Schools out for Summer and festival season is kicking off!
The perfect time for families and friends to come together and celebrate the great outdoors whilst experiencing inspiring music, dance, art, food, talks, craft and workshops.
At Monty & Co. creating unforgettable childhood memories is top of our list so we have rounded up our top CREATIVE FAMILY FESTIVALS which ensure magical memory making opportunities. They all take place in beautiful unique locations throughout the UK, are committed to sustainable practices and considering the environment. Creative and inspiring for both Adults and Children these festivals deliver for all ages and interests!
GATHER
Having just recently returned from our first ever stay at fforest I wish I could be heading back for this festival. Taking place over 2 weeks from 23rd July - 5th August
Set in an idyllic rustic rural setting, in the North Pembrokeshire countryside, this is a festival to be truly at one with nature and to Create, Make and Grow.
In the words of FForest ....."A new kind of holiday.
A family friendly holiday of adventures in nature, music, culture, creativity, making, growing & simple pleasures.
500 acres of bliss."
££££ Adult Gather tickets from £190 Children 4- 15 £95 and under 3's are free. Camping pitches start from £200 for the week (8ppl) with other accommodation options available from Dome tents, Kata Cabins and Crog lofts which sell fast.
PORT ELLIOT
Another festival kicking of the season is Port Elliot Festival from 26th-29th of July where you get a real sense of escapism and the outdoors, completely away from the fast-paced urban/city life. Located at St Germans in Cornwell, Saltash you can explore the incredible estate where events take place inside such as art workshops or watching a cooking demo in the big kitchen. Outdoors, presents endless activities such as swimming in the estuary, picnicking under a 300-year-old tree, rocking out at the Park Stage, canoeing on the river or catching an intimate gig in the church.
The family events that have caught our eye include the Alice and Wonderland Treasure hunt, Herbal First Aid workshop and Animal Yoga!
This year is particularly special as the event welcomes the Fashion Foundation, a completely new home for fashion and art that will explore the future of fashion and sustainability, stimulating creativity and setting fashion agendas; there will be workshops, fashion shows, talks and exhibitions.
££££ Adult weekend tickets from £170 and family weekend ticket start from £440. Infants under 7 go free.
WOMAD
The last weekend of July also hosts the
Womad festival held in
Charlton Park on the
26th-29th of July, Wiltshire, a global Fiesta where everyone is welcome. This festival celebrates a worldwide community and celebrates a diversity of cultures, language and international backgrounds.
There is a huge selection of activities to choose from curated into different sections World of Art, World of Wellbeing which features a Spa, with a selection of therapies and treatments including acupuncture and shiatsu. World of children where hundreds of free activities take place daily, and World of words including Poetry slam competitions and human books.
We suggest a Sunday ticket to enjoy the family parade and procession with an Insect theme this year.
All these events are accompanied by world music and dance performances and the festival is currently in Australia, Caceres, Chile, Las Palmas, New Zealand, and of course the UK.
££££ 2 day weekend for adults starts at £120 Kids under 13 go Free.
THE BIG FESTIVAL
The Big Festival is everything you want in a weekend getaway for the family this summer!
Its main focus is on food and music but is also jam-packed with activities, games and performances all on one campsite, where everything is easily accessible, held on the 24th-26th of August at Alex James farm, The Cotswold, Kingham.
££££ Weekend camping tickets start at £189.50 for adults and £47.25 for children.
GREEN MAN
Considering Sustainability, we could not leave out the Green Man festival that showcases the beauty of Welsh living, the simple life and a deep appreciation for the outdoors.
It involves excursions to castles, cathedrals site seeing, galleries and gardens, as well as gorge walks into the waterfalls, rivers mountains and hikes in the forest all in Brecon Beacons on the 16th-19th of August. This festival is also supported by the green and trust, a charitable organisation aimed at supporting and extending community projects that benefit all such as emerging artists and science projects.
££££ This popular festival is Sold out this year but get planning your tickets quick for next year.
SHAMBALA
If you are looking for a place to spend your 4 day
August bank holiday
23rd-26th August. The
Shambala festival is the place for you! This event takes place at a stunning secret location in the heart of
North Hamptonshire countryside, presenting a variety of entertainment with over 200 diverse musical acts, a world-class cabaret, mind-blowing circus acts, an interactive theatre and nationally acclaimed poetry. A meat and fish free festival powered by 100% renewable energy and committed to being single-use plastic free Shambala's commitment to the environment is a shining example.
"Shambala is committed to being as environmentally sustainable as possible"-Green Shambala
As if being known as a ‘legendary party’ isn’t enough, Shambala has reduced carbon footprint of the festival by 80% and achieved 100% renewable power and this year they introduced energy tariffs for their cafes and food traders to encourage energy efficiency.
££££ Weekend tickets start at £149 for adults and £39 for children. Sadly the festival is also Sold out this year but one also to consider for 2019.
The Good Life Experience
Saving the best to last, the secret is getting out about the ever-growing The Good Life experience held at Hawarden Estate, Chester road, Hawarden, Flintshire on the 14th 15th and 16th of September. This festival was our highlight of 2017. It is unique in that music, food, Craft and talks all get equal billing, it truly is a special festival that over-delivers on every level from the after dark speakeasy Jazz tents, to kids pumpkin smashing on the farm its fun for parents and kids alike.
It aims to bring the community back to an inspiring a more honest and straightforward lifestyle thanks to the amazing founders Charlie and Caroline Gladstone, Steve Abbort and Cerys Matthews who's passion to curate the very best of British outdoors and culture over three inspiring days. Trust me when I say they have succeeded.
Monty & Co will be returning to the Outdoor & Adventure Marketplace so pop by and say hello and check out our new wares.
There is so much to look forward to such as cooking over a campfire with top chefs Valentine Warner and Gill Meller, music curated by Cerys Matthews, poetry and speakers including Ben Fogle as well as activities such as axe throwing, archery, tree climbing, leather-working, bushcraft. 
££££ 3 day weekend Camping tickets start at £149 for adults and children under 12 go free. Dogs are welcome too!
Author: Stephaine Tei (Student Placement from Ravensbourne University)
All images taken from Festival own Websites sources unknown.
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