7 Things you Didn’t know about Taking your Kids to Festivals

Joanna Armah-Kinson Author

May 15, 2024 |

Thinking of taking your kids to a festival but unsure what to expect? These 7 things will help you be prepared to have the best weekend ever!

7 Things you didn't Know About Taking your Kids to Festivals.

Family Festivals are a summer favourite in the UK with hundreds of different ones taking place between May and September. 

But, if you've never been to a festival with your kids before it can be hard to know what to expect. 

If you're on the fence about going to a family festival, read on.  

I love family festivals and have been a regular at them for the past ten years. Taking your kids to festivals is not only a fun exxperience for them, but you get to have fun too as you rediscover the fantastic festival experience through their eyes. 

In this blog post, I'm going to take you through 7 things you might not know about taking kids to festivals. 

This insider information will help make your first (and every one after it) family festival smooth, special, and something you'll treasure forever. 

1. Whatever you think of them now, as a family festival goer you will probably fall in love with trolleys.

As a solo festival goer, you may have sworn off those clunky trolley wagons as unnecessary extra baggage - possibly you've even tripped over one and said "I'll never use one of those things!". But once you're maneuvering little ones through a crowded festival all day, a trolley becomes a must-have. 

A good sturdy wagon lets tired little legs take a break while you  pull them behind you. They can be a lifesaver when a nap is needed, just as your favourite band come on stage (my son slept through a headline set by the Kaiser Chiefs quite happily in his). 

Even when your kids get a bit too big for them, trolleys are still a handy way to stash all your festival gear. From schlepping your camping stuff from the car to the campsite, to carrying everything you need for the day, let the trolley haul it all! 

And lets not forget the fun you can have decorating them. Many creative families incorporate them into their fancy dress entries. 

So go on, give in and get yourself a trolley - you won't regret it. 

2. Going as a Family IS different to go alone or as part of an adults only group. 

This may sound like an obvious statement, but honestly, not everyone realises it. If you were a regular festival goer pre kids, you might go with your family expecting it to be the same. 

It won't. 

Its not better, its not worse. Its just a different experience. You've got other people to worry about and their needs and wishes need to be met as well as yours.

Your days of complete freedom, only worrying about what you want to get from the festival will change. You might have to miss bands you love, slow down on the partying and try to grab a little more sleep, or at least downtime. 

But having kids with you actually enhances the festival in unexpected ways. Your kids wide-eyed excitement will remind you how fun and different it all is. Trying new things, having fun together and even the things that go wrong, will create memories you'll treasure forever. 

Don't view it as a trade-off, just a different experience. The same festival feels entirely different when explored as a family and ultimately should bond you even closer.

3. You may need to be Innovative when it comes to Toilet Trips. 

Ok, I went there. But fear of festival toilets can be very real for younger children. And if you don't have a plan, you might find yourselves leaving early or having a very unhappy child. 

Festival toilet situations are infamously less-than-ideal. Long lines, questionable cleanliness, scary, smelly cubicles often without lighting - what's doable for adults may well be a challenge for a toddler. In my experience, family festival toilets do tend to be a little better than those at the more hardcore festivals, but they can still be very scary places for kids. 

Honestly, pack that potty even if you toddler doesn't use it at home, you might find they prefer it to a festival toilet. Or if they are a little older, check out Pinterest for how to make a bucket toilet. 

Biodegradeable wet wipes have so many uses and are considered by many to be festival essentials. Plus pack a few baggies (or dog poop bags) just in case. 

But the most important thing to pack is a sense of humour - and something to record the funnier toilet memories you'll want to remind your kids of at their 18th Birthday!  

4. If Your Routine Flies out of The Window for the Weekend, it Doesn't Matter. 

Trying to stick to closely to a routine (however well it works at home) can be a recipe for disaster at a festival. Toddlers who've dropped naps might need one, a heavy downpour can mean an unexpected rest screws everything up, or your favourite band might be playing bang on bedtime. If you force sticking too closely to your standard routine you might just find your happy go lucky child becomes anything but. 

View it as an adventure instead of stressing. 

Staying up late to catch bands means sleeping in and missed morning routines. Pack snacks you can eat on the go in case mealtimes get delayed or kids are starving at odd hours. Embrace the adventure of living on festival time for a few days, your kids will treasure the late nights and sense of freedom.

Go with the flow rather than fighting it. If your routine works, great. Or if not, work around it and think of the messed up routine as part of the fun. Its only 3 days and you'll soon get back into the routine when your back home.

5. Even if its all inclusive, you will need some extra money. 

The all-inclusive ticket price never truly covers everything. Whether its additional activities, food, merchandise or the rapid purse emptier that is the fairground rides, the additional costs can add up very quickly. 

To some extent you can plan ahead - glosticks and the like are readily available on sites like Amazon and are often much cheaper than at the festival on the day. Take some healthy snacks and breakfasts with you to save money on the food costs. And for the first time in 2024, Camp Bestival have a childrens food package available, which I think sounds like a great idea for families, not so sure how the traders will feel about it. 

And once you are there its worth setting a budget for the weekend and making sure your kids know what it is. Giving them kids a daily budget along with clear limits on what they can and can't spend it on, is easier to manage than giving them the whole weekend's money on the first day. 

It's also worth having a slush fund for spontaneity, keep this one quiet and then you can delight rather than disappoint when your kids get festival fever and want it all!

6. A Little Bit of Planning goes a long way. 

Whereas winging it is fine when its just you or a group of mates, taking your kids to a festival can be greatly improved by doing a little bit of planning. Understanding things like whether you park next to your tent, whether there are activities your kids already love, how big the site is and therefore how much walking you might need to do can really help you have a much smoother and more enjoyable experience. 

But don't go too far the other way and overschedule every moment. Some of the most amazing moments at festivals come from wandering, playing, and exploring the festival grounds.

Find a happy medium and you'll enjoy the spontaneous magic more with the essentials mapped out. A little forethought means you can handle whatever comes up! 

7. Festivals are a Sensory Smorgasbord. 

The sights, sounds, smells, and energy of a music festival create a sensory explosion that some kids will adore, while others find overwhelming. Take cues from your child’s temperament and plan accordingly. 

Highly sensitive kids may need more breaks than normal. Go prepared with tools to take the edge off when needed. Gently encourage trying new things and getting involved while allowing time to recharge.

With preparation for both stimulation and relaxation, they can enjoy the sensory adventure at their own pace. So tailor the experience with flexibility and options to map their comfort zone. 

One thing is for sure, festivals offer lots of opportunities to try new things and if you role model it, chances are you will find your kids will broaden their horizons too. 

Taking Your Kids to Festivals is Magical

Whether your a festival virgin or solo festival veteran, you are in for a massive treat when you start going to family festivals. 

Bringing your kids along with you, gives you the opportunity to fall in love with festivals all over again as you see them through fresh eyes. Their excitement reminds you how special they are. Though it requires more planning, the bonding and adventures pay off tenfold in lasting memories.

I hope you enjoyed these tips and that you got a heads up on what to expect navigating family festivals.

If you want even more guidance to make your first family festival worry-free you can download our "24 Top Tips When Taking Kids to a Festival" guide for free using the button below. Packed with lots of helpful information from when to arrive, to the number 1 essential to pack it'll help you relax and enjoy every magical moment when your there. 

See you in field somewhere next summer!

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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
• 5 Benefits of taking your kids to a Family-Friendly Festival this Summer
• How to Choose the Best Family Festival for you: 5 Insider Tips to Help you Find one Everyone Loves
• From Family Festival Newbie to Seasoned Pro: My Journey to The Fantabulous Family Festival Planner

Categories: : Family Festivals