Baby has just experienced her first festival and I wanted to share her highlights as part of my series of Camp Bestival posts. I am a little worried that after spending four days in a field witnessing such amazing and crazy things, her sense of reality will now be a little bit warped!
Here are Baby’s Camp Bestival loves.
1. Bubbles
We bought her the most amazing bubble wand, which she adored and would have played with it constantly if we had let her. It created the most fabulously huge bubbles. The fact that there was an actual bubble shop blew her mind too.
2. Giant Giraffe and Dinosaur
There aren’t many holidays where you see a life-sized Giraffe wandering around and certainly very few indeed where said Giraffe stopped to chat with a Dinosaur. You see all sorts at Camp Bestival!
3. Carousel
Baby was obsessed by the traditional carousel and trying to navigate round it without her having a mini meltdown was tricky. One day we went in the carriage and the next day I wore trousers so we could ride the horses properly, twice! She loved it so much.
4. Kid’s Kitchen
Baby didn’t eat at all well during her festival experience (I think it was too hot for her to be bothered). However, the one place she kept on wanting to go into to have a little drink and a sit down was the Kid’s Kitchen. She also managed some pasta from here, which Mr Hubby can confirm was yummy.
5. Soft Play
Baby adored the soft play tent and what a wonderful idea it is to have such a fabulous space for kids to play. I also think it gives them a little sense of normality too. She was in her element playing in the ball pit. She amazed me by just picking up a space hopper and knowing what to do with it! This was all free, which was an extra bonus.
6. Al Pacas
I can’t tell you how much Baby adored these furry creatures. Which were a mixture of Llamas and Al Pacas, but as Baby learned to say Paca, we went with them all being Al Pacas! When we needed some quiet time, we would head up the hill to pick grass for the Al Pacas (although they had a field full!) and to give them a stroke.
7. Babyccinos
For a tea party obsessed Baby, having a Babyccino is so exciting; we often chilled having a brew together.
8. Catwalk
Beside the fancy dress tent was a catwalk that the kids loved. Baby was apprehensive at first, but after a couple of goes, you can see she channelled her inner Naomi and LOVED it.
9. Meeting the other blogger kids in The Day of the Dead Bar
All the official bloggers were invited to this bar by Bruce, who runs the festival, for a drink and a little get together. Baby really enjoyed playing with the other blogger kiddos.
10. Colouring in a cardboard house in the Art Town tent
Baby has form for drawing on the walls at home…. so I am not 100% sure it was a good idea to let her in this wonderful cardboard house; she couldn’t believe that she was allowed to draw on the walls here.
11. Playing in the tunnels
Baby has developed a real affection for anything that she can use as a tunnel; proper tunnels, bridges, tables, indoor car parks and these signs that were dotted around the festival site and caused shouts of ‘tunnel’ as she took off towards them.
12. Went on the biggest slide ever in Dingly Dell
I had heard a lot about Dingly Dell and it didn’t disappoint. Baby really enjoyed the large slide set into the hillside and we did have a bit of a meltdown when we tried to leave after two goes. I don’t have a picture of the slide, as I was too busy trying to catch her as she plummeted down it!
13. Having fun playing hula hooping/juggling in the Bigtoporama
This was a wonderful area where kids of all ages tried out various activities. Juggling, Hula Hooping and lots more; so much fun.
14. Watching the Insect Circus
Baby was amazed and sat in awe watching the Insect Circus, which was packed full of acrobatics and circus skills.
15. Danced at a fake wedding in a blow up church to disco music
Probably one of the weirdest things that I have ever done; dance to disco music at a fake wedding in an inflatable (pink) church! Baby looks shell-shocked, but she didn’t want to leave and kept on asking to go back in.
16. Watching to drumming parade and amazing animals roam the festival site
The roaming drummers and animals startled Baby the first time she saw them; after which she loved them and was transfixed every time they passed us.
17. Playing in Hello Kitty World. Making a wonderful bow that was the first to be placed on the cloud
The Hello Kitty area was lovely. Kids could meet Kitty, get their photobooth pictures taken, sit in a chair made from Hello Kitty toys and loads of other fun activities. Hello Kitty were promoting their #OneKindThing campaign to combat online negativity.
18. Lots of uninterrupted time with Mummy and Daddy
She loved having Mummy and Daddy on tap for 4 whole days and we loved it too!
19. Her bed!
Baby learned that Festivals are tiring! She was reluctant to nap some days and a couple of evenings asked to go to bed, bless her. She is still catching up on sleep now.
20. Waving at people on the Big Wheel
Baby is such a friendly child and would wave at Big Wheel riders each time we passed, often stopping to watch them go round and round.
21. Cossacks
I will share more pictures of these amazingly talented riders over the next few days. Baby was in awe and then declared it was Baby’s turn!
22. Milkshakes
She takes after her Mummy with her love of milkshakes. Baby loved the plain children’s strawberry one, while Mummy enjoyed the Creme Brulee! Nom nom nom.
So there are Baby’s Camp Bestival highlights. She loved it and I think she is already looking forward to next year.
Have you taken young kids to a festival?
Comments 42
Looks like so much fun, I want that custard and rhubarb please!
Author
They were yummy! x
What a great time it looked like you had. My little one will be the perfect age for it next year 🙂
oh wow, how amazing does all this look!! camp Bestival is only down the road from me and we are definitely going to be going next year, seeing all these lovely things for a toddler to enjoy has just made me even more determined to go! xx
Author
You will have a ball, I promise! xx
Aww, she looks like she had a brilliant time!! Not having a little one any more means that we didn’t see a lot of these things – but we did buy a bubble wand for our niece as she LOVES bubbles, and those giant bubbles are AWESOME!! You could see in Baby’s little eyes how tired she was, when I met up with you (so lovely to see you again, and meet the fam too!), I’m not surprised she is still catching up with sleep! Look forward to your photos of the Cossacks – gutted we missed those, I bet they were amazing! xx Oh, and PS. How did I miss those milkshakes… dammit! I bet they were lush!
Author
Can’t beliebve you missed the milkshakes! They were awesome 🙂 xx
Good to see you again and meet Baby at the event! My kids loved the bubbles too- I think everyone does, don’t they?
Author
Yes it was lovely to have a little chat x
What a sweetie! We first went back in 2010 when my youngest was two and it has been so nice to watch them grow each year at the festival! So much for them to do at all ages. The dingly dell park was particularly fab at 11 p.m! 🙂
Author
Sorry we didn’t get to catch up! x
Oh this looks like lots and lots of fun – the bubbles look fab! #brilliantblogposts
Was so lovely to see you. Sebby adored that soft play too – did you see the entertainer though – she was very full on with the worst microphone EVER!! It really is a festival for all ages isn;t it
Author
Yes great to see you. It was such a great festival x
I wanted to go to Camp Bestival next year, now I NEED to go! I’d enjoy it as much as the kiddos. It looks like you had an amazing time, I’m so glad Baby enjoyed herself, can’t waitt o hear all about your adventures when we meet up xxx
Author
You would adore it hun xxx
Oh Aby it looks like you had an AMAZING time! Your photography is getting more and more stunning. Baby is growing into a real beauty and I am in love with her chevron skirt, and her style in general. Great post xxx #TheList
Author
Aww thank you so much, I am really touched by your comment xxx
I am a huge fan of festivals – loved them before kids and still love them now. It’s like a two week holiday condensed down into four days! So much to do, so much family time, so unpredictable!
It looks amazing. I’d love to go to Camp Festival. It looks great for kids and adults! On my to-do list for next year 🙂 Hx
WOW WOW WOW this looks amazing. It’s def on my hit list of things to do with the kids. Noo is only 7 months so might give it another year or two yet thanks for sharing it all with us #TheList
It looks like it was really fun! Now, if I could just get over my fear of portaloos we might try it!! #TheList
Wow I had no idea how child friendly it is! It looks amazing, I’m not surprised she loved it! Lovely pictures too x #thelist
Author
Thanks! It really is child friendly x
Aw this is so lovely!! Looks like you had lots of fun! #TheList xx
Wow! Looks like lots of fun. I thought that my little one would be too young and wouldn’t really enjoy it but she’ll be two next summer and this post has made it look very, very tempting! #TheList
Author
Oh you will be fine with her that age, so much to do x
That is a rather large hula hoop baby has there! And I think I’d be as captivated by those bubbles 🙂 #TheList
Wow! So much to do! It looked like you had a fab time – and I love baby on the catwalk! The circus acts look great as well. I took our kids to Wychwood earlier this year, and we all loved it – they were addicted to the bubbles too!
Author
Festivals are so fab for kids aren’t they?! x
I’ve seen so many posts across my ssocial media accounts now raving about Camp B and I’m gutted we decided not to go this year but it’s still on my bucket list and we WILL go one of these years. Apparently the early bird tickets have already gone on sale! Loods like baby had a brilliant time – that shot of her on the catwalk is so precious. And is there anything better than milkshakes and bubbles? I think not. Lovely post hun xx #TheList
Author
No Milkshakes and Bubble do rock! You would love it hun, such a fab experience xx
Wow looks like she had an absolute ball! My two-year-old would have loved all those things too, especially the ball pool!
#TheList
Looks great! Could be enticed next year!
Great post. It looks so much fun. I really hope to get there next year! 🙂 x #thelist
Author
You should, I am sure you would love it x
This looks like 4 amazing days, so much to do and see. Your photos have convinced me to have a look into it for next year! X
Author
Oh you really should it was fab! x
It all looks like so much fun! I love the look of that cardboard house. I’m planning a festival trip with friends next year so it’s great to soak up all the tips!
#TheList
Author
You should definitely go to Camp Bestival, so focused on kids x
Amazing! Love all the photos, can’t believe how much there is for kids! I’d never really have thought about taking little ones to a festival, but looks like it was great fun and am really inspired to do something like this now. Love the catwalk and the cardboard house! Ace! x
Author
Thanks lovely. It was such an amazing experience for all of us x