The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals
Slide Nr 1So maybe your days of dusting yourself off at 2pm after a night at the stages – and getting ready to do it all over again tonight – are over. That doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice good music and good times for kid-appropriate activities (or vice versa). Big names like Bonnaroo, Glastonbury and Lollapalooza have become increasingly fit for families in past years, but we turn our attention to several more under-appreciated (and less overpriced) to-dos that also deserve props for providing a memorable experience for young and old alike. These 15 festivals around the world offer good, clean fun for everyone – and maybe even good, clean toilets, too. [Photo: ACL Fest, © Katrina Barber]
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 2Tauron Nowa Muzyka in Katowice (Poland), July – A digitally savvy electro festival set in a post-industrial coal mine might seem an unlikely place to hang out with your little ones, but this three-time winner of the title “Best Small Festival in Europe” (from the European Festival Awards) caters to everyone from hardcore house fans to nu-jazz enthusiasts – as well as their offspring. If you don’t want to take them along to sets by 2017 headliners Christian Löffler + Mohna, Gold Panda and Ho99o9 (noise-cancelling headphones advised), then they can have a blast in the dedicated kids district, complete with a professional carer and all manner of activities from games to workshops on music and art. festiwalnowamuzyka.pl
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 3Cornbury Music Festival in Oxfordshire (England), July – As the organisers describe it, Cornbury is “a country fair with a rock ‘n’ roll twist; a farmers’ market with a dance floor; a local carnival with a classic contemporary soundtrack” – in other words, a something-for-everyone type of affair. Grown-ups can appreciate the big names that’ll be hitting the stage, including Bryan Adams, Kaiser Chiefs and The Pretenders, in addition to comedy acts, massage therapies in the healer tent and gourmet pop-up restaurants, but the littlest festival-goers might just have the better end of the deal. In their own Kids’ Zone, they can learn circus skills or screen printing, practice kids yoga, join story time, play dress-up, or have a mini disco party. Too-cool-for-school teens can head over to the Mayflower Tent for activities both interactive (workshops, henna, hair braids) and hands-off (messing around on the guitar, chilling on a sofa). cornburyfestival.com
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 4Festival Beauregard in Normandy (France), July – Set against the backdrop of stately 19th-century Château de Beauregard, the reasons for grown-ups to flock to this celebration of alternative pop, rock and indie jams are clear (we’ll give you 3: Iggy Pop, Phoenix, Placebo), but why bring the tykes along? As it happens, the festival offers an engaging Kids Space, where the smallest of festival-goers can do arts, crafts and face painting, learn to juggle, or even build their own instrument and make some noise – er – music. festivalbeauregard.com
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 5Positivus in Salacgrīva (Latvia), July – If you can’t get enough of that festival feeling, head further north for the largest arts and culture event in the Baltics, to jam to the tunes of Ellie Goulding, Pixies and The Lumineers – along with a strong presence of regional funk, pop and electro – amid a nature-lover’s paradise of pine forests and beaches … and take the whole clan with you. The knee-high crowd can enjoy performances of theatre, dance and literary readings at the Arts and Nature Stage, or catch a show in the Cinema Tent (just make sure no Lynch or von Trier is scheduled at that time). There’s even a fully staffed Kids Island for them to escape to for games, craft projects and other activities designed to foster the imagination. Youngsters aged 11-16 get in half-price, and 10-and-unders attend for free. positivusfestival.com [Photo: Kristaps Bardziņš]
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 6Colours of Ostrava in Ostrava (Czech Republic), July – Music, film, art, intellectual discussion, dance parties, a beautiful industrial setting and democratic pricing – this Czech event is a rare gem in the crown of the European festival season. The musical genres are eclectic (everything from indie to jazz and R&B), the entertainment is endless (tightrope walkers, thinkers, dancers, poets), and there’s something for festival-goers of all ages. Kids get their own tailored programme in the Alice in Wonderland-themed area, chock full of age-appropriate endeavours from crafts to sports, games, theatre performances and a treasure hunt. Though supervision is available, the designated family area offers 3 stages hosting a variety of shows and performances for all ages, meaning parents might actually want to stay and join the fun. Amusingly, children’s ticket prices are determined by height: kids under 140cm get in free. colours.cz
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 7Deer Shed in Topcliffe (England), July – If you’ve got one kid who’s into the arts, but another who prefers scientific pursuits, fear not – this family-oriented shindig will be right up their respective alleys. There’s more music, comedy, literary readings, workshops, movie screenings, interactive shows and sporty activities (wild running or ‘wrong pong’, anyone?) than you can shake a stick at, but the festival’s USP is its programme of science-based activities. This year’s theme is ‘The Wilderwild’, so expect activities and entertainment revolving around botany and the natural world. deershedfestival.com
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 8Starbelly Jam Music Festival in Crawford Bay (BC, Canada), July – This volunteer-driven jamfest on the shores of Kootenay Lake has found that Goldilocks sweet spot of crowd sizes, and prides itself on its family-friendly vibe. When the family’s not rocking out to the eclectic lineup encompassing bluegrass, funk, reggae, indie rock and more, you can watch the jugglers and clowns, put your creativity to the test in the arts and crafts zone, or join in the popular Starbelly Parade. The venue itself – Crawford Bay Park – also offers a playground as well as plenty of space for tossing a ball or just running around and getting the sillies out. starbellyjam.org [Photo: Allan Hughes]
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 9Camp Bestival in East Lulworth (England), July – Surely you’ve heard of Bestival, the magical, imaginative, fancy-dress-loving mainstay of the British boutique festival scene. Well this is its even more light-hearted little sister, what one might consider the holy grail of family-friendly fests. We’re talking air guitar championships, songwriting workshops, music video-making sessions, circus lessons, fairground rides, a giant kids’ disco, a science tent and the world’s biggest bouncy castle. And that doesn’t even begin to touch the programme of music, theatre and comedy geared toward various age sets, from toddlers to teens and, well, the young at heart. You’ll want to be able to see and do everything, but you can’t. You just can’t. campbestival.net
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 10Calgary Folk Music Festival in Calgary (Alberta, Canada), July – Laid-back, barefoot and kid-friendly, this is the epitome of what a folk festival should be. Held in the grassy meadows of Prince’s Island Park, there’s more than enough room for families to spread out their picnic blanket and let the kids have a good run about, all while everyone enjoys an eclectic line-up of artists hailing from more than 16 countries and spanning multiple genres and musical eras; fascinating cross-collaborations are the order of the day. If the small folk get squirmy, a trip to the Family Zone – complete with bouncy castles, a cardboard box city, a skateboard ramp, spectacle shows and more – will cure any case of “Can we go home now?”. calgaryfolkfest.com [Photo: Mike Tan]
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 11Doune the Rabbit Hole in Stirling (Scotland), August – With a heavy focus on Scottish talent and an array of creative activities for all ages, this 7-year-old festival has come into its own but remains the intimate, community-oriented, family-friendly fete that it was always meant to be. Many of the activities were designed for the whole family, so you can mould clay, bang around in a drum circle, create your own costumes or learn to unicycle, juggle or spin plates together. Tiny sophisticates won’t want to miss the Mad Hatters Tea Party, a festival fixture that kids can’t get enough of. dounetherabbithole.co.uk [Photo: Zul Bhatia]
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 12Bumbershoot in Seattle (Washington, USA) in September – This Seattle institution has been running strong since 1971, so they know a thing or two about creating an awesome experience for all ages. Youngershoot is their exclusive made-for-kids area with performances and activities geared specially towards the 10 and under set, but there’s also a full programme of G-rated cinema, stage acts and exhibitions any and everyone can appreciate; the detailed schedule, as well as the line-up of musical acts for 2017, will be available later in the summer. bumbershoot.com
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 13Caloundra Music Festival in Caloundra (Queensland, Australia), September/October – A family beach vacation and music festival experience all rolled into one, this celebration of “sun, surf and soul” about an hour up the coast from Brisbane is definitely a people-pleaser. Grown-ups will appreciate the shows (line-up TBA) and foodie fare, while little visitors will have a blast in the Funky Forest and Sun Stage with sports, games, and workshops in everything from African drumming to hula hooping and yoga. And if they manage to get bored with all of that, the beach is only steps away… caloundramusicfestival.com
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 14Joshua Tree Music Festival, Bradley (CA, USA), October – Home to the peculiar tree that lends it its name, Joshua Tree National Park is also the location of California’s most down-to-earth desert festival, with a focus on building a community atmosphere and introducing lesser-known local artists. A self-described “family-friendly global music experience”, kids aren’t just an afterthought here; for one, they get their own Kidsville district with a sunup to sundown roster or fun-filled activities, like slack lining, clay creations, story time, instrument-making, dance sessions, clown shows, tie-dying, nature walks and more, in addition to family-friendly regular programming. When the excitement gets to be too much, tykes can have a nap in the peaceful family camping area. Kids 10 and under get in free, while the 11-16 set attends for half price. joshuatreemusicfestival.com
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 15Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin (TX, USA), October – Though it’s not exactly small or little-known, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the hugely popular ACL Fest and its kid-approved mini-me, Austin Kiddie Limits. Here, youngsters of all ages are encouraged to move and create – join the daily dance party, help paint the art mural wall, watch circus performers in action, build something at the building station, play ping pong, get a punk hairdo or temporary tattoo, learn to rap or drum, or simply take a load off in The Land of Nod lounge for some quiet time colouring or napping. The festival even added a dedicated family entrance (close to Austin Kiddie Limits) as well as stroller-friendly family lanes at the main entrances to the festival. How thoughtful! aclfestival.com
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
Slide Nr 16The Lost Lands in Werribee Mansion (Victoria, Australia), November – Families that play together, stay together – at least that’s the philosophy behind this newcomer on the festival scene (2017 will be the second go-round). “What makes this festival so unique is that it’s not a festival for kids and it’s not a festival for adults,” founder David Strong told Broadsheet Melbourne. “It’s both. It’s like a summer holiday that you go on with your whole family, except it’s well within striking distance of Melbourne.” Pretty much everything here is kid-friendly, from the arts programme to the musical sets, comedic acts, circus shows, dance classes, workshop line-up and even the Werribee Zoo. thelostlands.com.au
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The Top 15 Family-Friendly Music Festivals.
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