want to go hassle-free you can glamp and have a tent set up ready for you when you arrive or stay in a local hotel. The very first time we went to a festival as a family it was all very last minute as I won the tickets in a competition. We had a ten-month-old baby and very little camping equipment, so we stayed in a local hotel. It was hassle-free and we enjoyed the festival just as much as we have since when we’ve camped.

Even better, you can choose a festival with as much travel as you want to do. If your kids don’t like road trips or you don’t have much time, then choose a local festival and you don’t have to drive far. But if they do, knock yourselves out and go to the other end of the country! There’s a lot to recommend staying local for your first festival. If you’re not keen on camping you can just go home at night. Plus, with a local festival, the travel won’t cost as much, and you can invite friends and family to come along as well. And of course, staying local makes it easier to turn it into a tradition if you have lots of fun!

Family festivals let you create memories and spend quality time with your family without requiring lots of organisation. Put a little bit of effort into working out which one is right for your family (and we’ve got a guide to help you with that) and planning how you’ll spend the weekend and that’s all you need to have a weekend adventure you’ll never forget. 

#5: A whole weekend of Quality Family Bonding Time

From the moment you arrive at a family festival you’ll be building lifetime memories together. Whether its struggling to put up the tent in high winds, watching your young child learn a new skill, singing and dancing to festival anthem or my personal favourite, snuggling up together in fleecy onesies snug in your family tent, you’ll be creating memories, free of everyday distractions.

Whilst you’re at the festival, you have everything you need on hand day and night so there is really nothing else to do but have enjoy yourselves. Spend time being present for your family and building real human connections. Having new experiences and fun together builds bonds that provide love, comfort, and support for months afterwards.

In a busy world where parent guilt is a real thing, festivals are an opportunity to give your kids your undivided attention and have fun together. The poor Wi-Fi might feel annoying at first but embrace it and you’ll soon feel the benefits of switching off from the everyday stresses and strains and living in the moment.

These shared experiences are a great way to strengthen trust and create cherished memories which will become the foundation of your family bonds for life. Spending time being truly present for your children will help them have higher self-esteem and a stable base from which they can mature into secure, responsible adults.

A weekend spent enjoying yourselves at a family festival will continue to benefit your family for a long time afterwards.

The Biggest Smiles your ever likely to see.

With a wide array of music, entertainment, activities, and attractions, festivals deliver nonstop excitement for all family members. Going to one strengthens your bonds, creates lifelong memories, and provides an opportunity to have some much-needed fun away from the everyday stress of busy modern lives.

Festivals inspire families to try new things, be silly and to reconnect with each other. The experiences you share will make memories you’ll never forget. Being able to retreat from daily life to laugh, play, and soak up quality time together, will nourish your relationships and mental well-being in profound ways and have a lasting positive effect for months to come.

All of which leads to the biggest and best smiles you’re ever likely to see. And it’s those unforgettable smiles, that you’ll capture in photos and cherish for decades to come. 

If you’ve never been to one before, why not make this the year you try one? You never know, it just might become your favourite family tradition. So, why not take the next step and work out which one to go to? 

Click Here to download your guide to choosing the ideal family festival in 3 Simple Steps.  

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And if you want more information about Family Festivals you can also  read:

• The Complete List of UK Family Friendly Festivals in 2024
• How to Choose the Best Family Festival for you: 5 Insider Tips to Help you Find one Everyone Loves 
• 7 Things you Didn’t know about Taking your Kids to Festivals 
• From Family Festival Newbie to Seasoned Pro: My Journey to The Fantabulous Family Festival Planner

Categories: : Family Festivals