Camp Bestival – a UK summer festival with something for the whole family
It’s not easy to find things to do as a family that please adults and children equally, any parent knows that. But looking at the Camp Bestival line up, the organisers have really pulled it off. Live acts, DJ sets, theatre and shows, comedy, spoken word, talks, interviews and authors, there’s loads to appeal to the most eclectic of tastes.
There’s some great adventures to be had:
1. Live Acts include Adam Ant, Happy Mondays, Kool and the Gang, Rolf Harris, Earth Wind and Fire. Great nostalgia for grown ups and some real adult and child crowd pleasers.
2. Shrek, Fiona and Donkey are taking a break from the West End musical to perform at Camp Bestival. Fantastic Mr Fox, the Opera is being performed under the trees in the Dingy Dell at Camp Bestival with a live 7 piece orchestra. The Gruffalo is also making an appearance.
3. English National Ballet will be giving lessons. There will be dressing up costumes, workshops for tots, beginners and improvers and Ballet Pilates for those in need of a stretch after a night in a tent.
4. Medieval jousting, think chivalry, high speed horse chases and breath-taking swordmanship.
5. If you’re seeking inspiration, Camp Bestival has some amazing speakers. Richard Roberts is spreading the word about Guerilla Gardening. Tanya Byron, consultant clinical child psychologist from the ‘The House of Tiny Tearaways’ has an intriguing session called ‘Parent your own way’. Camilla Batmanghelidjh from Kids Club, has changed the lives of some of the country’s most disadvantaged and ‘hard to reach’ children.
And if that’s not enough to whet your appetite, how about dressing up, a hot tub, a massage, a knitting tent, comedy, silly Olympics, fireworks, the Bollywood tent, the secret emporium designers market, the WI tea tent, fireworks, great food or an inflatable church?
Or just snuggling up with your nearest and dearest in a tent after a whole day of fun.
Something for everyone.
Camp Bestival is at Lulworth castle, Dorset 26-29 July 2012.
About the Author: pennyalexander
Once a drama and media teacher, now a freelance writer and mum, Penny Alexander blogs and vlogs at Alexander Residence about parenting, creativity and sometimes even parenting creatively. 
