Family-friendly festivals in Kent and the South East including Neverworld and Camp Bestival

by Lauren Abbott

Festivals are no longer just reserved for the grown-ups!
And with the summer holidays fast approaching there are a number of both big and small family-friendly festivals guaranteed to have everyone plastering on the face paint and glitter and enjoying some live performances in the great outdoors.

If you're looking for a family-friendly weekender full of live music, theatre, arts, crafts and workshops we've rounded up some of the best taking place in Kent and further afield this July and August:

Neverworld will keep the kids entertained while grown ups enjoy the entertainment
Neverworld will keep the kids entertained while grown ups enjoy the entertainment

Neverworld by Leefest

Hever

Thursday, August 2 to Sunday, August 5

Go Outdoors describes it as a 'top family friendly festival' and Neverworld is set to be popular amongst families once again this summer.

Clean Bandit and Bastille headline this year's event in the Kent countryside but the festival says there is plenty for families to do day and night to not separate them from the festival feel-good fun.

An exciting programme of family workshops and activities takes place across the weekend in 'Pan's Playground' including family raving, craft workshops and face painting, zorbing, bushcraft, yoga, henna tattoos, body marbling and vintage crazy golf.

Neverworld says it can entertain the kids while the adults enjoy a festival atmosphere and for the first time ever it is introducing a 'nanny service' this year to enable adults to enjoy more of the evening entertainment while their children sleep.

Tickets are selling fast visit neverworld.co.uk/familiesfor all the details.

bOing!

Canterbury

Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26

Performers and artists come from across the world for this international family festival.

What's more, bOing! is free to enter (plus free car parking) and everyone is welcome.

Thousands were entertained by last year's bOing! festival
Thousands were entertained by last year's bOing! festival

There are some paid performances which require tickets in advance, with a maximum price of £6, but the festival is packed full of outdoor performances, workshops and creativity which is free to get involved with.

A staggering 10,000 people come to the festival each year enjoying live theatre, art and craft workshops in everything from animation to puppet making, live music and dance.

For further information and a full details of what is on over the weekend visit boingfestival.com

Further afield...

Curious Arts Festival

Hampshire

Friday, July 20 until Sunday, July 22

What child wouldn't enjoy film workshops, bedtime stories, Ukulele club, treasure hunts and science shows.

In a small corner of the New Forest all of this is taking place in the ground of Pylewell Park.

The Curious Arts Festival describes itself as eccentric, fun, dreamy and ultimately irresistible.

For the adults - Al Murray is the headline comedy act together with a packed music programme which includes John Newman.

Visit curiousartsfestival.comfor more.

Camp Bestival in Dorset
Camp Bestival in Dorset

Camp Bestival

Lulworth Castle, Dorset

Friday July 27 until Sunday, July 29

Families are spoilt for choice at Camp Bestival and judging by this year's music acts, the grown-ups will be too!

Rick Astley, Simple Minds, Clean Bandit and Basement Jaxx are among those performing while Mr Tumble, Dick and Dom, Kent's very own Mister Maker and Dinosaur World Live are all set to appeal to younger festival goers.

Mister Maker is taking the shapes to Camp Bestival
Mister Maker is taking the shapes to Camp Bestival

There's also family raving, circus skills, bubble shows, the world's biggest bouncy castle, storytelling, campfire songs, tree climbing, vintage fairground rides, science tents, soft play, arts and crafts.

Set in the picturesque surroundings of Lulworth Castle on the Dorset coast, thousands of families come from across the UK to Camp Bestival each year for the ultimate family festival.

Line-ups, ticket details and camping information at campbestival.net

For more on facing a festival with the family this summer together with some helpful hints and tips click here.

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