is it worth attending for a first family festival?

[thegoatboy]

Hello,

 

Just wondering what is the festival like?

 

I've wanted to bring my family to a festival for ages and now i think my kids are old enough - 9 and 14 when BD happens.

 

is it a good one to introduce them to festivals?

 

My family haven't really been to a festival before, but I've been to a few - Phoenix, Glastonbury (90s), Reading, Green man.

 

I know a lot complain about the line up, but I'm not too bothered about that.

[Skelts]

9 hours ago, thegoatboy said:

Hello,

 

Just wondering what is the festival like?

 

I've wanted to bring my family to a festival for ages and now i think my kids are old enough - 9 and 14 when BD happens.

 

is it a good one to introduce them to festivals?

 

My family haven't really been to a festival before, but I've been to a few - Phoenix, Glastonbury (90s), Reading, Green man.

 

I know a lot complain about the line up, but I'm not too bothered about that.

 

I'd struggle to think of a better family festival to be honest.  It's a really chilled festival, mostly attended by either more mature couples/groups or families.  

 

It's a pretty compact area so easy to set up meeting points etc.  There are dedicated areas/activities for kids and your two will be at the perfect age to get involved. There's also the Theatre tent which caters well for families & kids.

 

You can bring your own food and alcohol in to the arena too which can help your budget.  Although the food stalls and onsite bars are all great and reasonably priced.

 

I'd thoroughly recommend it, an ideal introduction to festivals, without being too overwhelming.  Have fun if you decide to go for it!

[Skip997]

Definitely a good one to attend as a family. Kids area is very good and right in the centre of the festival. Never too manic, main stage arena is like a mass family picnic during the daylight hours. Main stages shut embarrassingly early, even the dance tent (except for the silent disco) so no issues with post midnight noise. 
 

Overall it’s a family and old duffers event 

[justanotheronethen]

4 hours ago, Skip997 said:

Overall it’s a family and old duffers event 

Which is now the demographic I have reluctantly joined 😁

[Flaminglippy]

On 2/14/2025 at 12:33 AM, thegoatboy said:

Hello,

 

Just wondering what is the festival like?

 

I've wanted to bring my family to a festival for ages and now i think my kids are old enough - 9 and 14 when BD happens.

 

is it a good one to introduce them to festivals?

 

My family haven't really been to a festival before, but I've been to a few - Phoenix, Glastonbury (90s), Reading, Green man.

 

I know a lot complain about the line up, but I'm not too bothered about that.

Absolutely. There is a kids area with various free things for them to do....plus a fun fair. Loads of stuff for them to see and do...just soaking up the atmosphere and Sunday ends with a massive firework display.

 

Main thing is the crowd isn't full of dickheads and 99% of the people you will speak to are brilliant so they will feel safe there. We've taken our daughter (she is 9 this year) to 3 or 4 Beautiful Days (and loads of others) and she has loved it.

 

On a practical note the amount of stuff you have to take when taking a kid be prepared for a very full car. We tend to camp on the hill immediately to the left of ticket exchange so you don't have to hump your stuff for miles. It's a longer walk down to the arena but you'll probably only do that once or twice a day. Worth considering getting one of them little toilets for the tent (about £20 from most camping shops), if they need to go in the night you don't want to be getting dressed and walking in the rain at 3am. 

 

So definitely, definitely recommend it. It's a really good time to spend time with them without the distractions of phones and screens etc.

 

As you can take food and drink into the arena it's a cheaper option than most other festivals 2 x £13/£14 meals for 4 people x 4 days gets pretty expensive)

 

Bearded Theory is also excellent for kids

 

Anything else you want to know give us a shout.

Edited February 16, 2025 by Flaminglippy

[Quark]

I don't have kids so can't comment directly, but every time I've been I'd say the number of kids & families looking like they're having an absolute ball is pretty high!

[thegoatboy]

Thanks for all your replies. It sounds like a winner. 

[Abbathehorse]

I have been to Beautiful Days countless times as a grown up. This year will be the first time as a dad! We are bringing our boys who will have just turned 6 and 7. We have been to Camp Bestival as a family, which was pretty good, albeit expensive, as well as smaller festival.

 

We are very excited about Beautiful Days this year. Never used the Kids activities before so can't wait to come at the festival from a different angle.

 

My main pointers would be:

 

- It is a great family festival. The vibe during the day is great. Let them embrace it, go with the flow, they will be hooked!

- Bear in mind that as the days get later and darker, people will be getting more drunk and whatever else takes their fancy. You are very unlikely to experience any trouble, but people will be more unsteady on their feet, it will be harder to see etc. Just be a bit mindful of that. If you and your kids are lying on the floor in the middle of a crowd or in front of the main stage, you may get trodden on! If you can, get them all lit up and sparkly so they can easily be seen in the dark.

- Of course, catering for yourselves will keep the costs down, but the food at Beautiful Days is amazing. If you can, try to eat out a couple of times too.

- Your kids are older than ours so may be less of a concern, but for peace of mind, we always take a photo of them each morning, so if they do get lost, we have a pic of them in what they are wearing. Also, put your phone number on their wrist band. Never had to use that yet, but gives us peace of mind.

- If you are not seasoned campers, don't underestimate how cold it can get at night, particularly the first night as you adjust. We find pyjamas, onesie, sleeping bags and Blankets do the trick.

 

You will have an amazing time!

[thegoatboy]

Thanks for the info. Both my kids have phones, but I was thinking of the wrist and and my number on it for the little one. 

 

Taking a photo of that they are wearing that day is a superb idea! 

 

It's usually me unsteady on my feet of an evening, so it will be quite different not being like that ha ha ha. Pretty sure I've tripped over people countless times 😂

 

Might invest some glow stick type wearlables then.

 

I got our tickets on the weekend so very much looking forward to it. 

 

 

 

[Flaminglippy]

On 03/03/2025 at 16:01, thegoatboy said:

Thanks for the info. Both my kids have phones, but I was thinking of the wrist and and my number on it for the little one. 

 

Taking a photo of that they are wearing that day is a superb idea! 

 

It's usually me unsteady on my feet of an evening, so it will be quite different not being like that ha ha ha. Pretty sure I've tripped over people countless times 😂

 

Might invest some glow stick type wearlables then.

 

I got our tickets on the weekend so very much looking forward to it. 

 

 

 

Phone reception can be a bit sketchy so as a back always worth having an agreed meeting up place agreed just in case. 

 

The weather this weekend has proper got me in the mood for it. Roll on August. 

[Skip997]

3 hours ago, Flaminglippy said:

 

 

The weather this weekend has proper got me in the mood for it. Roll on August. 

Whereas “it always rains at Glastonbury” is a myth, it’s far more true of BD

[CanWeRest]

It would be the perfect choice. There's a tent full of frickin Lego!!!! 🥳 

[Quark]

On 28/02/2025 at 14:44, Abbathehorse said:

I have been to Beautiful Days countless times as a grown up. This year will be the first time as a dad! We are bringing our boys who will have just turned 6 and 7. We have been to Camp Bestival as a family, which was pretty good, albeit expensive, as well as smaller festival.

 

We are very excited about Beautiful Days this year. Never used the Kids activities before so can't wait to come at the festival from a different angle.

 

My main pointers would be:

 

- It is a great family festival. The vibe during the day is great. Let them embrace it, go with the flow, they will be hooked!

- Bear in mind that as the days get later and darker, people will be getting more drunk and whatever else takes their fancy. You are very unlikely to experience any trouble, but people will be more unsteady on their feet, it will be harder to see etc. Just be a bit mindful of that. If you and your kids are lying on the floor in the middle of a crowd or in front of the main stage, you may get trodden on! If you can, get them all lit up and sparkly so they can easily be seen in the dark.

- Of course, catering for yourselves will keep the costs down, but the food at Beautiful Days is amazing. If you can, try to eat out a couple of times too.

- Your kids are older than ours so may be less of a concern, but for peace of mind, we always take a photo of them each morning, so if they do get lost, we have a pic of them in what they are wearing. Also, put your phone number on their wrist band. Never had to use that yet, but gives us peace of mind.

- If you are not seasoned campers, don't underestimate how cold it can get at night, particularly the first night as you adjust. We find pyjamas, onesie, sleeping bags and Blankets do the trick.

 

You will have an amazing time!

 

On 03/03/2025 at 16:01, thegoatboy said:

Thanks for the info. Both my kids have phones, but I was thinking of the wrist and and my number on it for the little one. 

 

Taking a photo of that they are wearing that day is a superb idea! 

 

It's usually me unsteady on my feet of an evening, so it will be quite different not being like that ha ha ha. Pretty sure I've tripped over people countless times 😂

 

Might invest some glow stick type wearlables then.

 

I got our tickets on the weekend so very much looking forward to it. 

 

 

 

 

I think I've seen that they do "official" kids' wristbands for contact for contact details etc.  Something that the staff know to check for and is going to be easy to read 

[Skip997]

2 hours ago, Quark said:

 

 

I think I've seen that they do "official" kids' wristbands for contact for contact details etc.  Something that the staff know to check for and is going to be easy to read 

As far as I remember this is the case 

[CanWeRest]

The last time I went there were lots of kids going round putting washing line pegs on people without them noticing (nicely decorated with "Beautiful Days" on them in felt tip). Little shits 😹

[guypjfreak]

💯 

[Skip997]

6 hours ago, guypjfreak said:

💯

?

[justanotheronethen]

On 16/05/2025 at 18:36, Skip997 said:

?

Only 100 tickets left?

[thegoatboy]

we are all really looking forward to it - been planning my pirate cosutme!