Camp Bestival - is it too soon to be excited?

Call me an over excited child, but Camp Bestival is something that I've loved going to since our first visit in 2009. Some years are more exciting than others of course, for varying reasons, acts I like more, or fancy dress themes I prefer. And for 2018, for me at least, it's looking pretty amazing!

I've been nagging for a sea theme for a while. Loving the idea of mermaids in decorated festival trolleys, of transparent umbrellas turned into jellyfish, of sailor suits and bearded sea captains, and so I'm super excited about that.

Also 2018 will see the return of Jaguar Skills, who is totally fabulous and I just love him, last time he was at Camp Bestival I stayed up until the wee small hours to see him, and poor DD was forced to sleep in the trolley as she was so tired (excellent parenting I hope you'll agree), now that DD is 18 I assume she can either accompany me or do her own thing while I boogie the night away
.

DD is looking forward to Clean Bandit, The Cuban Brothers (I love them too), and of course Dick and Dom. I'm amazed to see that Rick Astley is on the bill! Along with all of my usual favourites, the inflatable church for lovely weddings, beard and moustache competition, fancy dress parade (see above) , the world's biggest bouncy castle, and the Insect Circus.

And so yes, I'm excited already! And this is just the early lineup! I'm planning fancy dress ideas (I even started a Pinterest board for that) and excited to be setting sail in 2018 on the good ship SS Camp Bestival, captained by Rob da Bank and his able first mate Josie (With her bar skills!)

You can join us (all aboard!) grab an early bird ticket here. Join me in a countdown until the happy day!

 

In 2018 DD and I will be official crew, blogging and sharing on social media in exchange for our passage on the high seas! See you there!

Camp Bestival 2017 as a family holiday

When I tell people I'm off to Camp Bestival I get varying responses. Anything from "festivals? aren't they full of drugs and drunks?" to "how much?! I can't afford that for a few days in a field!" so I thought I'd look at some of the myths around festivals, and explain why Camp Bestival is actually the perfect holiday for you and the kids.

The popular stereotype of a festival is of muddy drunken revellers, peeing on tents and raving late into the night before falling over guy ropes, peeing on your tent and then crashing out on someone else's inflatable bed, only to awaken to a vomit stained sleeping bag, your car keys missing, and it's raining again for the 3rd day. The portable chemical toilets are overflowing and you lost your wallet so you can't buy a beer.

And while it's true I might (have) been to a festival or two that are similar to that (not the losing my wallet bit - I'm very security conscious at a festival) Camp Bestival is very far from this sad damp image. (A big plus point is that the festival site is on chalk, so never muddy!)

Camp Bestival is predominately a family festival. So most people have kids with them. They tend to be happy to have a drink, but take their mummy and daddy roles pretty seriously, so there is a lack of vomiting drunks, in fact, wailing toddlers are more common.

As the festival is aimed at families with kids, there is loads to do for children. So the wailing form the aforementioned toddlers is more likely to be because they can't fit all the fun into their day than because they are bored.

The price of any festival is going to be higher than camping alone, because they are providing a camp site, toilets, water points, as well as activities, musical acts and insurance. If you look at all the things a festival provides it's easier to see it's value for money.

Camp Bestival starts on Friday and finishes on Sunday night, but you can arrive from Thursday lunchtime and camp until Monday lunchtime so actual nights camped can be 4.

There are loads of free things to do. You can bring your own food and drink which can save some money.

Free things include all the musical acts of course, and this year we are looking forward to Madness, Mark Ronson, Louisa Johnson and Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer to name just a few. Surfing dudes will be thrilled to hear Brian Wilson is performing on Sunday. But music almost takes a back seat at Camp Bestival, which Rob da Bank (its founder) designed as part way between a festival and a holiday camp (hence the name), with the holiday camp feel in mind there are Blue Coats to entertain the children in all manner of silliness, an Insect Circus (with real insects), tree climbing and all sorts of woodland and outdoor fun, many different craft activities, comedy acts, Punch and Judy shows, clay modelling, silly science shows, musical theatre, early morning cinema, discos and more! all included in the admission price!

There are extras you can pay for, such as face painting, helter skelter rides, a big wheel or a bounce on the world's biggest bouncy castle too, but the strong minded parent can use distraction techniques to avoid spending too much extra if they are prepared!

For the grown ups there are all of the above (I love the cinema in a tent early in the day with a coffee and a croissant) and a Jam Jar cocktail bar, excellent food stalls, late night discos and stand up comedy.

Camp Bestival is one of the least stereotypical 'festivals' I've ever been to and I love it. We have been going for years now and DD still likes to go even at 17 because she likes the lack of unpleasantness you usually get a festivals, I don't think I've ever seen anyone drunk (Unless you count me tipsy - in which case, it happens every year) and I rarely get a whiff of weed. Security staff there are always polite but firm (ooh er!) and I've always felt safe as a single woman camping with my daughter.

And loos? well a festival loo is really what you make it and most mums and dads seem polite enough to leave a loo as clean as they can. After all - parents are made of wet wipes! The loos are cleaned and emptied regularly and over the years they have improved as festival staff have learned from the odd problem encountered. So yes they are portable chemical toilets, but they are generally well cared for.

So for your money you really are getting a good deal. Why not consider it as a family holiday? Maybe have the start of the week at an ordinary campsite and then finish the week on a high with a family festival that really is first class.

Find out about all of this years acts and grab tickets at Camp Bestival's Website

Disclosure : I'm an official blogger for Camp Bestival and so this year I'm attending as their guest

Camp Bestival 2016 - out of this world

I have been going to Camp Bestival with DD since 2010 when I first head about about it. Every years there are new things to surprise us. For several years the Dingly Dell was a quiet arty location but lately it has been full of excitement and fun and extreme tree climbing for example!

The lovely layout with fields of different types lends itself to discovery and for some reason we seem to spend most time in the same field for most of the festival, though the field we pick has varied by year! This year we spent a lot  of time in the main castle field, and in the lower kids field.

A highlight for DD and for me too was Mr Motivator on the main stage, getting an entire field of adults and children alike, swinging our arms and leaping around to music. Dick and Dom were as chaotic as always with plenty of laughs for the children and innuendo for the adults, once again they made a small child cry on stage (which always makes DD and I feel bad when we giggle).

Fatboy Slim's set was a triumph and quite possibly my favourite act of the weekend.

Though Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer and his 'chap hop' was certainly a contender for most fun set of the weekend.

This year the theme was Space and so our fancy dress Saturday costumes were R2D2 and a StormTrooper. The fancy dress costumes and buggy pimping just get better year after year and this year my Morphsuit costume, while wonderful, was put to shame by a real stormtrooper! and even Chewbacca on a rare day off.

Me as a Stormtrooper

An actual Stormtrooper

Chewbacca

The theme didn't put me off wearing my Deadpool Morphsuit though, and so one day was made more surreal as Deadpool met the Clangers, and Camp Bestival does do surreal very well, with giant spacemen too!

The food was great, plenty of simple choices for small children (and fussy teens!) and more fancy fayre in the  Feast Collective tent. 

As always the end of the festival was marked by an amazing firework display around and even on, the castle.

Some people have remarked that for 4 days it's an expensive festival. But I honestly think you get value for money. If you look at how much you would pay to go to a circus, watch several well known bands, see comedians, meet the Clangers, go to a movie (we watched Pete's Dragon, the new Disney movie 2 weeks before it's UK release date!!) as well as have a camping pitch I think you'll see you are getting a bargain.

Saturday Morning Pictures Camp Bestival Style - in the Big Top

Tickets for next year are already on sale! Why not take advantage of the payment plan and spread the cost over the year. (from as little as £5 a week)

Disclosure : I was invited to attend the festival for free in exchange for promotional blog posts and an honest review, but in previous years I've been happy to pay!

Camp Bestival is only days away and yet still new things are being announced!

Camp Bestival keep emailing me and each email is better than the last!

Now they are unveiling that not one, but two utterly awesome Giant Astronauts built by Shipshape Arts will be joining the space cadets and festival fans at Camp Bestival.

Resplendent in gleaming space suits, and stationed in the Magic Meadow, Camp Bestivals very own super star-sailors stand at an astronomical seven metres tall and will be bathed in their own special cosmic light under starry skies.

Sure to be an awe-inspiring sight, you won’t be able to miss these twin emblems of exploration and discovery.

But that’s not all, I've been told to be prepared to be dazzled by the elegant beauty of Celestial Dreaming. A stunning, interactive installation designed by glowing friends And Now: take your family on a voyage through the infinite possibilities of an enchanting solar system filled with glistening constellations, cosmic relics and storytelling star gazers.

As the sun sets Celestial Dreaming will radiate the burnished light of 450 points of fire arranged in incandescent orbits, celebrating the majestic brilliance of the universe. One of the most exquisitely breath-taking spectacles you’re likely to see at a festival, Celestial Dreaming is your chance to get lost in space.

I'm sure these two cosmic treats will spark some out of this world costume ideas for Saturday’s
fancy dress parade. As you know I'm all set with mine!

See you there?

Summer at Camp Bestival

It's still raining. I find it hard to get excited about the summer when the long lighter evenings are so ... damp. The thought of pitching the tent and doing all the fun things that happen at festivals normally fills me with glee but I'm finding even that hard to summon up today. The only solution is to read cheerful blog posts about Camp Bestival. That glorious festivals and holiday camp by the sea in SUNNY Dorset.

So I wandered the interwebs and grabbed the best posts to read, so you don't have to hunt about. Just sit back, sip our tea and click...

First off let's zoom on our festival bus over to You Baby Me Mummy for a glorious look at photos of 2015 that will be a great start, a reminder for us all and a teaser for anyone that hasn't been before! After a few jam jar cocktails we will stagger on ...

and would you believe it - 76 Sunflowers only has a fab set of photos too! Well now I really am getting more in the mood.

Seeing those gorgeous blue skies....

Now I have never taken a toddler to a festival - so struggle to think of the sorts of things that parents of young kids need to know - luckily I found a great blog with advice for you! Hooray! Grab the suncream, wet wipes and juice cartons, pack the trolley and trundle down to the main stage with your little ones. For some tips on taking babies and toddlers to a festival check out Enchanted Pixies hints.

And Louise over at My Gorgeous Boys took her little ones and wrote about her experiences. Some lovely photos there to inspire you too - look at the joy on those little faces!

I have been going to Camp Bestival both as a regular festival goer and as an official blogger every year since 2010. I love it every year, even more now that Rob Da Bank realised that the older kids needed something extra - and they now have the Den for teens, perfect for DD as she's now 16.

And Penny over at A Residence Blog has been going for a fair few years, checkout her video from 2012 here.

Over at The Parenting Trials excitement and planning is the order of the day! As a list of 5 things that are essential not to be missed is emerging...what would yours be? Have you seen the official Camp Bestival Line up? Amazing! I challenge you to only pick 5 'must sees'!

I'll leave you with a list of top tips of things to do see or take to Camp Bestival, have you forgotten anything? Got your glo-sticks?

OK I'm proper in the mood now - sod the rain, grab your wellies (just in case) and join us! Oh and before I go - here is a link to 2012 at Camp Bestival in which I dressed as a horse - I wonder what I should dress up as this year?

Let me know if you are going to be at Camp Bestival - I'm on twitter at @tattooed_mummy or like my facebook page.

Fancy Dress for Camp Bestival

Out of this world! The theme for Camp Bestival this year is Space. I'm sort of hoping that Tim Peake will surprise us all in the big top, but whether he does or not, the theme leads to some cool fancy dress ideas.

Every Year Camp Bestival has a theme and there is a fancy dress day, It is one of my favourite bits of the festival. To see all the costumes, some fabulously homemade, some bought, and some very basic, but everyone having the best fun, being someone else for a day.

In previous years I have dressed as Cinderella in rags (with DD as a mouse for the Fairy tales theme), as a horse (with DD as a rider, for the Olympics theme), as a ring master (with DD as a tiger, for the circus theme), as a Victorian explorer, complete with pith helmet and net (with DD as a butterfly, for the Wild theme). This year DD and I are thinking of Star Wars as our theme, with her opting for an R2D2 dress while I'm trying to decide between a Storm Trooper Morphsuit (remember when I fell in love with Morphsuits?) or Captain Phasma.

But Space has a lot of possibilities, from proper space exploration, NASA and ESA, there are so many movies, books and cartoons. Alien, The Martian, Predator, Superman, Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvin the Martian or The Jetsons and let us not forget Star Trek or Dr Who.

I love fancy dress so much at festivals that I don't confine it just to the Saturday 'Fancy Dress Day,. I plan each day with some sort of 'out of the ordinary' atire. I have a ballgown for pointlessly swanning about the fields, and so this year I'm trying to think of ways to space theme it (it is black - so maybe stars and planets on it? a galaxy?)

I have also bought a couple of space themed T shirts, I'm also looking at gold boots for no reason other than they look amazing. Do I also need a space suit? A space helmet? Maybe I do!

I always like to get some themed accessories too, things like handbags, shoes, umbrellas, jewellery.

If you are going to be at Camp Bestival will you be joining in with fancy dress? if you need some ideas, check out my pinterest board.

Warm thoughts of summer

Brrrrr I hate winter. I dislike Autumn too if I'm honest and even spring can be a bit miserable. I'm a summer kind of girl. All of my muscles work better in the warm, I sort of slow down and get stiff (ooh er missus) in the winter, the perils of CMT.

So about now, even though Christmas is coming, and that's lovely I get a bit down. Grey days, early nights, cold, wet, windy.

So a cheery email to remind me of Summer Fun is just what I needed! Huzzah for Camp Bestival! Having had a super time there this year (one rainy morning not withstanding) I'm looking forward to August 2015 - fun in the sun! A Holiday Camp Festival for all the family, Curated by the simply brilliant Rob Da Bank and his wife (and kids no doubt)

And next year, spurred on by the awesome fun we had getting muddy in the woods, the theme will be Camp Bestival GOES WILD!

Yes we will be getting down and dirty, back to nature, pagan and free in the fields and woods of Lulworth, come rain or shine! So now I just need to start planning my fancy dress! I have even started a Pinterest board.





Just have a read of the Press Release - Feel the excitement! Can I tempt you to join us? The perfect festival for children of all ages!

CAMP BESTIVAL GOES WILD FOR 2015

PLUS

GET WILD THIS CHRISTMAS

ORDER YOUR FAMILY TICKETS NOW AND GET AN EXCLUSIVE CAMP BESTIVAL ARTWORK CHRISTMAS CARD & SOUVENIR TICKET

AND DON’T MISS

CAMP BESTIVAL’S ADVENT CALENDAR WONDER 

Inspired by our love of getting out into the open air and running free, Team CB are extremely excited to announce a brilliant new theme that’s very close to all of our hearts. That’s right, we’re putting Mother Nature front and centre for 2015, as Camp Bestival Goes Wild!

Camp Bestival’s own wild man Rob da Bank says: “Calling all wild boys and wild girls…oh yes my wild friends and family, prepare to get down and dirty at Camp Bestival 2015 as we dump the technology and scramble into the woods for a back to nature escape from normality. We’ll have golden chances to bond with your kids in the mud kitchen, sleep under the stars with your mates and family, and take part in tons of wild activities. Release your inner wild thing and see you in July!” 

 We all love computers and game consoles but you can have too much of a good thing. As the amount of screen-time kids enjoy creeps ever upwards, the simple pleasures of the great outdoors, and the endless fun of running around under the sun is being left behind. So, we’re going all out at Camp Bestival, unleashing our burning passion for all things wild, and dedicating our four-day festi-holiday shenanigans to the happy and healthy joys of getting back to nature. From jumping about in your bare feet, creating wild art and making daisy chains, to wood carving, star gazing and way beyond, a wild imagination goes a long way in nature’s playground, and come 30th July to the 2nd August, Lulworth Castle is going to be the wildest place on earth!

Featuring a host of Camp Bestival’s favourite attractions including the legendary Bollywood, The Big Top, The Greatest Tent on Earth, Pig’s Big Ballroom, Art Town, Insect Circus, the Science Tent, Medieval Jousting, the Soul Park and more, there will be adventurous family fun across the board with music, theatre, shows, attractions, activities, poets, authors, talks and delicious, healthy food. The Camp Bestival crew have been scouring the globe looking for the wildest entertainment in existence, all for you. Reconnecting not just the kids, but all of us smart phone addicted adults too, with the good green earth and helping everyone discover the pure elation of untamed, outdoor fun is our mission. Weekend Camping, Camping Plus, Hospitality and Boutique tickets are on sale, so grab yours now and be there when Camp Bestival Goes Wild! 

Tickets for Camp Bestival 2015 (July 30th to Aug 2nd) are on sale now via: Ticketline / 0844 888 4410

WEEKLY PAYMENT PLAN:

You can use our 35 week payment plan to purchase your tickets meaning that an adult ticket can now be bought at a payment of just £5 per week over 34 consecutive weekly payments following an initial deposit payment. Book online via Ticketline only: select 'Camp Bestival 2015 - Weekend Payment Plan'.

Once you have signed up to the payment plan, which basically means giving your agreement by ticking the bank mandate form on Ticketline’s website, they will automatically debit your card on a weekly basis. More info here .

NB: Booking fees and a deposit (£25 per adult ticket) will be charged with your initial transaction.

CAMP BESTIVAL 2015 WEEKEND TICKET PRICES:

Adult Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thurs or Fri) - £195*

Student Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thurs or Fri) - £180*

Age 15 to 17 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thurs or Fri) - £113*

Age 11 to 14 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thurs or Fri) - £88*

Age 5 to 10 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thurs or Fri) - £20*

Age 4 & Under Weekend Ticket (inc. camping from Thurs or Fri) – FREE (but ticket required)*

*NB: please refer to the Camp Bestival Ticket Terms & Conditions

Car Parking - £15 advance

Campervan Ticket - £72 per vehicle - please read Campervan T&Cs here before booking

Caravan / Trailer Tent Ticket – £83 (One car only per caravan/trailer tent – no exceptions) (available via Ticketline only) - please read Caravan / Trailer Tent T&Cs here before booking

All Tickets - will incur a booking fee.

CAMPING PLUS:

Camping Plus plots cost £125.00 (max of 2 adults and 4 children per plot) and are perfect, not only if you know you won’t be arriving as soon as the gates open, but also if you just want the comfort of knowing that you’ve got your camping space sorted. Book now.

HOSPITALITY CAMPING:

Hospitality Camping offers luxurious creature comforts in a beautifully designed, spacious campsite with fast access to the heart of the main Castle Stage arena. With premium toilets, hot showers, free yoga sessions, private parking and a meet and greet concierge service, Hospitality Camping is the place to stay for the ultimate high-end family festival experience. Head here for more info

Link to video 

What I did in my holidays - Camp Bestival

I shall rely mainly on the medium of slightly odd drunken photos to share my experiences of Camp Bestival this year.

As you know I was given the amazing privilege of attending on of the 'funnest' festivals of the summer as an Official Camp Bestival Blogger. Sadly this did not enable me to grope any famous beards.(I might have kissed a beard though....shhhh )

We arrived on the Thursday as I know from experience that the fields fill quickly and the best (flattest) spots in the camp site will be taken by Friday. As I was meeting up with my brother and his family it was vital i secured a large enough pitch. We had two young teens with us who shared their own tent. So we were a 3 tent group (though not such pitch hoggers as to bring a gazebo too!).

After setting up (in the Purple campsite) we were too lazy to really explore past the portable chemical toilets (the usual functional but grim toilets - which ran out of loo roll and hand gel on day 1, so glad we were prepared!) and the nearby food places, sadly no Grill this year, but a nice coffee stall and a smoothie place.

And then on Friday the fun began. My brother, at his first ever festival, enjoyed the kids field and perfected his circus skills

We chilled to Courtney Pine

Were thrilled by the Insect (and mollusc) Circus

Saturday was fancy dress day, and we dressed in our Circus best, with me as Ringmaster, trying hard to control the big cats (and the bearded lady and the fortune teller)

The jousting was great fun, so much so that we went twice

A little Chap-Hop with  Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer was spiffing!

And the food was so good that I kept forgetting to photograph it!!

The Dingly Dell was filled with excited children getting back to nature and down and dirty...

I fell in love with, and got a bit tipsy on, the jam jar cocktails, specifically the Bloody Mary

The weather was lovely (I managed to sunburn my breasts - don't ask)

The entertainment was second to none as always, a bright splash of colour across a gorgeous landscape

We Met up with Juggle Mum and her family for Sunday Roast with the Surplus Supper Club

Then after comedy, more food, more booze etc there was the fabulous firework display (DD was slightly sad there was no cartoon show this year on the castle, but my brother was extremely pleased that his favourite band Queen provided the soundscape for the incredible light show.)

All in all it was a fantastic weekend.

And then, on Monday, we went home...staggering up the hills to the car park

Very impressed with how clean people left the campsite!

Early bird tickets are already sold out!! But why not join us next year? You can pay in instalments and spread the cost. Check out TicketLine for details.

all these photos and more at Flickr

The one where the Teen gets excited about Camp Bestival

DD and I have been 'doing' Camp Bestival since she was 10. As a ten year old she was near the top of the 'kiddie' age group but still found plenty to enjoy. Last year we were worried that she was really 'getting on a bit' in Camp Bestival years and maybe we had outgrown it. Secretly we both still wanted to go but now she is 14...surely too cool to want to see Mr Tumble .. (obviously I want to see Mr Tumble, let's not discuss that further)



As if Rob Da Bank himself had been reading my blog and answering our wildest wishes, this year Camp Bestival is having a dedicated Den for the teens! Specifically designed for those aged 13 to 17 its a dream come true for DD.




I'll let Camp Bestival explain

"This year in conjunction with The Roundhouse,
Camp Bestival is creating a first of its kind area for ages 13 to 17,
curated by a small team of young festival producers. Our genre-spanning
line-up won’t disappoint - whether its contemporary folk, live drum and
bass or house you like, come prepared to hear next year’s top artists. 


Coco & The Butterfields and the folky Nathan Ball are not to be missed.
Andy Robb; author, actor and all round hero will be
talking about his novel 'Geekhood; and we’re also lucky enough to be
playing host to an award winning selection of Associated Roundhouse
artists including Poetry Slam winner Antosh Wojcik, the insanely talented Fran Lobo and Karyma Ellis. 


If you want to hear about Fashion Journalism from The Editor in Chief of
TheCool Fashion, see 21 Ukuleles play simultaneously or try Yoga with a
disco twist; The Den shall be playing host to a range of bizarre and wonderful things. 

We’ve hand picked some of the best bits of the Guardian Literary Institute, Rob da Bank’s Music Club and special guests from around the festival exclusively for you. To top all that, The Amazing Corner will be spreading their positivity over the area; screening films, main stage takeovers and hosting open mic performances.
If that’s not enough, we’ve also thrown in the 10 piece Roundhouse Brass Band for good measure. 


So head over to the The Den to lose yourself in new music and try something life changing!"

Find out more about the acts and how to get tickets for Camp Bestival at http://www.campbestival.net/line-up/2014-line-up/the-den/


This blog post originally Published at http://tentsandfestivals.blogspot.co.uk/

The Great Outdoors

Camp Bestival is bringing the great outdoors...erm outdoors!

One of the best things about festivals (for me anyway) is that you get to live in a field for a few days. Kids love it, entertainment is easy - there are always chores to be done, and they are more fun outside somehow, I don't even mind washing up!

Children can run about at all hours, there is grass, sometimes mud. It's all very 'back to nature' (but with beer tents)

Camp Bestival News

For those that pop over to Tent Sniffing for Beginners, or those that follow me there it will be no surprise that I'm excited about going to Camp Bestival this year.

Having worried last year that DD and I might have outgrown it, it seems that Rob da Bank and the team are pulling out all the stops to ensure my every desire is catered for! So with this years theme being Circus, they have embraced the entire historical circus theme complete with Oddities (Ooh I may be able to wear my beard as the bearded lady! Exciting!) and bizarre science to confound and astound. It is with great joy I read 

"No circus is truly complete without a touch of magical miscellany, curious attractions and inexplicable distractions. And so, Camp Bestival’s most aberrant roustabouts have not only created an inspiring world of discovery with Oberon’s Observatory, the LEGO Imagination Factory and the Science Tent, but they’ve also brought together a breathtaking collection of oddities like Caravan of Lost Souls and Britain’s Not Got Talent that will enthral the whole family at Lulworth Castle this July 31-August 3."

What can this mean? I wondered... The caravan of lost souls? Sounds odd enough that I would love it!
Igor Rasputin’s Caravan of Lost Souls is an incredible ape-powered pop-up circus providing wondrous entertainment for your delectation and appreciation. Witness magic, contortion, hula hoop, mime, an amazing array of circus skills and more from this cabaret of curiosity, popping up in all four corners of Camp Bestival! Well that sounds PERFECT!

And Lego! Who doesn't love Lego (though with festivals having a ban on glass to protect naked feet running about I do fear a little for the parents creeping to the toilets at night "Oh bugger! I stood on a  Lego brick" we shall hear shouted in the dead of night)

Entering a world of discovery, we are extremely excited to announce that LEGO will be joining us to kick off the summer holidays in style, with the Imagination Factory. A celebration of ‘free build’, this magical environment will immerse you in the LEGO belief in the power of each individual’s imagination. Doubters might see a pile of bricks and accessories but ‘we’ see a jet fighter, a beautiful flower, an alien monster, our dog called Spike or the skyline of New York. The golden rule of The Imagination Factory is that there are no rules – no rights or wrongs – just inspiration to let LEGO enable you to build anything that your imagination can conjure up. 

And for the show offs, show men and show girls there is ...   the Showmany Calliope, a mixture of traditional fairground showman heritage, pyrotechnics, a full independently powered 4K sound system and a bowtop caravan themed stage, that will play host to the devilish Mosschops and Sidewicket’s Britain’s Not Got Talent. So, do you want to perform on the craziest stage of all time? Have you got a talent? Have you not got talent? We don't care, because we haven't; so anything goes! From Dutch didgeridoo dancing to skateboarding budgerigars; panpipe duets to five-year-old Frank Carson impersonators (keep it clean please), we need you! Terms and Conditions do not apply. 

I'm starting to plan what to wear now, and wondering about the rest of the CampBbloggers, I wonder what they are up to..

 

Camp Bestival Has New Stuff!!!

As you know (if not why not) I have been blogging (daily) over at Tent Sniffing for Beginners, a countdown to Camp Bestival because I'm a bit excited to be going there this year as an Official Besti-Blogger!! I'm covering different topics each day, stuff like getting kids to sleep, mobile phones, food, security, lots of past festival pictures, a giveaway or two, loads and loads of stuff, do take a peek!

And Camp Bestival are sending me emails to make me even more excited (I hope I don' burst with joy before we get there!)

The latest exciting thing is that there are THREE new arenas! (and the return of an old favourite)

 Ringmaster Rob da Bank says: “*drum roll* Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, the team at Camp Bestival HQ proudly present for your delectation and wonder, a host of beloved and brand new venues! Please welcome to our circus arena the Travelling Barn, The Pigs Big Ballroom, Caravanserai and Project Wild Thing! 

 Our new venues are causing the family and I a huge wardrobe dilemma: we'll want camouflage face paint and explorer gear for the feral activities in the Dingly Dell with Project Wild Thing, cowboy boots and chaps for the all-family toe-tapping hoe downs in the Travelling Barn, dancing shoes and circle skirts to swing along to Greg's Greats in the Pigs Big Ballroom and vaudevillian circus outfits to explore Caravanserai! Can't wait to discover it all with the nippers and a different outfit on every half an hour! See you there.” 

I'm really excited about Wild Time with Project Wild Thing, who will have a village tipi based at the entrance to the Dingly Dell. I've always loved the dell area and getting back to nature is lovely so I'll be looking forward to exploring the listening spots in the woods, trying the creative nature writing sessions, wild story-telling, an un-nature trail, creature mask making, bird spotting (and stepping), shadow drawing, a perfect digital detox for screen addled minds, Camp Bestival are sure Project Wild Thing will help kids and their folks re-connect with the wild and they’ll help you take that habit back home. 

Ticket Info

Ticketline / 0844 888 4410 / www.ticketline.co.uk/camp-bestival

Adult Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £195 Adult Tickets are for anyone aged 18 or over on 31/07/2014

Student Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £180 Student Tickets are for Students with valid ID

Age 15 to 17 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £113 Age 15 to 17 Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 15 to 17 on 31/07/2014. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 30*

Age 11 to 14 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £88 Age 11 to 14 Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 11 to 14 on 31/07/2014. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 26*

* NB: All teens (aged 11 to 17) MUST camp in the same area as their families with a maximum of 2 teens per adult (over the age of 26)

Age 5 -10 Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - £20 These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*

Age 4 and Under Weekend Ticket (inc. camping) - FREE (but ticket still required) Age 4 and Under Weekend Tickets are for anyone aged 4 and under on 31/07/2014. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*

Camping Plus Plot - £125 Advance Car Parking - £11

Campervan Ticket - £72 per vehicle

Caravan/Trailer tent ticket (includes a car parking space) - £83

All Tickets:
- will incur a booking fee.
- are non-transferable and cannot be re-sold

Camp Bestival, or 'turning it off and on again'

Today in the news there was talking of the arrogance of the west (no arguments there) about sleep (oh, as you were...sleep eh?) and how sleep is important

I can see the parents nodding at the back, or maybe nodding off at the back. Yes they mumble, sleep is important, and I'm not getting any (no nor any of that either - I'm too tired)

Well I'm here to tell you exciting news!

Camping resets your body clock! Yes yes it does - the BBC wrote about it here 

Gratuitous Picture of Eton Mess served at Camp Bestival

Camping can be a great way to reboot, to 'switch yourself off and on again' as it were. Getting up with the light, snoozing in the sun if you get sleepy in the daytime, eating when hungry, going to bed when tired... And if you are panicking that you can't because ... you have kids and camping with kids is too stressful (I wrote about that here) then more good news!

Camp Bestival still has tickets and it's a festival designed for families, for children, for parents, even for babies! yes loyal reader a festival for all! (they don't mind if you are single, or even alone either, more the merrier, pile on in)

Camp Bestival has security to keep you safe and return lost kids, it has bars for relaxing grown ups and all kinds of free activities to keep small ones entertained, from clay modelling to dance schools. It has a quiet chill out baby tent, for snoozing babes, and breastfeeding mums (and bottle feeding mums and dads too of course!)

It has bouncy castles, jousting (yes real actual jousting!) circuses, dressing up with a cat walk (unleash your inner 'silly'!) lots of shops selling fun things, clothes, bubbles, wigs, food, hats...

This year Rob and Josie have been working on a Teen Arena so that those annoying lovely teens don't feel left out and can have some fun of their own, I know DD isexcited about this as we did start to feel she was getting too old for some of the kids stuff while not quite old enough for the grown up stuff.

I'm going this year as a Camp Bestival Official Blogger and I'm taking my brother and his family along to their FIRST festival! I can't wait to show them the joy of Camp Bestival.

Good gracious I failed to mention the MUSIC! It's a festival so of course there is music, dancing, Mr Tumble for the little ones, Chas and Dave for those older...I've been told to listen out for The Wedding Present, ... look at the whole line up here.

So? Are you coming? Grab a tent, some bubbles and some glow sticks, I'll save you a pitching spot...