CAMP BESTIVAL DORSET 2024 REVIEW - DAY VISITOR!

Camp Bestival, held annually in the picturesque grounds of Lulworth Castle in Dorset, is a celebration of music, arts, and family fun that stands out as one of the best family-friendly festivals in the UK. This vibrant event, curated by DJ Rob da Bank and his wife Josie, offers an enchanting blend of entertainment that caters to all ages, making it a must-visit for families seeking a magical festival experience.

If camping is your thing then you pitch up with the family, you can bring motorhomes and campers, you can even splash out and do Hospitality Camping...which I'm told is the most exclusive festival experience. 

If you prefer to sleep in your own bed, then there is a great option to purchase a day ticket. We live locally to the festival so for us, this is perfect as we can drive in and spend the day, then be tucked up in our own beds within half an hour! 

The festival opens on Thursday to campers but the main days are Friday - Sunday. We had weekend tickets but chose not to camp, we actually drove in from Poole on the Friday and Saturday. Both days were very different, so read on to find out what our family of 4 got up to...

Day 1 - Friday

Due to work and childcare commitments, we weren't able to start our festival experience until late Friday afternoon but as soon as we drove in and saw the sea of tents and the colourful big top in the distance, we were eager to explore!

We were directed to the YELLOW car park and it took around 15-20 minutes to walk to the entrance. (We did arrive late though so our car was definitely one of the last in and the parked at the furthest point!). This isn't our first time at Camp Bestival but our last visit was in 2021 and it was interesting to spot the small changes. 

Making our way in to the Magic Meadow area, my husband was happy to see Caravanserai - this is one of his favourite parts of CB and is a great place for people watching! Made up of old caravans and vintage fairground bits and bobs, Caravanserai feels a bit like something you'd find in an apocalyptic world. In one corner you might find DJ's playing drum & base with little kids raving on their dad's shoulders, in another nook you might catch an artist singing an acoustic version of Radiohead's Creep with an accompanying banjo. It's all abit bonkers but it certainly has character!

Caravanserai - Camp Bestival

Good to see the Lovebot in the Magic Meadow, and we encountered the Earthbot who made her festival debut in 2023. Earthbot stands at over 8 metres tall and has two slides, a treehouse den and a huge sandpit. The queues were minimal to climb inside her and my two really enjoyed the slides. 

A new addition to this year's Camp Bestival is the Explorer's Passport. Designed by Josie Da Bank, the passport is packed full of illustrations and information, plus space to add your CB memories. Scattered around the festival are Stamping Stations and each one has a different stamp to put in your passport.  Erin (age 7) absolutely loved this activity - it encouraged her to really explore all the areas in the quest to find all the stamps and it made a lovely momento to bring home.     

Moving onto the Upper Kids Garden, my children were delighted to find the Circus area and the Crazy Bikes. This is somewhere we usually spend quite a bit of time in and this year was no exception! The crazy bikes are always a big hit and it was a race to see who could try the craziest bike. 

The Upper Kids Garden is also home to the Feast Collective - here you can find all kinds of food and drink offerings and the smell from DJ BBQ will lure you in! We found lots of benches and tables here and it was a great place to chill out for a while. Food is on the pricy side but to be expected at a festival. We paid £13-14 for burger and fries. Kids options can be found at most of the vendors for £6, although this isn't neccessarily a meal. Erin had a hotdog for £6 and we upgraded it to come with chips for an extra £2. She enjoyed this so much that she also chose it on the Saturday! 

If you are coming for the whole weekend then it's definitely worth looking into the Camp Kids Extra Pass. For £39.99 you will receive meal tokens which will get you six kids meals (x3 lunch options, x3 dinner options), daily sweet treat and unlimited fruit and water. 

Next to the Castle, we found the BBC Sounds Garden which turned out to be my son's favourite bit of the festival. A great place to chill - here we found deckchairs, giant beanbags, shade, headphones to listen to various different stations and podcasts and we were even able to have our photo taken in the Sounds Studio Photobooth. We realised that we could connect to wifi here so this place was a godsend over the weekend when our usual phone signal failed us! 

As the sun began to set, we made our way to the Castle Stage - this is the place to be if you want to catch some big name artists and bands over the weekend. Mcfly were the Friday night headliner and I for one, was very excited about this! The grassy area in front of the stage is pretty big and you'll find that lots of families with chairs and wagons will sit further back. We decided to head down to the front of the stage and join the throng of people waiting for Mcfly. As soon as the first song kicked in, it was a brilliant atmosphere and the kids were loving in! We sadly didn't get to see the entire set as both children were very tired but Mcfly were brilliant as always. 

As we made our way towards the exit, the fairground looked absolutely stunning all lit up and there was such a buzz in the air with families of all ages enjoying themselves. The walk back up to the car certainly felt longer on the way back but we couldn't wait to return in the morning to explore the rest of the festival. 

Day 2 - Saturday

We arrived bright and early to glorious sunshine across the festival site and we were excited for another fun day at Lulworth. The kids had lots of ideas about what they wanted to see/do so I was more than happy for them to take the reins! 

There are so many activities for children at Camp Bestival and this can be a bit overwhelming at first. Alot of these have to be prebooked (bookings generally open the day before) but for us, we were happy to explore and see what took our fancy. You can easily still find plenty to do without prebooking and I always find half the fun of festivals is stumbling upon random activities! 

We spent a bit of time playing on the swings in the Magic Meadow, and we also noticed a talent show happening inside the Big Top which was fun to listen to. A few minutes before we arrived there was a big Nerf battle which apparently happens every year. Saturday was fancy dress day and so many people had made amazing efforts for this years Space theme - we passed an entire family of aliens by the Lovebot! 

Just before 11am, we headed back up to the Upper Kids Garden to the Library where a whole host of talks were happening throughout the day. The line up included author Katie Kirby, who's Lottie Brooks books have been topping the book charts since their debut in 2021 and just so happen to be Erin's favourite! The Library tent was packed with tweens and parents and it was interesting to hear Katie talk about the books, and the characters. We were able to meet her at the book signed after and it made Erin's day to get a photo. Whilst this was happening, Elliot had been amusing himself in the BBC Sounds garden again! We did find it tricky with the lack of signal, especially when he wanted to go off by himself but we agreed a central meeting place at a specific time which worked...just. Shout out to the WI tent which can be found near the Library - here you can buy sandwiches, cakes and lots of refreshments that won't break the bank. 

After another play with the Crazy Bikes, we headed down to the Lower Kids Garden. Here you can find the old science tent which is now Space Camp - an exciting new venue where you can find demonstrations, workshops and plenty of interactive experiences. Erin really wanted to check out the Super Moose Toys Super Happy Playhouse - she was in her element with Bluey meet and greets, plus demonstrations from toys such as Magic Mixies, Cookez Makery and Little Live Pets. 

The Lower Kids Garden has so much for the kids to do and we ran out of time to do everything but we loved the vintage fairground rides and climbing up the observatory to look down at the festival. You can also find Navigation Town and lots of stamping stations for the activity passports.There are plenty of food options down in the garden and lots of shady areas to sit. We found the toilets here the nicest too! 

Looking out over Navigation Town

Next on the agenda was the much requested Dingly Dell area - both kids loved visiting here last time and it's a great place to come to get away from the hustle and bustle of the festival. Tucked away in the nearby woods you'll find a tranquil area where children can go wild with their imaginations. There are mud kitchens, instruments made from recycled instruments, you can create models from clay....there is even a lovely big play area which my kids love. The big plus is that it's lovely and shaded so I had a wonderful time sitting out of the sun whilst the kids played! 

We spent the rest of the afternoon having a wander round the festival - we caught a bit of Mr Tumble on the Castle Stage, we danced to some beats in the Bollywood Tent, we drank huge slushies when we got too hot, we chilled in the BBC Sounds area, we practised our tightrope skills at the Circus, we listened to some fab kids singing and playing Nirvana at Rock School, we waved at Mister Maker in the CBeebies bedtime tent and we played some retro games at the Games Museum. 

We also managed to catch another Q & A at the book signing - this time it was Cerrie Burnell who we know from her CBeebies time back in the day. She is a very succesful children's author and her Unicorn books have gained a brand new fan in Erin! There is even a well stocked book shop at Camp Bestival (run by some very friendly volunteers) so we were able to pick up one of Cerrie's books which Erin had signed. 

Our tummies were rumbling at this point so we followed our noses back to the Feast Collective where I had a really good buttermilk fried chicken burger and fries and the kids opted for hotdogs again. There are so many food options at Feast Collective - I wanted to try everything! There are plenty of seating areas near the food vendors and whilst we ate our dinner we chatted to some other families sat nearby and it was a great way to spend a bit of chill time. We have found that everyone is so friendly at CB and there is never any shortage of people to chat to - Erin even managed to bag herself a new penpal!

After a quick boogie to The Darkness on the Castle Stage we decided to call it a day with two very tired, sweaty children. The walk back up the carpark was less than appealing so we decided to treat ourselves to a ride up the hill in the Charity Concierge's Festival Taxis. Suggested donation was £7 per person (kids go free) and this was money well spent as we whizzed up the hill! All the money goes to charity and the taxis run throughout the weekend. Look out for the big "Taxi stop" signs - we hopped on one by the main entrance. 

After spending two days at Camp Bestival, these are my top tips to help you have the best time:

•  Take snacks! If your kids are anything like mine, then they'll have a bottomless stomach in the school holidays and it can work out very expensive if you have buy food everytime they say they're hungry. I packed a zip lock bag for each child with lots of snacks in for the day - once this was gone, that was it.
• Frozen capri suns make great icepacks
• Ensure kids are aware of welfare tents and what to do if lost. We had no signal all weekend so found it hard to stay in touch with my eldest when he explored by himself - we gave him specific instructions regarding meeting places. You could also make sure you take a photo of your child in the morning so you know exactly what they are wearing incase they get lost
• Go with the flow! The list of activities can be overwhelming but you can easily still have a fantastic festival experience without prebooking anything
• There are free water stations dotted around the festival site so bring your refillable bottle
• The festival loos weren't too bad but we found it helped bringing our own wetwipes and anti-bac gel for after
• Wear comfy shoes - you'll certainly rack up the steps walking around the festival, even more if you're parked in the yellow carpark!
• Less is definitely not more at Camp Bestival - wear the glitter, bring your sparkles, be bright! We did pack some festival glitter but definitely felt positively underdressed - I've never seen so many sparkly outfits in one day

Above all, have fun! Camp Bestival is an amazing experience for all ages and I'd definitely recommend getting a ticket. Tier 1 tickets are now onsale for 2025!

*Disclaimer - AD | We were offered free weekend tickets in exchange for an honest review 

A Spooky Evening at Moors Valley Country Park’s Halloween Trail: A Review

If you're looking for a family-friendly Halloween experience that blends outdoor adventure with spine-tingling fun, Moors Valley Country Park’s brand new Halloween Trail is the perfect destination! We recently visited on opening night, and from the creative displays to the eerie ambiance, it offered the ideal blend of Halloween thrills without being too scary for younger visitors.

There are three different time slots to consider. Daylight - which is perfect for younger visitors, Twilight - the scare level ramps up a notch, and Moonlight - as scary as it gets but still suitable for all. 

We arrived for our Daylight slot at 5pm and we were guided towards the main carpark. Be prepared for the carpark to be very busy at peak times - you may end up in the overflow carpark so it would be wise to bring a torch.

Before you begin your journey into the forest, you can grab a bite to eat at one of the many food vendors. Our group had hog roast, burgers and hotdogs but there were plenty of choices including greek and waffles. Prices were to be expected but the portions were very generous, as demonstrated by the size of my daughters hotdog!

Hot dogs at Moors Valley Halloween

The Halloween Trail winds through part of the park’s vast woodland and takes between one to two hours to complete, depending on how long you linger at each stop. Visitors follow a mapped path, where they’re greeted by engaging characters, creepy props, and spooky sounds that set an eerie but enjoyable tone.

The sun was setting as we walked around and it made for a spooky backdrop to my photos, with the orange glow peeking through the trees. We took our time exploring and I appreciated booking the earlier time slot as it wasn't too busy. We were able to take lots of photos and never felt rushed. 

Headless Horseman - Moors Valley Halloween Trail

Midway round the trail, we found a small pitstop area where a pop up bar was selling amazing looking hot chocolates and spooky themed drinks. There was also Candy Cauldron where the kids bought apples dipped in freshly melted chocolate and covered with spooky sprinkles. Definitely a highlight of the evening for them!

Once the sun had set and darkness arrived, we saw the forest from a different perspective. It felt quite spooky and we wondered what (or who!) we would encounter at each twist and turn of the path. 

Family-Friendly Fun

The Moors Valley Halloween Trail is an excellent option for families with children. It avoids the extreme frights you’d find in a traditional haunted house, making it accessible for younger kids who want to join in on the Halloween fun. The interactive elements encourage exploration and curiosity, and the characters along the way are much more friendly than frightening.

If you’re a Halloween enthusiast hoping for something truly terrifying, you might find this experience more on the mild side. However, for a festive, spooky evening with the family, the Halloween Trail offers just the right balance.

Practical Tips

If you’re planning to visit, here are a few tips to make the most of your experience:

• October evenings can be chilly, so bundle up and wear comfortable walking shoes since you’ll be navigating forest paths.

• While some parts of the trail are lit, a torch can help you see the path clearly and add to the spooky fun.

• There are no toilets on the trail so make sure you use the ones in the event village before you begin

• Take your time and look up! There is lots to see on the trail and I'd recommend taking your time so you don't miss anything. We spent almost two hours on the trail from start to finish (including time eating chocolate apples 😀)

Halloween Trail by torchlight

Final Thoughts

The Moors Valley Country Park Halloween Trail is a delightful Halloween outing that families and kids of all ages can enjoy. It combines outdoor exploration with gentle frights and offers an experience filled with magic and creativity. 

Overall, it’s a fantastic seasonal experience for anyone looking to enjoy Halloween festivities without too many scares. Highly recommended for families and Halloween lovers who appreciate a blend of nature and enchantment with a spooky twist. 

The Halloween trail is running everyday until Sunday 3rd November with timed entry slots. For more information including ticket prices and booking information, check out the website here.

*Disclaimer - We were given tickets to the opening night in exchange for an honest review - we really loved it though and will definitely be returning next year! 

The Best Family-Friendly Festivals in the UK featuring Carfest and More!

 One of our favourite things to do in the Summer as a family is to visit a festival. You can't beat sitting in a field watching the sun go down, listening to some cracking live music and taking in the atmosphere.  Most festivals have a dedicated kids area and here you can find all sorts of activities to keep them busy.  As the kids get older, we have started to try a few different ones and we have certainly found our favourites!

 Here’s a guide to some of the best family-friendly festivals in the UK.

1. Camp Bestival

Location: Lulworth Castle, Dorset
When: 25th-28th July

Camp Bestival is the ultimate family festival, combining music, arts, and family fun. Held in the picturesque grounds of Lulworth Castle, it features a stellar lineup of music acts such as Mcfly and Paloma Faith, alongside comedy shows, theatre performances, and workshops. Kids can enjoy the enormous Kids’ Garden with circus skills, face painting, and a dedicated toddler area. The festival also includes a wellness area for parents to unwind, making it a hit with families of all ages. Don't miss the fireworks on the Sunday evening! 

Elliot in the Lower Kids Garden, Camp Bestival

2. The Big Feastival

Location: Kingham, Oxfordshire
When: Bank Holiday Weekend August

The Big Feastival, founded by Jamie Oliver and Alex James, is a celebration of food and music set on Alex James’ farm in the Cotswolds. It features live cooking demonstrations from top chefs, a fantastic music lineup including Becky Hill, and plenty of activities for kids. The Little Dudes’ Den offers crafts, games, and storytelling, while older children can enjoy workshops and outdoor sports. The festival’s focus on good food and fun makes it a deliciously delightful experience for families.

3. CarFest

Location: Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire
When: Bank Holiday Weekend August

CarFest, created by radio DJ Chris Evans, is a fantastic blend of cars, music, and family entertainment. Families can enjoy a vibrant mix of car shows, live music, great food and a host of activities for children. The festival includes a dedicated Kids’ Kingdom with crafts, circus skills, and sports activities. The track show, featuring classic and modern cars, is a highlight for all ages, and the proceeds support UK children’s charities, making it a feel-good event for the whole family.

Carfest Car Paddock

We visited Carfest for the first time last year and it was fantastic - easily one of the best family friendly festivals we've been to. We are looking forward to heading back this year!

4. Green Man Festival

Location: Brecon Beacons, Wales
When: 16th-18th August 2024

While Green Man is renowned for its impressive lineup of indie and alternative music, it’s also incredibly family-friendly. The festival’s Little Folk area provides a haven for kids, with workshops, storytelling, and musical performances tailored for younger audiences. The festival’s stunning location in the Brecon Beacons offers plenty of opportunities for families to explore the natural beauty of the area.

5. Gloworm Festival

Location: Thoresby Park, Nottinghamshire
When: 16th-18th August 2024

Gloworm Festival is designed specifically for families with young children. It offers a magical and immersive experience with a focus on fun and creativity. The festival features live performances from popular children’s TV stars such as Maddie Moate and Andy Day, interactive theatre shows, craft workshops, and outdoor adventures. The Gloworm Woods are perfect for exploring, and the festival’s relaxed atmosphere ensures a stress-free experience for parents and kids alike.

Pic Credit - Sue Davis and girls at Gloworm Festival

6. Just So Festival

Location: Rode Hall Estate, Cheshire
When: 16th-18th August 2024

The Just So Festival is a magical, boutique festival specifically designed for families. Set in the beautiful woodland and parkland of Rode Hall Estate, it offers a variety of immersive and creative activities. Families can participate in storytelling sessions, arts and crafts, music and dance workshops, and outdoor adventures. The festival’s whimsical nature encourages children and parents alike to embrace their creativity and imagination.

7. Gone Wild Festival

Location: Powderham Castle, Devon
When: Bank Holiday Weekend August

Gone Wild Festival is a unique family festival that combines outdoor adventure with music and entertainment. Co-founded by Bear Grylls, it offers a wide range of activities, from bushcraft and survival skills to climbing, kayaking, and obstacle courses. The festival also features live music, storytelling, and workshops, making it a perfect blend of education and fun. Set in the stunning grounds of Powderham Castle, it’s an excellent choice for families who love the great outdoors.

Gone Wild Festival 

8. Victorious Festival

Location: Southsea Seafront, Portsmouth
When: Bank Holiday Weekend August

Victorious Festival is a vibrant family-friendly event set against the beautiful backdrop of Southsea Seafront. It boasts an impressive lineup of music acts across multiple stages, along with a dedicated Kids Arena featuring character meet-and-greets, live performances, and interactive activities. Families can enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, and a variety of sports and games. With its seaside location, it also offers the opportunity to relax on the beach and enjoy the coastal atmosphere.

Kids Arena at Victorious Festival

9. Glastonbury Festival

Location: Worthy Farm, Somerset
When: 27th-30th June 2024

Glastonbury is one of the most iconic music festivals in the world, and it’s surprisingly family-friendly. The Kidzfield is a dedicated area for children, featuring performances, workshops, and activities designed to entertain and inspire. From storytelling and puppet shows to arts and crafts, there’s plenty to keep the little ones engaged. The festival’s Green Kids Area focuses on environmental education and sustainable living, making it both fun and informative. Despite its massive size, Glastonbury offers a wealth of family-friendly amenities and activities.

Tips for Enjoying Festivals with Kids

• Plan Ahead: Check festival websites for family-friendly amenities and activities.
• Pack Essentials: Bring weather-appropriate clothing, snacks, and comfort items for the kids. 
• Stay Safe: Keep a close eye on your children and use wristbands with contact information.
• Take Breaks: Allow for downtime to avoid overstimulation and keep everyone happy.

These family-friendly festivals offer a perfect mix of entertainment, creativity, and outdoor fun, ensuring that both kids and parents have a fantastic time. So pack your bags, gather your family, and get ready to create some unforgettable memories at these wonderful UK festivals!

Exploring Carfest 

Making YouTube Safer for Your Kids

 If you're like everybody who's in their 30s or 40s right now, the chances are high that you wasted a lot of your childhood on Saturday morning cartoons. When you come home from school, you'd settle down to the afternoon cartoons available on the TV. But kids today are different. Instead of being glued to the cartoons on regular mainstream TV with advertising, they are glued to YouTube. 

Mostly it's innocent. They're looking for cartoons or obscure anime that they can't find in their own country, but sometimes things are a little bit sketchier than that. There is so much on YouTube that has been manipulated, and even though you may choose to learn how to unblock YouTube videos so that you can view them, your kids need boundaries. It doesn't matter how good your kid is, they will always need boundaries when it comes to YouTube because of the largely unknown amount of content that's on there. So with that in mind, here's how you can make YouTube safer for your children.

Image source: Pexels

1. Only allow YouTube under a family account. When you set up a shared Google account, you'll be able to keep an eye on the videos that your kids watch, as well as what they upload. If you don't allow your children to upload in the 1st place, that's fantastic because whatever goes on the Internet stays on the Internet. But having a family account allows you some monitoring without them feeling like they're being watched all of the time.

2. Turn on safety mode. It's a hidden button, but YouTube has a safety mode that can block most, but not all, of objectionable content. Of course, you have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the homepage to find it, but once you've found it, you'll be able to be sign in, scroll down and click on the safety button, then choose o’n’ from the choices to make sure that your children don't change the setting. You can then lock that safety mode in by going to the browser and adding your login data. When prompted to turn it off, click the link again and enter your login a second time.

3. Create specific playlists.The safety mode is not as foolproof as it likes to be, but if the person who uploaded a nasty video hasn't selected Enable age restriction then YouTube filter won't block it. So you need to take some additional steps. It's a good idea to create a playlist of videos that you approve of and all you have to do then is click add link. You can also subscribe to family friendly channels so that the algorithm only pops up family friendly things.

4. Be wise with it. Be sure to watch the videos that your children watch all the way through before you add them to a list. The last thing that you want is for your children to be watching Peppa Pig one minute and then watching a live dissection of a pig the next. Be wary of gaming videos too, because voice over narration usually comes with vulgarity and profanity that you would like your children to avoid listening to.

5. Monitor it as you go. Children outgrow playlists pretty quickly, so make sure that you're installing web filtering software such as the Family Premier or McAfee Security Safe Eyes. These don't cost very much, but these programs will notify you whenever your kids watch your video and or block the objectionable ones. It's not hovering to stay on top of your family's Internet security.In fact, it's a must.

6. Turn off YouTube entirely.If it's too much to police the content that your children are watching, you can block it entirely using a web filter. You can then redirect your kids to family friendly websites such as Netflix for kids or Disney. There are also things such as SprogTube which curates YouTube videos for kids safe content, although these do skew towards preschoolers rather than towards middle-aged kids.

Most of the time, younger children won't be watching YouTube because they'll be watching cartoons that you choose for them. But as they get older and have a little bit more free rein with controllers, you can allow them to watch YouTube as long as it's safe. Following the tips above is going to help you to make sure that the content your children are watching is age appropriate and isn't going to cause them any particular mental harm. 

CARFEST - THE BEST FAMILY FESTIVAL IN THE UK?!

 We love taking our kids to festivals and we usually try and book one in every Summer. Over the years, our favourites have been Camp Bestival, Gone Wild and Lamer Tree Festival but this year we wanted to try something different. 

Step forward...Carfest! Billed as the UK's biggest family fundraising festival, Carfest successfully blends motor shows with live music and entertainment for the whole family. It was founded by radio DJ Chris Evans and has raised millions of pounds for children's charities. It ticked all our boxes - lots of fast cars for Elliot to see, a huge kids area for Erin, plenty of yummy food and drink for my husband and an amazing line up of live music for me. We were excited to experience it all! 

Day 1 - Saturday

We had weekend tickets but decided to stay in a local hotel rather than camp. It just meant having to take way less stuff and who doesn't love a comfy bed after a busy day at a festival! We left bright and early from Poole and arrived at the festival site around 9am. We found it nice and straightforward to find the carpark and it was well sign posted from the main roads into Overton. Unlike Camp Bestival, the walk from the carpark wasn't too bad and it probably only took us around 10-15 minutes. 

We were soon picking up our weekend wristbands and deciding where to explore first. The festival is split into different areas including Starfest, Spafest, Adventurefest, Kidsfest, Foodfest, Retrofest and then of course the card and music! 

Our first port of call was the Costa area - Costa are one of Carfest's sponsors and we had heard great things about the giveaways! Paul was happy - coffee for him whilst the kids tried their luck on the digital spin the wheel. We didn't win the Nintendo switch but we did come away with bubbles, lots of coffee, brownies, biscuits and even a really nice travel mug. I'd definitely recommend visiting this bit with kids! 

One thing about the music/stage area at Carfest that we quickly realised was people pitch up in the morning with their chairs/wagons/flags etc and just leave their stuff for the day. This seemed to be a bit of a contentious subject on the Carfest Buddies FB group but for us, it made sense to leave our festival wagon. It gave us a central base to return to throughout the day if we needed to and saved lugging everything around! It also meant we were guaranteed a good spot for the evening music. 

We spent the next few hours exploring the cars and there was so much to see. We caught some fantastic displays and the roar of the engines and being up close to the race track was something else! Elliot is car mad so he was in his element. We even bumped into Richard Hammond at the Smallest Cog workshop which was exciting although Elliot got confused and thought it was Ricky Gervais 😁

Richard Hammond - The Smallest Cog Workshop

When we're at a festival we don't like to be too strict about timings and prefer to explore and see what we stumble upon but one of our must sees was kids favourite Andy and The Odd Socks in the Kidsfest area. We've been fans of Andy's since Elliot was a toddler and it's always great to see his band and their live show. And of course we had to get some selfies after the show 😎 

Andy and The Odd Socks - Carfest

The Kidsfest area was home to Pudsey's Spot and there were lots of chances to meet some familiar faces there over the weekend. We met Bluey and Bingo and I'm not sure who was more excited, me or Erin!

The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring the food festival area and there was something for every taste bud at the Farmers Market. Packed full of stalls selling everything from gourmet brownies to spicy sauces, we managed to pick up lots of yummy treats including some amazing scotch eggs. We also caught a few demos by Candice and Bryony from GBBO which was really interesting. There seemed to be a lot going on in this area such as foodie workshops, book signings, chef talks, cocktail making - even a pop up pub with live music. We could have spent lots more time here and feel like we only scratched the surface but there was so much more to see...

We spent some time checking out the cars - there are regular track shows through out the day and it's nice and easy to find a good viewing spot along the side. Even for a non car-fanatic like me, it was exciting seeing some gorgeous cars up close and the kids loved the theatrics of the skids and hand brake 360s! There are lots of car brands at the festival and many opportunies to pick up freebies...which, lets face it, who doesn't love a freebie. The kids were buzzing to win hats, air freshners, tote bags, mints and even a few pens along the way. 

Soon it was time to head back to the main stage for the evenings musical entertainment. There are plenty of food stalls near the stage for when you get hungry and although it was busy, we never really had to spend long queueing. Prices were quite steep however (think it was almost £30 for two lots of burger and chips) but it's a festival and you do expect this. We shared a couple of meals between us, plus I took lots of snacks to keep the kids happy. I did get talked into a very expensive milkshake though! 

The music for the evening was brilliant, kicking off with the Bootleg Beatles. I loved hearing the crowd singalong to Hey Jude! The star of the evening for us though was undoubtedly Rick Astley. Never realised just how talented he is - he doesn't just sing but plays a multitude of instruments. Elliot really likes his songs so he was so excited to see him live and Rick didn't disappoint! It was such a great atmosphere with the lit up funfair behind us, and families of all ages singing along. 

We headed back to the car after a long day of festival fun but couldn't wait to do it all again in the morning. 

Day 2 - Sunday

After a quick charge of the car and a Mcdonalds brekkie at nearby services, we were heading back to Overton and looking forward to seeing what was in store for the day. We had no set plans but did want to explore the areas that we didn't visit yesterday. 

Our first port of call was to set up our chairs and area in front of the main stage. We then spent a bit of time exploring the Retrofest area. You can find all sorts here, like retro clothing stalls, cars, games and we even stumbled upon some energetic aerobics displays featuring lots of lycra! Some of the highlights of Retrofest included an area set up with old war vehicles and weapons. The kids were allowed to sit in the landrovers and even hold the guns, Elliot was living his best Fortnite life! We also found The Deloreon which was pretty impressive - the owner was so knowledgeable and we loved all the little bits of memorabilia inside such as a hoverboard and hologram photo.

We caught a few car displays and especially loved seeing the Ghostbusters car doing the laps! The track winds throughout the festival so it's not hard to find a spot to watch the live shows. 

We found ourselves in the Adventurefest field and this was probably one of our favourite areas. There was a large scouting section run by Hampshire scouts and the kids made a bee line for the climbing wall - rather than than me! We had a go at archery, and the kids added their Beaver/Scout troop to the Scouting map. 

We were also very fortunate to catch Tim Peake who was chatting to the scouts - Elliot managed to say hello and shake his hand which made his day! My husband was rather envious that he missed him but he did get to watch a Q&A with Tim later on in the afternoon at the Discovery Hub stage. 

Meeting Tim Peake at Carfest

Adventurefest was also home to Bugfest which as the name suggests, was a great place to get up and close to lots of creepy crawlies. This was one of the few paid for activities we did, and I think it was £5 per person to enter the Bugfest tent but the kids loved it and it was money well spent. There was no time limit and they were able to hold a tarantula, millipede, stick insect and many more. 

BugFest

We dipped back into the Kidsfest for a quick bounce on the giant bouncy castle and we made sure to pick up some freebies from the Capri Sun and Pip Organic stalls. We also headed back to the farmers market where we couldn't resist another scotch egg! 

With the afternoon almost over, we decided to spend some time exploring the Motorsport Paddock where Elliot was in his absolute element! It was a chance to get up close to some of his favourite cars and he thoroughly enjoyed spotting lots of Aston Martins. Aside from seeing Rick Astley, I think this was probably his favourite part of the weekend. 

Back at the main stage, we grabbed some food and settled in for the evening. There was a real variety of acts including Alex Horne's Horne section, Ricky Wilson from Kaiser Chiefs, The Feeling and The Village People. Unsure of how many of the original Village People line up were left but it was entertaining nonetheless! (Even if they did take an awful long time to start their performance)

The Village People - Carfest

Texas were the headliner for the Sunday night and I would have loved to have stayed to see their entire set but we decided to call it a night a few songs in with some very tired children in tow. We did  however stumble across a silent disco at the Bp Pulse tent so of course we had to stop and have a little boogie! 

We had such a brilliant weekend at Carfest and there were so many memories made - too many to mention in this blog. Highlights included meeting Tim Peake, dancing to Rick Astley, and hearing the roar of the engines on the track. 

Carfest certainly lived up to it's reputation and I feel like we only scratched the surface of the activities on offer. The kids are already asking if we're going again this year. We might even be brave enough to camp 😃

Ticket are already on sale for Carfest 2024 and can be found here

*Disclaimer - We were gifted weekend tickets for Carfest but all thoughts and opinions are honest and we genuinely had a fantastic time!