Tent Sniffing for Beginners

DD and I started our festival forays with Eastern Haze in Suffolk in 2007.  Sadly that year Eastern Haze suffered dreadfully from bad weather and the organisers wound it up, never to return. But DD and I were hooked. Hooked on the mud, the toilets, the late nights, the friendly festival goers, the laughter and the music. So I looked about for a new festival, suitable for an eight year old and her mum to attend and I found Camp Bestival . Billed as a cross between a festival and a holiday camp, with a mix of music and kids activities it sounded perfect, and so it turned out.  We went to the 2010 festival, and have been to every Camp Bestival since. This year is the tenth Camp Bestival and the headliners have just been announced. (and yes I'm going to save that for later) It made me think back to previous year's headliners and who I would have picked for this year if I was asked to choose (I wasn't) The first year of Camp Bestival 2008 , which we didn...

Top 10 essential things to know, do or bring to, Camp Bestival With just over a week to go I realise the blog tips have become rather large and unwieldy for the novice festival goer (eg my brother, who is accompanying me this year with his family - an entire family of festival virgins!) So here is a mini list (with links to more detail where necessary) of the actual vital stuff you need to know. First off. While Camp Bestival is a music festival that is far from all it is. It was begun as a spin off of Bestival as a cross between a Holiday Camp, and a festival. They even have their very own Blue Coats! Of course this means there is loads to do, plenty of comedy, films, shows, circus acts, craft areas etc for children from as young as babies to teens. This year there is also a teen Den, just for those 13 - 17 to hang out. Perfect for the festival goers of tomorrow to get a feel for festival life away from their parents. As the site is a castle they also have a jousting are...

This year the entire theme of Camp Bestival is Circus. That means that I can dress up, so can everyone else - including you! I love the Circus acts that Camp Bestival haseach year and somehow, being dressed for the part makes them look even better this year. My absolute favourite is the Insect Circus. If you get a chance to visit their caravan at any festival, do, it's well worth the small admission fee. The Insect Circus itself is fantastic! See some of my pictures below. I challenge anyone not to be amazed and moved by the May Fly, terrified by the Wasp Tamer or impressed by the Lady Bird. The Kawa Circus is rather impressive too, and seems oddly lacking in health and safety, thus appealing to the brave and the blood thirsty. Do try and catch one of their displays. And why not try some circus skills of your own  in the Kids Garden.  Don't mention the mime . Have fun!