Family Friendly Festivals
...in and around Somerset this year!
Here in Somerset we are so lucky to have lots of great family-friendly music festivals on our doorstep where the family entertainment isn't just limited to great live music. These festivals also have lots going on for the kids too, from workshops and storytelling, to circus skills and crafts.
Some festivals we have included are taking place in nearby counties this year as unfortunately not all the old Somerset favourites are back just yet.
Here are some suggestions for top times out with all the family….
The Godney Gathering
When: 16th to 17th July 2021
Where: Garslade Farm, Godney, Somerset, BA5 1RU
To celebrate it’s 10th year running The Godney Gathering is holding it’s first ever two day festival. The first event in 2011 had a single outdoor stage, in 2021 they are bringing you seven different stages! Four different live music stages, the Silent Disco, The Playground Stage and the very popular Comedy and Cabaret Stage.
The festival has hosted some huge names such as UB40, Feeder, The Darkness, Scouting for Girls, The Hoosiers and last year The Feeling. The Lightening Seeds and The Coral have recently been announced as headliners this year! Alongside the big headliners you will also find a lot of local talent, the organisers of the festival have a strong ethos in supporting local music.
I took my children along to this festival in 2019 and we all had a fantastic day out. The children found they had friends from school at the festival and they were all comfortable enough to venture off with their mates, make the most of the time and find out all that the festival had to offer. There was a brilliant system for children who couldn’t find their parents and the friendly team of stewards were on hand to help out at all times. My children could usually be found in the silent disco, which I do confess we all loved!
I would highly recommend this festival for anyone who wants to venture into festival land with their children, it’s secure, well organised and fantastic fun!
Valley Fest
When: 31st July to 1st August 2021
Where: Chew Magna
So Valley Fest’s mission statement reads:
‘Valley Fest is a festival on a mission: to make the world more delicious and celebrate life’
That sounds like a great start to me!
Valley Fest’s main passion is local South-West produce and the belief that sharing delicious food and brilliant live music is the best way to live it up – I do have to say I agree!
What you can expect from Valley Fest 2021:
There are currently 9 different areas for you to eat, drink, dance, relax, learn, play and much more Valley Fest really does have all bases covered.
You can expect top-live music and DJ sets! 2019 headliners included Razorlight and Tom Odell plus DJ sets from Basement Jaxx and Leftfield.
Food to die for as Valley Fest have carefully selected the best of Bristol’s street food offerings, sample flavours from around the world. You can also book onto a number of Valley Fest Feasts being held across the weekend. A chance for you to eat with your fellow festival goers, sample culinary delights and surprise performances.
In 2019 you could pre-order tapas or brunch to share at the long tables with your family or festival friends, visit an artisan market purchase and sample locally produced products, see cooking demos and talks on food – keep your eyes peeled to the website for a heads up of what this year’s offerings will be!
Valley Fest prides itself on being a top festival for kids, there are no specific kids areas because there are fun things for kids to do all over the festival, theatrical entertainment and activites, arts and crafts, poems and stories, children’s yoga and of course an Aardman model making workshop!
Valley Fest sounds like a top festival for the whole family to relax, sample great, be entertained and learn.
Watchet Music Festival
When: 27th to 29th August 2021
Where: The Down, Brendon Road, Watchet, Somerset, TA23 0HS
Watchet Music Festival is run by Watchet LIVE Community Interest Company (C.I.C) who organise events in and around the town of Watchet, West Somerset.
By staging such events the aim is to help make the town of Watchet a vibrant, diverse, and lively place to live and visit for both residents and visitors alike. Staging events such as Watchet LIVE Music Festival and Watchet Carnival over numerous years has helped generate income into the local economy and community.
This years festival bring a fantastic line up includeing Sister Sledge, The South, Gabrielle, The Blockheads and many more still to be annoucned.
Love Summer Festival
When: 6th to 8th August 2021
Where: Newnham Park Estate
Love Summer Festival are a Small Independent Festival in the Heart of South Devon.
This will be their 10th year of producing the event and to keep it small enough to be friendly but still big enough to have a proper party they limit overall attendance including Performers and Crew to 1000.
Love Summer have a dedicated performance venue for children with a full programme of magicians, jesters, a DJ academy, pottery studio, art classes and much more!
