Our Family Day Out at CarFest 2025

Our Family Festival Adventure

This summer we headed to CarFest 2025 for a family day out, and it reminded me exactly why I love family friendly festivals. Although lots of families camp for the whole weekend, we just went for the day—and honestly, it was more than enough to soak up the atmosphere, try new activities, and see what CarFest is all about. This was our third year attending, so the kids were already buzzing with excitement before we even arrived.

CarFest was created back in 2012 by Chris Evans and has raised over £25 million for children’s charities. Knowing that all the fun we were having was also helping to support good causes gave the whole day an extra feel-good factor.

 What makes CarFest stand out is the variety. Families can dip into so many different areas across the festival:

Cars, Cars, and More Cars

The cars are always one of the big highlights for us. We spent ages in the paddock admiring rows of classic cars, supercars, and racing cars—the kids loved spotting their favourites and asking questions. There were plenty of demonstrations and track shows too, with stunts and speed that had the crowd gasping.

It’s such a brilliant way to introduce children to something they might not see every day, and there’s a real buzz about being so close to the action.

KidsFest: The Children’s Favourite Spot

Of course, the area that Elliot and Erin made a beeline for was KidsFest. It’s completely geared towards children, with craft activities, inflatables, character meet-and-greets (the Gruffalo and Bluey were big hits), a book corner (with celebrity authors dropping in) and so much more.

The real highlight was the Young Drivers area. Elliot got behind the wheel of a real car with an instructor (he said it was “fun but a bit stressful!”), and Erin was absolutely thrilled to zip around in a Firefly Sport mini electric car. It made them both feel so grown up.

FoodFest: A Feast for All of Us

FoodFest was a feast for all the senses, with rows of stalls offering everything from wood-fired pizzas and sizzling street food to curries, burgers, and sweet treats. The atmosphere was lively, with the smells of cooking drifting across the festival and chefs giving live demonstrations on stage. Erin loved the hands-on biscuit decorating, while Elliot was drawn to the spicy sauces!

Many of the exhibitor were offering free samples and we particularly liked the Whitworth's stand where we came away with many, many bags of fruit and nuts, plus even some piping hot vegetarian chilli con carne.

 

Time Out at SpaFest

Festivals can be full-on, so it was nice to take a breather at SpaFest. The yoga sessions, wellness talks, and calmer vibe made it the perfect place to recharge before heading back to the busier parts of the site.

Celebrity Spotting at StarFest

Packed with the sparkle of celebrity, StarFest takes you behind the scenes of the worlds of TV, cinema, music, literature, comedy, and fashion. It’s a space where families can join in celebrating the success of some of the UK's best-loved performers, while also discovering and supporting new talent. We caught a few minutes of Lee Mack's talk and he drew a massive crowd!

RetroFest Fun

Another favourite for our family was RetroFest. Elliot loved the wartime displays and gun demonstrations, while Erin made the most of the retro playground with space hoppers and swingball in the Old Skoolyard. The whole area had such a fun nostalgic feel, and it was a nice mix of history and play.

Music to End the Day

For us, no festival would be complete without music, and CarFest had a brilliant line-up. This year’s line-up included Travis, Kim Wilde, Sam Ryder, Rita Ora, Tom Walker, Seasick Steve, Madness, Squeeze, and The Lightning Seeds, alongside performances from emerging artists and festival favourites such as the Rick Parfitt Jnr Band. The atmosphere at the Main Stage was welcoming and family-friendly, with plenty of space for dancing or just relaxing with a picnic. As in previous years, many families set up their chairs first thing in the morning and this is a great way of securing good spots. 

Family Festival Tips from Our Day

If you’re thinking of trying out a family festival day out, here are a few things we found really useful at CarFest:

• Tickets: In 2025, day tickets were £89–£102 for adults and £21–£26 for kids (under-fives free).

• Food & Drink: Stalls were plentiful with options for all diets, but we also packed a cool box of drinks and snacks to keep costs down.

• Facilities: Toilets and family areas were clean and well looked after, with baby change tents and breastfeeding spaces dotted around.

• Prams & Wagons: The site was large but pram-friendly—we saw lots of families pulling wagons too.

• Lost Children: Pick up a wristband at the entrance and write your number on it. We actually lost Erin briefly in the evening, and the Lost Children tent staff were incredible in reuniting us quickly.

What’s Next for CarFest?

CarFest has always been at Laverstoke Park Farm, which gives it a really warm, countryside feel. From 2026, though, it’ll move to Silverstone. It’ll definitely be different, but with bigger grounds and world-class facilities, I’m excited to see how the festival grows and what new things it brings for families.

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Why We Love Family Friendly Festivals

By the end of the day, we were exhausted but so happy. CarFest 2025 gave us everything we love about family friendly festivals: exciting activities for the kids, live music for us, plenty of food, and a safe, welcoming atmosphere where families can relax and make memories together.

We’ll definitely be back next year!

To sign up for 2026 pre-sale access, click here and to check out our reel from the festival, click here

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

The Best Family-Friendly Festivals in the UK featuring Carfest and More! (UPDATED FOR 2025)

 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: 31st July - 3rd Aug

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 Sugababes and Tom Jones, 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: The Cotswalds
When: 22-24 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 Faithless and Nelly Furtado, and plenty of activities for kids. The Big Top offers theatre shows, Cbeebies stars and much more, 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. Top tip, look out for Barrioke in The Outpost - highly recommend!

3. CarFest

Location: Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire
When: 22-24 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 (looking forward to Busted and Sam Ryder this year!), 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: 14th-17th August 2025

While Green Man is renowned for its impressive lineup of indie and alternative music (CMAT and Wet Leg are appearing this year), 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: 8th-10th August 2025

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 Justin Fletcher and Andy and The Odd Socks, 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. Camp Kindling

Location: Sevenoaks, Kent
When: 15th-18th August

Camp Kindling is the ultimate summer camp-style festival for families who love a bit of adventure mixed with festival fun. Set in the beautiful Heritage Pine Forest in Kent, this unique event offers everything from archery battles and treasure hunts to woodland crafts and paddleboarding. It’s all about getting stuck into activities by day and enjoying live music, comedy, and campfires by night. With its token-based system, you can pick and choose your favourite experiences, making it perfect for families who like flexibility — and marshmallows by the fire!

7. Gone Wild Festival

Location: Powderham Castle, Devon
When: 21st-24th 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: 22nd-24th 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 (including Kings of Leon and Madness) 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. Latitude Festival

Location: Henham Park, Suffolk
When: 24th-27th July 2025

Latitude Festival, held at Henham Park in Suffolk is an all‑round family festival treasure that blends big-name music acts like Sting, Fatboy Slim, and Snow Patrol with a full-on kids’ extravaganza. Spread across three dedicated zones—the creative Kids Area, the calm Enchanted Garden, and nature-packed Camp Greenpeace—you’ll find everything from theater workshops, bug safaris, and pond dipping to tree-climbing, bushcraft, yoga, storytelling, puppetry, and science shows—all free to join, with only the funfair rides costing extra

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 

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! 

UK's Top 5 Family-Friendly Festivals: Unforgettable Fun at CarFest, Camp Bestival, Gone Wild, Gloworm and More!

The UK, renowned for its vibrant festival scene, offers a multitude of family-friendly events throughout the year. These festivals are perfect for making memories, with an array of children's activities, gourmet food, and exciting musical performances. Let's explore five top-notch festivals in the UK: CarFest, Camp Bestival, Gone Wild, Gloworm, and The Big Feastival.

CarFest - Hampshire

A Family Festival Celebrating Cars and Music

Brought to life by the popular radio presenter Chris Evans, CarFest is a must-visit for car enthusiasts. Hosted annually at Laverstock Park Farm, Carfest successfully blends motor shows with live music and entertainment for the whole family. With popular acts such as Andy and The Odd Socks (our fave!), Rick Astley, Craig David and many more, there is something for everyone. Plus, with a dedicated food fair, your culinary cravings are well covered. Not only that, each year it raises millions of pounds for children's charities! 

Photo Credit - CarFest

Camp Bestival - Dorset

A Medley of Music, Art, and Adventure

Held at the enchanting Lulworth Castle in Dorset, Camp Bestival is more than just a music festival. Amidst a variety of live performances, theatre, comedy, and literature, kids can engage in numerous creative workshops and exciting outdoor adventures. Adults can relax at the wellness retreat or dance to the beats of some of the UK's top artists. With the beautifully lit castle serving as a backdrop, you'll feel as though you've stepped into a magical realm. 

Elliot and Erin at Camp Bestival 

Gone Wild Festival - Devon

Adventure in the Heart of Nature

The Gone Wild Festival, backed by Bear Grylls and his team, is an exhilarating outdoor adventure suitable for all ages. Situated amidst the stunning scenery of the Devon countryside, this festival gives you the chance to learn survival skills, participate in archery, build rafts, and even try rock climbing. Evenings are spent enjoying delicious food, live music, and campfire stories in the gorgeous surroundings of Powderham Castle.

Gone Wild Festival - Powderham Castle Devon

Gloworm Festival - Nottingham

A World of Joy and Imagination for Children

The Gloworm Festival, set in Thoresby Park in Nottinghamshire, is a child-centric event encouraging creativity and play. It features popular TV and film characters, a variety of interactive workshops, games, and performances. Parents also have their share of entertainment, alongside an array of mouth-watering food and drink options. 

The Davies family having lots of fun at Gloworm (Photo Credit: Sue Davies)

The Big Feastival - The Cotswolds

Where Culinary Delights Meet Live Music

Completing our list, The Big Feastival at Alex James' Farm in the Cotswolds is a unique fusion of top-class food, live music, and an assortment of children's attractions. With demonstrations from Michelin star chefs and a diverse line-up of musicians, the festival offers an unforgettable experience. For the little ones, cooking classes, circus workshops, and meet-and-greets with children's TV characters are all part of the fun.

Photo Credit - The Big Feastival

Embarking on a family adventure at any of these festivals is sure to create lasting memories. Secure your tickets, pack your tents, and prepare for an unforgettable journey at the UK's top family-friendly festivals. Don't forget your wellies! 

Elliot at a VERY muddy Camp Bestival :)

5 of the Best Family Friendly Festivals in the South - Summer 2019

Since becoming parents we have been to a few festivals with the children and every year I am blown away by how geared up they up for kids! Whether you want a quiet, village green type event or a kid friendly music festival with lots of big names there is one to suit every family.

Here's 5 of the best festivals happening over the South this Summer:

Camp Bestival - Lulworth Castle, Dorset
25th-28th July 2019

I'll start with one of the best family-friendly festivals and one of our favourites! Camp Bestival is held in the stunning grounds of Lulworth Castle and is the perfect festival for children of all ages. You can catch Mr Tumble, Mister Maker, Jess Glynne, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Lewis Capaldi and many many more. Kids can go on the world's biggest bouncy castle, get creative in the MAKE SPACE area, meet their favourite characters and even learn some jaw-dropping circus tricks. 

Read our review of last year's festival: http://www.entertainingelliot.com/2018/09/camp-bestival-2018-one-day-visit-our.html

Boomtown Fair - Matterley Estate, Hampshire
7th-11th Aug 2019

Boomtown is a fully immersive festival, sprawling across many different "districts" across a ficticious city. Featuring a diverse musical line up and hundreds of actors bringing the sets to life, this is a festival like no other. 

Is it suitable for families though? Local blogger Bella and her family visited last year and had lots to say about Kidztown - https://dearmummyblog.com/2018/08/16/kidztown-review-becoming-a-boomtown-citizen/

Larmer Tree Festival - Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset
18th-21st July 2019

The Larmer Tree festival has been entertaining revellers for the past 29 years and is now widely thought of as one of the best family festivals around. Although smaller and more intimate than some of it's neighbouring festivals, there is plenty on the line up to entertain the whole family. 

This will be our first year at Larmer Tree Festival and I am really looking forward to seeing Jack Savoretti and KT Tunstall. The children are also really excited because our favourite family band Andy & The Odd Socks will be performing! 

Victorious Festival - Southsea Common, Portsmouth
23rd-25th August 2019

Now in it's 8th year, Victorious Festival is definitely one of the biggest festivals on the South Coast. They have a huge lineup this year including New Order, Clean Bandit and Lewis Capaldi but what makes this festival so suitable for families is it's absolutely fantastic Kids Arena. 

We went along last year and spent most of our day in the Kids Arena, it is like a festival of it's own accord! There are tons of activities for kids including inflatables, arts and crafts, circus skills, live music and shows, face painting, character meet and greets and so much more. The fantastic thing is, it is all free! 

Port Eliot Festival - St.Germans, Cornwall
25th-28th July 2019

According to their website, Port Eliot is a festival unlike any other. Celebrating words, music, imagination, ideas, nature, food, fashion, flowers, laughter, exploration, fun and all that is good in the world! 

Image: Louise Roberts

Do you enjoy going to festivals as a family or do you leave the kids with Grandparents and head off to relive your pre-kid days?!

Victorious Festival Portsmouth - The Perfect Festival for Kids

Back in the Summer Holidays, Elliot and I headed down to Portsmouth on Bank Holiday weekend to spend the day the Victorious Festival.

The Victorious Festival, now in it's 7th year, is a three day family friendly festival held on Southsea Common. Featuring many different stages and big names in music such as the Prodigy it really has gone from strength to strength over the last few years.

The music side of it wasn't really a draw for me as I'm rubbish at current music and haven't got a clue who's in the chart these days but the kids arena sounded fantastic and this is what swayed our decision to go!

Leaving Erin with my parents, we headed down to Portsmouth on the train from Poole. I've only been to Portsmouth a couple of times before so I was looking forward to going somewhere different - Elliot was excited just to be going on a train!

We arrived in Portsmouth just after 10am and we hopped on a Hover bus from the station which took us directly to Southsea Common. It was a beautiful sunny day and the view over the water to the Isle of Wight was stunning.

The festival itself was massive and I definitely underestimated how large it would be - we seemed to walk forever around the outside barriers to get to the entrance! Entry was nice and fast, our bags were checked and I picked up a lost child wristband to write my number on incase Elliot and I lost each other. We had a wander as we got inside the festival and it was the perfect time to get our bearings as it was still nice and quiet.

We decided to head straight for the kids area, where we quickly discovered that all the activities (including the face painting and bouncy castle!) were free - how amazing is that?! Featuring a whole variety of local businesses, all with children's activities we were spoilt for choice. Elliot decided to go on the bouncy area while there were no queues - this area was continuously busy all day so if you're thinking of coming next year, make this first on your list to do!

Some of the other stalls we visited were the RNLI where we learnt about safety in the sea, the Mary Rose museum where we were able to see and hold actual items that were on the ship, we played with ALOT of Lego with the team from the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and we couldn't resist getting a giant slush drink!

One of the things Elliot was looking forward to was the meet and greets and he was quite excited to spot Paddington Bear. He's always loved meeting characters and mascots...Erin is the opposite however, she runs a mile if shes anyway near someone dressed up! Through out the day we also met Finn & Jake from Adventure time and even some Princesses.

Just before lunch we headed to the stage where our favourites, Andy & The Odd Socks were due to perform. The sun was shining and it was a lovely atmosphere - there were rows of hay bales for the audience to sit on and space for the children at the front to dance. There was a children's entertainer, Ross Presto who was very funny and Elliot even got picked to join in with a game. He won a bag of sweets so that made his day!

After Ross came the Princesses who sang and danced to lots of recognisable pop/Disney songs - they even did Baby Shark much to the delight of the kids in the audience!

Finally the moment, we'd been patiently waiting for - Andy and The Odd Socks! We had a spot right at the front of the hay bales and Elliot had loads of fun dancing around and flossing to his favourite songs. It was probably one of the smaller stages the band have played but they certainly had a large enthusiastic crowd! The band have so much energy - they must have a pre-gig snack that includes weetabix and redbull because they do not stop! As always we loved seeing them rock out and it was great to hear Unique again. We love this song and the important message it puts across - and it's so blimmin' catchy!

As the band came off stage, eagle eye Elliot spotted Andy at the side saying hi to some of the audience so he dashed on over for a high five!

After all that excitement we decided to head out of the kids arena in search of something yummy for lunch and we were so spoilt for choice that it took us almost half an hour to decide! In the end we had ostrich burger and fries which was lovely, we sat under a tree with the Common Stage in the background and it was a nice moment of calm in the busyness of the festival. I have to say it was so lovely in the kids arena and then coming into the main festival where there were so many people was a bit overwhelming!!

After a quick stop at the Coca-Cola stand to try out the new zero flavours, we decided to head back to the kids arena where there was a ton of things still to be looked at! Top of Elliot's list was the Rebel Yarn Bombers - these lovely ladies had a massive selection of knitted monsters that were all lovingly handmade and even named. All the monsters were available to adopt for a donation and the money was being raised for the Roald Dahl Charity. Elliot took a l-o-n-g time to decide on a monster...and we even had to come back later in the day so he could get a couple more!

Some of the yarn bombers work on display - impressive!

The next few hours were jam packed with lots of making in the arts and crafts tents, Elliot played some football with Little Kickers, he built some sandcastles at the beach area, he checked out the instruments at the Ready to Rock school and we even got to sample some really really yummy Montezuma chocolate...guess which bit was my highlight ;)

I have to say that everyone we spoke to on the stalls was so friendly - we met a really lovely young lad on the Foster Portsmouth stall who spent ages colouring with Elliot and helping him choose about a thousand stickers to go on his sheet! He told us all about how Foster Portsmouth had helped him throughout his childhood and how passionate he was about getting the word out about fostering. He was called Elliot too!

Elliot and Elliot! Foster Portsmouth

Our final activity of the day was another Andy & The Odd Socks set - I think this one was even busier! We bumped into some friends of ours, Laura and her son Max from Max and Mummy and we had a fab time sat with them. The boys were off down the front throwing some shapes whilst we sat and relaxed on the hay bales!

After the show Elliot managed to get selfies with the band so he was one happy boy, always nice to chat to them and they are always so friendly to us.

With a fond farewell to our friends, it was time for Elliot and I to head home. As the kids area was drawing to a close, the rest of the festival was starting to get even busier with crowds of people streaming through the gates. Perhaps we'll stick around for the evening entertainment next year!

The Victorious Festival was bigger and better than I'd imagined and we were absolutely blown away with how amazing the kids arena was. There was so much on offer and you literally could spend all day in there - pretty much like we did!

We look forward to seeing what next year has to offer :)