If you’ve been thinking about bringing the kids along to a music festival, you’re in good company — more and more families are discovering that festivals can be brilliant fun for all ages, not just the grown-ups. The trick is picking the right one. We’ve rounded up 7 family friendly festivals across Ireland, the UK and Europe, all known for their music as well as their art, dance, theatre and family programmes.
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Family Friendly Festivals in Ireland
1. Body&Soul
Held each summer in the grounds of Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath, Body&Soul invites families to come down to the woods over the solstice weekend and follow twinkling pathways to secret corners, with new sights, sounds and stories to discover.
For younger festival-goers, the Soul Kids programme runs alongside the main event, with yoga, creative workshops and plenty of surprises tucked into the walled garden setting.
“We’ve been to Body and Soul for 4 years and the kids love it! There is a lovely wooded area when you can wander around and you’ll happen upon all kinds of quirky entertainment. The Soul Kids area is great for the younger ones and because it’s contained within a walled garden, it is beautifully sheltered and safe. We’re going again this year and we can’t wait – the count down is on!” – Paul
More info at bodyandsoul.ie.
2. Kaleidoscope Festival
Kaleidoscope returns to Wicklow’s Russborough House each summer, promising music, theatre, sport, food and plenty of family-friendly programming. There are dedicated activity zones for different age groups, roughly split into 2-5, 6-11 and 12-17 year olds, so there’s something age-appropriate whatever stage your kids are at.
“We had a fabulous time at Kaleidoscope, music, workshops and activities for the kids, it was just great fun” – Katie
Visit kaleidoscopefestival.ie.
Family Friendly Festivals in the UK
3. Latitude
Latitude Festival takes place each summer at Henham Park in Southwold, Suffolk. Its awards for “Best Family Festival” and “Best Major Festival” from the UK Festival Awards say a lot about the huge range of family-friendly activities on offer.
Arranged around the banks of the central Latitude lake, the Kids’ Area keeps children entertained from morning into evening, with everything from pond dipping and stargazing to bushcraft skills and French knitting. There’s a real hive of activity — the only problem is fitting it all in.
“All 4 of us thoroughly enjoyed Latitude, it’s very child-friendly. There were lots of kids activities throughout the day and we loved the library tent where you could borrow kids books from and bring them away with you. There was plenty of wide open space too so you never felt over crowded and you could easily find a good spot at the back where it wasn’t too loud” – Jill
Visit latitudefestival.com.
4. WOMAD
WOMAD takes place each summer at Charlton Park, Malmesbury, and is a genuine feast of world music. You’ll usually spot a couple of familiar names on the line-up, but one of the real joys of WOMAD is discovering artists and sounds you’ve never heard before — alongside your kids.
Families have always been a priority at WOMAD, and the atmosphere is welcoming, relaxed and a little bit magical.
“The good thing about Womad and kids is because the acts are not that well-known (but of exceptional quality) you can discover the acts with your children. It’s great to see them respond to ‘non-pop stars’, as it were. One of our favourite things was the Food & Music workshop where different musicians talked about their life and album while cooks made a dish from their country and we got to taste it at the end” – Ramsay
Visit womad.co.uk for more information.
5. Camp Bestival
Camp Bestival is held at more than one UK location each summer, with recent years seeing events at both Lulworth Castle in Dorset and Weston Park in Shropshire.
Kids are king at Camp Bestival, with a large part of the site given over to younger festival-goers — an Upper Kids Garden and Lower Kids Garden, a separate Toddlers’ Area, a Mother and Baby chill-out section, plus theatre, shows, fairground rides, face painting, a Soft Play Tent and a sandpit for under 5s, alongside a separate area for 13-17s.
Threaded through all of this are food markets, cafes, bars, talks and music stages, so the slightly older members of the family don’t stand a chance of getting bored either.
Visit campbestival.net.
Family Friendly Festivals in Europe
6. Tollwood Summer Festival
The Tollwood Summer Festival takes place each summer at Olympiapark Süd in Munich, at the foot of the Olympic Hill. It’s known for theatre productions from around the world, concerts spanning rock and jazz, and more than a hundred free shows featuring performance groups and bands across rock, pop, salsa, reggae and blues.
Tollwood also has a strong ecological and social ethos — the majority of events are free of charge, and the bigger theatre and concert shows are offered well below typical local prices. Look out too for the “Market of Ideas”, with hundreds of stalls selling handcrafted goods and certified organic food from all over the world.
Visit tollwood.de.
7. Pohoda Festival
Image by Martina Mlčúchová
Pohoda takes place each summer in Trenčín, Slovakia, around 120km from Bratislava and 190km north-east of Vienna. Described as a music and arts festival where alternative, indie, electronica, world music and punk meet classical — alongside literature, dance, visual art, film and theatre — Pohoda is known for putting together interesting combinations of artists you wouldn’t normally see on the same bill.
The festival is based on a former military airfield in the valley of the River Váh, surrounded by three ranges of the Western Carpathian Mountains. With capacity capped at a comfortable level, there’s none of the queuing or overcrowding you might dread at a big festival — fitting for a name that translates roughly as peace, ease and contentment.
A children’s park is available on site, with professional childcare, activities and programmes for children, a changing table, and a family camping area.
Visit pohodafestival.sk.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age groups are these festivals suitable for?
Most of the festivals featured here cater for a wide age range, from babies and toddlers right up to teenagers, with dedicated kids’ zones, age-banded activity programmes and quieter family camping areas so everyone can enjoy the day at their own pace.
Do I need to book activities for children in advance?
Some festivals run bookable workshops or childcare services within their kids’ areas, while others operate on a drop-in basis. Policies vary by festival and by year, so it’s worth checking the official festival website closer to the date for booking details.
What should we pack for a family festival trip?
Beyond the usual festival essentials, families tend to find ear defenders, a pushchair or carrier, sun protection, layers for changeable weather, and a few home comforts for younger children make the day much smoother.
Are these festivals only about music?
No — as this list shows, family festivals often combine music with theatre, art, dance, literature, food and outdoor activities, which is part of what makes them such a good day out for kids as well as parents.
More Festival and Adventure Ideas
If this has you dreaming of your next family outing, take a look at our other festival and outdoor adventure guides for more inspiration on days out that work for the whole family, whatever age your kids are.
Don’t have a printable packing list to hand? No problem — bookmark or save this article so you can come back to it while you’re planning, and browse our adventure hub for more family day-out ideas.
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