You have just purchased tickets for your first festival with kids. So now what? Time to think about what to take!! So – What do you really need to pack for a festival? Purchasing last minute festival wings or glitter at the festival can prove to be really expensive, so we have put together a helpful guide to help you with what to pack for a festival with kids.
Here are a few awesome UK family friendly festivals happening in the UK for 2024!
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But first – Are festivals REALLY okay for kids?
We LOVE a family friendly festival and there are some incredible family friendly festivals to take the kids along to happening in 2024. There also some great Vanlife festivals in the UK this year – you will be spoilt for choice.
In all honesty we have visited a few family friendly festivals over the years, Camp Bestival, Elderflower Fields, Just So Festival, Timber Festival and the Big Feastival to name a few.

There are so many activities geared for kids of all ages, including circus skills, climbing, den building, arts and crafts, lantern parades, roller discos and so much more. Your kids will be in their element. So time to ditch the routine, dance the night away with glow sticks and glitter with you littles. Make memories to last a life time!
So if you are thinking of heading to a festival with kids then look no further, we have everything covered! Here is our list of a few essentials to pack for a festival with kids: a festival survival guide!

If you are not heading to a family friendly festival for 2024, then why not bring the festival to your back garden. Here are a few ideas for throwing a festival themed party in your garden!
What to pack for a festival? – Practical stuff
Of course – It all depends if you are camping, glamping or bringing along the campervan. If you are opting for boutique glamping options at a festival then most things are already there for you, including you bed.
You may just need to pack sleeping bags/ pillows. We love Vango sleeping bags in the pop top roof.
Comfortable camping chairs are essential including camping chairs for the the kids.
We found these ultra light and compact vango camping chairs that fold small enough to pack in your rucksack. A waterproof picnic blanket is also really useful for setting up base in the festival field.
If you are in the campervan you may find our vanlife essential posts helpful for what to keep in the campervan for all events!
- Steel frame – Strong and reliable
- Foldable to compact size – Easy storage and transport
- 600 denier polyester – Very strong and durable
- Maximum loading weight: 120kg/18st 12lbs
- Handled carry bag – Provides easy transportation to and from the campsite
- Chair Depth: 53.0cm, Chair Width: 55.0cm, Chair Height: 64.0cm, Seat Height: 34.0cm, Seat Width:…
Practical items for a festival at a glance;
- Festival tickets (may be downloaded to your phone)
- Mobile phone and phone charger
- Bank Cards
- Towels
- sleeping bag/ pillows
- Air bed (if needed)
- Camping chairs
- picnic blanket
Food and Drink
There are always plenty of places to get food and drink at a festival but be warned it can be expensive – particular if there are a number of you!
To keep the costs down we pack pack plenty of snacks for the kids, and really easy camping food.
Pack pasta, soup eggs, nachos etc cook really well in a ridgemonkey. We often plan to go back to our van for evening meals. Dont forget a camping kettle, camping stove and a few cooking utensils.
We are making a conscious effort to ditch the plastic. to leave no trace… We take reusable coffee cups and refillable water bottles to festivals. Most festivals have plenty of water stations to fill up water bottles. You may find my post on plastic free travel useful.

Festival Wheels/ storage

We always saw families with a festival trolley and so we invested in a decent festival trolley too. I won’t lie, it can be HARD work pulling it along all day – especially if the ground is uneven. I preferred our Phil and Teds double pushchair if I am honest. There was plenty of space underneath for a few items, hangings space and space for the little legs to rest and nap.
- QUICK SETUP: Easily open or fold the Timber Ridge…
- STURDY DESIGN: The camping trolley features a…
- LARGE CAPACITY: This festival trolley on wheels…
- VERSATILE USAGE: Perfect for beach trips, picnics,…
- OUR STORY: TIMBER RIDGE was created to enhance…
Festival wheels/ storage at a glance;
- Rucksack
- pushchair or festival trolley
- baby carrier
Festivals with kids – Safe essentials
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, but the festival staff often have wrist bands that they hand out and allow you to jot your numbers on.
For the care free toddlers – reins can be useful (but also limiting). We also purchased a set of ear defenders and these have come in useful over the years if the music is loud.
Useful festival with kids safety ideas – At a glance;
- First aid kid
- Medication if required
- Walkie talkies
- Air tag
- Reins

Toiletries to pack for a family friendly festival
Pack a few minimal toiletries, including baby wipes, toilet roll, tooth paste and tooth brush and hand sanitiser. Most family friendly festivals have shower facilities but the queue can be long especially in the morning.
Here is a short list of useful toiletries for all the family at a festival;
- Suncream
- Toothbrush and tooth paste
- baby wipes
- Nappies/ wipes/ nappy bag/changing mat (if required)
- Make up
- dry shampoo
- Soap and towel
- hairbrush and bobbles
- deodorant
- toilet roll
- hand sanitiser
- sanitary products
What to pack for a festival with kids – Clothing
Pack for all kinds of weather…so think raincoats, wellies, warm jumpers, suncream, sun hats, 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, children’s tattoos or face paint. and be warned the festivals all sell the festival wings, bubble blowers and flower garlands and they are expensive onsite – but your children will definitely want them if they are like ours! Best to bring them with you!
Clothing list for a festival with kids
- pjs/onesie/sleepsuit
- socks
- wellies
- confortable shoes
- underwear
- clothing that can be layered, shorts/ t-shirt/ hoodies/ tights
- warm fleece
- waterproof coat
- warm hat/ sun hat
- ear defenders
- fancy dress

Festival extras – A few extra items 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. IF you are heading to a festival with a toddler then we found a foldable potty useful.
Another essential for the kids that we did actually forget one year – glow sticks. Buy them beforehand and save some ££££.
- Glow sticks
- Glitter
- Hair chalk
- bubble gun
- Fairy wings
- Card games
- walkie talkies
- Ear defenders
- Fairy lights


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