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Festival survival guide – What to pack for a festival with kids

Festivals

17 Jan

You have just purchased tickets for your first festival with kids. So now what? What do you need to pack for a festival? What do you need to remember? We have put together some great tips for surviving a festival with kids, but what do you actually need to pack for the kids? Perhaps you have chosen the glamping option for a ready pitched tent at the festival?! We always take the campervan, but if you are camping, I appreciate this can be a little more complicated with kids. Look no further though, we have everything covered! Here is our list of a few essentials to pack for a festival with kids: a festival survival guide! There are also some great ideas and tips If you want to create a festival party in your garden!

What to pack for a festival? – The essentials

  • What to pack for a festival? – The essentials
  • Food and Drink
  • Wheels
  • how to keep safeat festivals with kids
  • Toiletries
  • Clothing
  • Festival extras – what to pack for a festival with kids

Unless you have a camper or decide on glamping, you will need to pack a decent tent, blow up mattress/air bed, sleeping bags and pillows. We sleep in our converted camper van, but we also take a Vango drive-away awning to add our living space. We also have a lit of van life essentials that we really can’t do without. Comfortable camping chairs are essential and don’t forget a few blankets…we always take our favourite crochet blanket that my mum made for us. This blanket also doubles up as a picnic rug.

tango drive-away awning is a great item to add to the festival survival guide

Food and Drink

There are always plenty of places to get food and drink at a festival, but if you are hoping to keep the cost down pack plenty of snacks for the kids, and easy cook food. Pack pasta, rice, tinned beans and tomatoes. Basically, pack long lasting food. Dont forget a kettle, decent stove and a few cooking utensils.

Trangia -Vango

We are really trying to leave no trace… ditch the plastic.  Pack reusable cups, water bottles and coffee cups. Consider taking eco-utensils including bamboo cutlery, grass straws etc. Most festivals have plenty of water stations to fill up water bottles. You may find my post on plastic free travel useful

Wheels

We invested in a decent festival trolley, and I won’t lie, it can be hard work pulling it along all day – especially if the ground is uneven. On a positive note, you can load it with all you need for the day including spare clothes, snacks, drinks bottles and picnic blankets. You can also pack a good baby carrier as an alternative for tired little feet.

Otis and Us at Elderflower Fields Festival

how to keep safeat festivals with kids

A first aid kit is essential, with plasters, bandages, and a few extras that may be individual to your family such as hay fever meds, paracetamol etc.

We also take some ribbon to tie around the kids’ wrists with our telephone number on, just incase the kids wander. For the care free toddlers – reins are also useful. We also purchased a set of ear defenders and these have come in useful over the years if the music is loud.

Always remember to take some cash to festivals as some of the smaller festivals don’t always have cashpoints on the festival site.

Toiletries

Pack a few minimal toiletries, including baby wipes, toilet roll and hand sanitiser. As we are on a plastic free journey so have been trying bamboo toothbrushes, reusable cotton wipes and shampoo soaps.

plastic free travel including bamboo toothbrushes are great to pack for a festival

Clothing

Pack for all kinds of weather…so raincoats, wellies, outdoor gear, suncream, sunhats, sunglasses, warm nightwear/onesies. Remember, there are so many festival activities and these can be messy – so always best to pack a few extra spares to cover all eventualities.

Check the festival programme beforehand, as some festivals have competitions for fancy dress, or a fancy dress theme. You can also never have too much tattoos, tattoos or face paint.

wellies are a festival essential in the UK

Festival extras – what to pack for a festival with kids

We always try to remember to pack a torch, bunting flags and fairy lights as these really help to find your base at night when the light disappears. We also take a foldable potty as this comes in very useful at night for the kids.

Another essential for the kids that we did actually forget one year – glow sticks. Buy them beforehand and save some ££££.

Just So Festival 2018

Can you think of anything else to add to this list of what to pack for a festival with kids?

Most importantly remember your tickets, relax, throw out the routine, enjoy some carefree time with family and friends….

and have a wonderful time!

We really do love a family friendly festival, and here you can find inspiration for a number of wonderful family friendly festivals including Timber Festival, Just So Festival and Elderflower Fields Festival.

What would you add to our festival survival guide?

Pin for later

what to pack for a festival with kids

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No more faffing with putting the bedding on in a small space and it can be washed in the washing machine, oh and dries in less than 90 - 120 minutes. Perfect for vanlife. It also comes in a handy drawstring bag so packs really well. I’ve added some photos on my stories. It’s a winner.

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Important details;

Closes midnight 8th April 2021
The g.i.v.e.a.w.a.y is open to residents of the UK and Ireland
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This has to be my most favourite photo from our road trip the year before last. It’s the one of us enjoying the sunset on the beach at La Paz - our last stop on our summer road trip. It had rained all day and we had been playing games in the camper, it stopped raining and we quickly headed to the beach to view the most spectacular sunset and watch the surfers.

I have recently had it framed with @my_picture_co_uk  and it’s just beautiful. Reminds me of throwing out the routine and chasing the sun. 
 
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I’m really hoping better days are coming for us all 🌈
 
Tonight I wanted to tell you about a wonderful campaign by @whsmithofficial and I’m honoured to have been asked to be a part of it. 

Their aim is to encourage people to try something new throughout 2021. @whsmithofficial have some wonderful products to help you plan your trips (products linked in stories).
 
I would really love you to join me on Friday at 6pm over on the @whsmithofficial account, chatting about why we love vanlife, our favourite road trips, and what vanlife means for us. Believe it or not before we purchased our camper, we had never camped before! 
 
If you have any questions for me, I would love you to send them my way via my stories and I will do my best to answer them on Friday. 
 
Look forward to seeing you over on the @whsmithofficial Instagram on Friday at 6pm! 

#bringiton2021 #vanlife #vanlifewithkids #vwt5


Just popping on to check in on everyone, how are y
Just popping on to check in on everyone, how are you all doing? How are you feeling about the announcements tomorrow?

I know so many are finding it all a bit ‘meh’ at the moment.

So this is a little Sunday reminder to keep doing what makes your soul a
smile, check in on each other often and look after yourselves..... and know that better days are coming 🌈🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 

(My usual Sunday campsite share will be a little late - I’ll post it tomorrow I promise - I’ve been painting the girls bedroom all weekend😆 )

🌈 💕


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[Ad] Talk to me about campervan and camping beddin [Ad] Talk to me about campervan and camping bedding...

➡️do you pack a duvet?
➡️ or a sleeping bag?

We always pack sleeping bags for the kids in the #poptop roof and then a duvet for the bed. 

@finebeddingco have sent us this gorgeous Night Owl coverless duvet to try and it seems perfect for both home and travel. 

No more faffing with putting the bedding on in a small space and it can be washed in the washing machine, oh and dries in less than 90 - 120 minutes. Perfect for vanlife. It also comes in a handy drawstring bag so packs really well. I’ve added some photos on my stories. It’s a winner.

(Ad-PR product)
AD 🌿G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y🌿⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ Hand AD 🌿G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y🌿⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
Hands up who is dreaming of a few summer adventures and plenty of outdoor time? 🙌🏻 oh we are for sure! I found this photo of the beach and I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed the sea. Hopefully soon 🤞🏻🤞🏻

So this evening I am so excited to have teamed up with the fabulous @keelaoutdoors to treat one lucky family to this lovely bundle. ➡️ swipe for images

* Keela Women’s New Talus Jacket - 

The Talus Jacket is lightweight, water resistant and wind proof and features a Flylite Ultra fabric with added Cordura ripstop for strength without weight. 

* Keela Boulder 3-in-1 Jacket 

And for your budding young adventurer the Boulder 3-in-1 Jacket has a mid weight waterproof shell to protect from the rain and wind, and a zip in microfleece, to lock in heat! 

 
TO E.N.T.E.R

⭐️L.I.K.E this post ❤️
⭐️F.O.L.L.O.W @Keelaoutdoors @otisandus_
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⭐️Leave a comment and T.A.G  3 friends
⭐️ Tell us your most favourite place in the UK 
⁣⁣

⁣
❗️please note the W.I.N.N.E.R will be contacted using this account by DM after the closing date. We will not ask you to click a link or pay a fee to claim a prize. Bank details will never be asked for. 

Important details;

Closes midnight 8th April 2021
The g.i.v.e.a.w.a.y is open to residents of the UK and Ireland
There is no alternative and no cash alternative 
The w.i.n.n.e.r will be chosen at random.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.
Entrants confirm they are over 18, release Instagram of responsibility, and accept the t&cs
Room for one more in a VWT5?? 😍 🐾 Room for one more in a VWT5?? 😍

🐾
AD 📸 One photo - a million memories ❤️ How AD 📸 One photo - a million memories ❤️

How many of us all are guilty of taking a million photos and not actually having them printed?

Yep - I am ✋ 

This has to be my most favourite photo from our road trip the year before last. It’s the one of us enjoying the sunset on the beach at La Paz - our last stop on our summer road trip. It had rained all day and we had been playing games in the camper, it stopped raining and we quickly headed to the beach to view the most spectacular sunset and watch the surfers.

I have recently had it framed with @my_picture_co_uk  and it’s just beautiful. Reminds me of throwing out the routine and chasing the sun. 
 
Do you share all your amazing photos on social media but never actually print them? 

Here is a little treat..
 

Use the code OTISANDUS85 and save up to 85% from  the www.my-picture.co.uk product range 

🌈
Ad/ Oh the places we will go ....... I’m reall Ad/ Oh the places we will go .......
 
I’m really hoping better days are coming for us all 🌈
 
Tonight I wanted to tell you about a wonderful campaign by @whsmithofficial and I’m honoured to have been asked to be a part of it. 

Their aim is to encourage people to try something new throughout 2021. @whsmithofficial have some wonderful products to help you plan your trips (products linked in stories).
 
I would really love you to join me on Friday at 6pm over on the @whsmithofficial account, chatting about why we love vanlife, our favourite road trips, and what vanlife means for us. Believe it or not before we purchased our camper, we had never camped before! 
 
If you have any questions for me, I would love you to send them my way via my stories and I will do my best to answer them on Friday. 
 
Look forward to seeing you over on the @whsmithofficial Instagram on Friday at 6pm! 

#bringiton2021 #vanlife #vanlifewithkids #vwt5
Just popping on to check in on everyone, how are y Just popping on to check in on everyone, how are you all doing? How are you feeling about the announcements tomorrow?

I know so many are finding it all a bit ‘meh’ at the moment.

So this is a little Sunday reminder to keep doing what makes your soul a
smile, check in on each other often and look after yourselves..... and know that better days are coming 🌈🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 

(My usual Sunday campsite share will be a little late - I’ll post it tomorrow I promise - I’ve been painting the girls bedroom all weekend😆 )

🌈 💕
Last week I chatted to the lovely Jenny @travelynn Last week I chatted to the lovely Jenny @travelynnfamily as part of her bongo convo series.

Did you catch it?

I think it is the first time I’ve ever chatted on a live, or chatted in front of a camera even 😆

Anyway I just wanted to say thank you  so much for all the messages and lovely comments after the live. I’ve had a few vanlife questions too so I will pop them in my stories for you.

Thank you  Jenny for inviting me to take part in your new live travel chat. Chatting about Van life and road trips .... It definitely made my soul smile :)
🏕Sunday share is back 🏕 My next campsite to 🏕Sunday share is back 🏕

My next campsite to share is a really lovely campsite in Llangollen. We were introduced to this lovely site by my beautiful friend @a_girl_on_the_crescent 

Abbey Farm Campsite

@abbeyfarmllangollen is a working farm set just outside the beautiful town of Llangollen in North Wales.

Suitable  for camping, touring caravans and motor homes and camping pods available.  There are three self-catering cottages to rent and also a static caravan site.

The camping fields are set next to the ruins of Valle Crusis Abbey, and what we loved the most - there is a small brook that runs across the bottom of the field that the kids absolutely loved.

Facilities

Hot showers/ toilets
Laundry room
Bistro/bar
Shop
Electric Hook Up
Dogs Welcome 

What we loved 💕

⭐️Family campsite 
⭐️The brook provided hours of fun
⭐️Picturesque Llangollen a walk away 
⭐️Beautiful location with lots of space and walks
⭐️An ideal base to explore North Wales 

Definitely one to bookmark 

🏡For now the message is to stay at home, but my Sunday share is to inspire and introduce you to new campsites for when the time is right xx

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