Family Festival Essentials
Festival season is on the horizon. And if you’re looking forward to taking the kids to their first ever family festival, you’ll want them to get the most from the experience. That’s where planning (lots of planning!) comes in. After all, festival packing when you’ve got two under twelves in tow can feel like nothing short of a military operation. Fortunately, we’ve put together this quick guide to help you make sure you pack all the essentials and keep the kids happy.
Your Family Festival Survival Kit
The tickets are bought, the travel is planned; all that’s left now is to decide what to bring for you and the kids. Keep yourself prepared for all eventualities with our help.
- Your festival tickets (sounds obvious – but don’t leave home without them!)
- Water – in a reusable water bottle so you can fill up from taps during the day
- Snacks – because nothing dampens festival spirits faster than grizzly, hungry kids
- Sun cream – choose a higher SPF for the kids and look for waterproof or long-lasting formulas
- Sun hats – keeping them shielded from the midday sun is essential
- Insect repellent or insect repellent clothing – protect against bug bites
- First aid kit – including plasters, paracetamol and antiseptic cream
- Hand sanitiser – keep hands clean without water
- Baby wipes – we all know the extent of portable toilets at festivals…
- Toilet roll – the portaloos will run out in no time
- Torch – for finding the tent or the toilet once the sun’s gone down
- Duct tape – fixes anything from tent holes to rucksack tears, essential in a downpour
- Mini sewing kit – ideal for emergency clothing repairs
- Bin bags – another part of your emergency repair kit and of course, for rubbish
- Money – make sure you have plenty of cash, especially loose change
- Entertainment for the kids – colouring books and crayons, reading books, and a football or Frisbee should keep them occupied when they’re not exploring the events
Top festival packing tip: Keep favourite toys safe by leaving them at home! It’s all too easy for toys to be dropped and lost in the crowds. If their favourite stuffed toy absolutely must come too, sew an address label onto them, increasing the chances that they’ll be returned.
What To Wear To A Festival
Don’t let them get caught out in the rain or bogged down in the wrong footwear. The right kit will mean they can play and explore for longer, keeping everyone happy.
Kids’ Festival Wear
- Kids’ wellies – a festival essential thanks to the Great British weather
- Kids' socks – pack plenty of these for a comfy fit and dry, warm feet
- Kids’ waterproof jackets – so play doesn’t have to stop if the raindrops start
- Puddle suits – splash out on one of these to keep tots dry
- Kids’ outdoor trousers – look for features such as water-resistance and insect repellent for added protection
- Zipped layers – zip-off trousers that convert into shorts, and front-zip kids' fleeces make ideal festival wear
- Cotton t-shirts – pack plenty of breathable cotton t-shirts, for quick outfit changes
- Kids’ rucksack – don’t get caught out carrying the kids’ stuff all day
- Warm pyjamas – temperatures can dip dramatically at night, so make sure your kids have warm layers
- Sunglasses – protect young eyes from harmful UV rays
- Wrist bands – personalise a wrist band with your contact details, so if they do wander off you can be contacted quickly
Top festival packing tip: Kids love colourful designs, but better still, bright colours will make them easy to spot if they wander off in the crowd. Invest in some brightly coloured kids’ t-shirts and consider a bright jacket or hoodie too.
Adults’ Festival Wear
Pick up everything on the kids’ list (except puddle suits and wristbands!) in adult sizes, and you’re ready to go.
Family Festival Camping Essentials
For your camping stay, make sure you bring:
- Tent with extra space – and essentials for putting up your tent
- Pop-up tent – an easy-setup option for quicker pitching and extra sleeping space.
- Sleeping bags
- Roll mats
- Pots/pans – if your festival allows campfires, you could use these to cook food or heat water
- Camping chairs
- Camping loo or potty – great if little ones can’t make the trek to the portaloos in time
Top festival packing tip: Make sure you’ve got ample storage space by choosing a tent that’s a little larger than you actually need. For a family of four, a 6-man tent will mean added space for storing rucksacks, spare clothes and all the other items you need to bring for the kids.
Take a look at our camping collection – from tents and sleeping bags, to comfy camping chairs – and find everything you need to complete your family festival weekend. For more advice, we also have a separate guide full of tips for camping at a festival.
Festival Preparation
With your festival essentials sorted, it’s time to do some last minute preparation ahead of your big family weekend.
- Tent Practice: With little ones in tow, you’ll want to get the tent up and ready as quickly as possible. Have a practice run in your garden, so you know how to set it up – and make sure there are no missing parts!
- Food: Check the website for your specific festival for more information on what you’re allowed and not allowed to bring in terms of food and drink. That way, you’ll avoid unnecessary disappointment on arrival.
- Safety Rules: Take time to chat to your kids about festival safety and what to do if they get lost and can’t find you. Most child-friendly festivals have meeting points where children can go while they wait for their parents to collect them – make sure your children know what these are and how to find them.
