If you thought music festivals were only for hippies and hedonists, think again: Britain is in the grip of festival fever, with new festivals popping up every week. Unlike days gone by modern festivals are family friendly, too. Plus, while the larger festivals can be expensive, you don’t need to spend a fortune for the full festival experience. Pack your tent, don your wellies and slap on your smile as we check out what promise to be five of the best family friendly festivals of the 2008 festival season.

Festival Guides: New Family Friendly Festivals

The UK is not short of great music festivals but with so many around most Brits are unaware of some of the more local, quirky and diverse festivals that exist. For more information on such festivals read on.

Wild in the Country Festival
When and Where: 5th July in Knebworth, Hertfordshire

For a big day out Wild in the Country Festival is ideal. Not only will gig goers experience first rate music but also a whole host of fun activities for all ages. For example Wild in the Country will this year feature a Victorian fun fair and a chill-out tipi. It’s the kind of festival where families mix with revellers, with plenty to do for all the family.

Wild in the Country will be held in Knebworth, Hertfordshire just south of Stevenage. Knebworth has become well known for its music events and provides a great setting for summer days out.

The music stages at Wild in the Country Festival will welcome new legends
The Cuban brothers plus a collaboration between Maxi Jazz from Faithless and Sister Bliss.

Headlining Wild in the Country festival is the eccentric Bjork performing her only UK performance this year.

Wild in the Country Festival: Ticket Prices

Tickets to Wild in the Country Festival cost £54 plus booking fee.

Wild in the Country Festival: Buy Tickets

To buy Wild in the Country Festival Tickets, go to Buy Wild in the Country Festival Tickets

For more information on Wild in the Country Festival, including the full line up and what to expect at Wild in the Country Festival, visit: Maxi Jazz & More: Wild in the Country

Perfect Day Festival and Garden Party
When and Where: Friday 25th to Sunday 27th July, Bowood House in Wiltshire.

Perfect Day Festival and Garden Party will this year hit the luxurious countryside of Wiltshire for its debut into the summer festival circuit.

The Perfect Day Festival and Garden Party lasts for two days and hosts a huge musical line up and activities for the young, the old and the party animals - including performances from The Feeling, Reverend and the Makers, Robyn, Booty Luv, Palladium and more to the Perfect Day Festival stage.

Apart from music, gig goers can also get themselves onto a hot air balloon ride, party in the traditional English garden and witness cabaret, a circus and comedy!

For more information on the Perfect Day Festival and Garden Party, visit: Festival News: Perfect Day Festival & Garden Party

Alternatively go to, www.perfectdayfestival.com

Perfect Day Festival and Garden Party: Ticket Prices

All ticket costs are subject to a booking fee.

Adult Ticket: £29.50
Child Ticket Aged 7-17: £14.50
Child 6 and under: Free
Disabled - Carer goes free: £14.50
Car Parking: £6.00

Perfect Day Festival and Garden Party: Buy Tickets

For tickets to the Perfect Day Festival and Garden Party Tickets, go to Buy Perfect Day Festival and Garden Part Tickets.

Mighty Boosh Comedy Festival
When and Where: 5th July, Hop Farm, Kent

The Mighty Boosh Comedy Festival is the first of its kind and will display the comical and crazy genius of the one and only Mighty Boosh comedy duo.

Renowned for their weird and wonderful sketches the Mighty Boosh will take their talents to Hop Farm in Kent for a day of fun, laughter and live stand ups from special guests.

If you’re still not sure - let us tell you that this gig will not deprive you of the festival must haves; live music plus all the food and drink you could possibly need.

Kent is known as “The Garden of England” and Hop Farm will provide Mighty Boosh fans with beautiful surroundings as they enjoy the comedy. There are also plans for bands to perform also and if you are thinking of heading, why not make a weekend of it and visit the Hop Farm Festival the day before (read on below). For more information on Kent, visit Kent: The Garden of England

Free tickets to the debut event are up for grabs by visiting, Win Mighty Boosh Comedy Festival and Hop Farm Festival tickets.

Mighty Boosh Comedy Festival : Ticket Prices

Tickets to the Mighty Boosh Comedy Festival cost £50.00 plus booking fee.

For more information on the Mighty Boosh Comedy Festival, visit: UK Premier: The Mighty Boosh Comedy Festival

Hop Farm Festival
When and Where: 6th July, Hop Farm Kent

The launch of the highly anticipated Hop Farm Festival will take place this year and is set to become one of the UK’s most talked about festivals.

Hop Farm Festival has been put together by the Godfather of Gigs - Vince Power, founder of the Mean Fiddler festival organising chain. Taking a glimpse at his CV you’ll find that Vince Power has played a huge part in the success of Leeds & Reading Festival and is fully responsible for the popularity of Spanish festival Benicassim.

Hop Farm Festival is dubbing itself as a non-commercial festival in the old-school sense and the festival says no to VIP areas, all major branding and pre registration. Instead, Hop Farm organisers want you to enjoy the live music without commercial distractions, relax or party in the great atmosphere and relish in other Hop Farm delights.

The line up for the 1 day gig so far includes Neil Young, Primal Scream, Supergrass, My Morning Jacket, Rufus Wainwright and the Guillemots.

Hop Farm Festival Tickets: For your chance to win Hop Farm Festival, go to Win Mighty Boosh & Hop Farm Festival Tickets

Hop Farm Festival: Ticket Prices

Tickets to Hop Farm Festival £49.50 plus booking fee.

For more information on the Hop Farm Festival visit: Hop Farm Festival Rufus Wainwright & the Guillemots Play Hop Farm

Guilfest Festival
When and Where: 4-6th July, Stoke Park, Guildford, Surrey

Guilfest Festival may not have the cool of other festivals such as Glastonbury, but for a fun packed family day-out it is hard to beat. The beer festival style atmosphere is superbly family friendly and great fun.

From the iconic group Blondie to indie newcomers Royworld gig goers can expect a huge range of musical styles plus entertainment for kids, arts and crafts and delicious food.

For something a little different gig goers can also test out Farmer Gile’s Barn Dance and get stomping on GuilFest country dance floor for cocktails and street performers.

Guilfest Festival will put up its stages in Surrey’s Stoke Park in the lively town of Guildford. An outdoor swimming pool, top high street stores and even a cathedral are all in close range to Stoke Park, if you wish to explore Guildford in more depth.

Guilfest Festival: Ticket Prices

Adult Day Ticket: £40
Adult Weekend Ticket: £90
Adult Weekend Ticket with Camping: £100

Campervan Ticket: £80
NOTE: Camper Vans up to 6m x 4.5m - for larger vehicles please call us on 01483 454159. Weekend ticket with camping also required by each member of the party.

Access to for those between 12 and 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
Under 12's: Free
Under 16: £30

Under 16 Weekend Ticket: £50
Under 16 Weekend Ticket with Camping: £60

More information on Guilfest festival, visit:

Guilfest Festival Line Up: More Acts Announced

Guilfest Festival News

Moor Music Festival
When and Where: 7th- 9th August, High House Farm, West Yorkshire.

Moor Music Festival is an independently run festival, much smaller than the likes of V festival or the O2 festival. However, this small gig packs a punch with a huge line up of diverse acts playing over a total of 3 days with additional entertainment for kids, teens and adult ravers.

This year’s line up boasts performances from dance giants the Utah Saints and runners up in the Mobile Act Unsigned competition Hijack Oscar. The Long Blondes, Paul Diamond, Tim Sheridan and Audiojack have also confirmed their appearance at the Moor Music Festival.

Aside from the phenomenal line up, Moor Music festival goers can also feast their eyes and tickle their taste buds with local food produce from the surrounding area of Canterbury, workshops for the kids and a 24 hour bar and dance floor for all those party animals.

Moor Music Festival: Ticket Prices

Full weekend pass including camping - £60 (price will increase late spring)
Day Tickets - £30 each, including camping
Campervan ticket - £10
Under 12's - free accompanied by an adult

For more details on the Moor Music Festival visit: Moor Music Festival News: Great Music & Clean Toilets: Moor Music Festival

Field Day Festival
When and Where: 9th August, Victoria Park, London

Field Day Festival is all about the music and is perfect for those who like live performances from both new and established acts.

Taking place in East London’s Victoria Park, the location is easy to get to by public transport and provides a top notch setting for this relatively new summer festival.

Acts set to play at Field festival in August include two bands, plus an array from first class DJs, including the increasingly popular Simian Mobile Disco.

Field Day Festival: Ticket Prices

Tickets Field Day Festival cost £26.50

Field Day Festival: Buy Tickets to Field Day Festival

Field Day Festival Tickets: For Tickets to Field Day, go to Field Day Festival Tickets

For more details on Field Day Festival visit: Field Day Festival

Lounge on the Farm Festival
Where and When: 11th -13th July, Merton Farm; Canterbury

Another great festival takes shape in Lounge on the Farm Festival. The festival is set to welcome 160 bands and provide on site beatboxing workshops, kite making and entertainment for the toddlers.

Lounge of the Farm Festival visitors can expect 6 music stages featuring both breakthrough and established artists including live music from the Black Kids and Art Brut.

Festival goers can also purchase the local produce of Canterbury in the “Village Green”, where you’ll be able to drink locally brewed cider and eat hog roast from hand reared pigs.

Lounge on the Farm Festival: Ticket Prices

Full weekend £85
Child weekend £40

Adult Day £35
Child day £20

Family weekend £180
0-5 years free
6-15 years child
16+ adult

Child tickets must be purchased and accompanied by a person over the age of 21 years.
Family weekend = 2 adults and 2 children.
Campervans are £20 – there is a family campervan area and a non family campervan area.

For more information on Lounge on the Farm Festival visit: Festival News: Lounge on the Farm