Camp Bestival 2015 was absolutely fantastic. I write this in that bleary eyed, slightly surreal, return to the real world, post festival place. We’ve been on an adventure. Camp Bestival 2015 was the stuff of dreams. A temporary city, where, all in one day, you can play in a vegetable orchestra, walk on a tightrope, ride on a big wheel, dip churros in chocolate, and have a good old boogie to a fabulous swing band.
Festivals are a challenge with children. They’re an extra challenge for our family with 40% of us on the autistic spectrum, and my CFS to contend with. We camped in accessibility camping, which is close to the main event and less crowded, meaning less sensory overload and a place to rest when you need a break from the festival main. It is also staffed by friendly helpful people, some of whom have disabilities so they totally understand the challenges involved.
So despite some over stimulation, on the whole we all enjoyed the festival experience. Everyone was so friendly and happy that the usual social stress was massively reduced.
There really is something for all the family at Camp Bestival. Wonder Girl (aged four) was very excited to see festival favourite Mr Tumble. Super Kid really enjoyed seeing Steve Backshall’s animal show, his encyclopaedic knowledge of the natural world impressing us all. We all loved The Fabulous Lounge Swingers on the bandstand. Covering some of my favourite camp songs, with tons of enthusiasm, we all had a good old boogie and went to bed that night with big smiles on our faces.
Wonder girl was in heaven in Hello Kitty land. The boys made wooden staffs in the craft village. We all enjoyed walking Lizzie’s Way, a nature walk with activities including a puppet show, and story telling dens.
We sampled plenty of the festival’s food offerings. I especially enjoyed the farmers market, with fresh salad, fruit, bread, and delicious cheeses. I ate pad thai, fresh and delicious. The children ate gourmet macaroni cheese. On the last day in search of something different we headed for the feast collective, and I had a vegetarian sushi wrap with hoisin sauce and ginger, which was absolutely delicious.
My favourite moments are the times when we found a sunny spot, the boys found some pals to share diabolo tricks with, and Wonder Girl a little friend to play with. There I sat, feeling warm and content, watching the variety of colourful people walk/skip and dance by.
Here are our best bits;
For more information about Camp Bestival, including early bird tickets which go on sale on the 7th August visit the website.
We were provided with tickets for Camp Bestival
Dancing to the Fabulous Swingers was a highlight for us too – completely unplanned but made our Friday night! Lovely to have caught up with you and so glad you and your lovely family had another amazing time 🙂
Thanks Viv, it was lovely to see you too.
I missed the Maypole dancing, it was on my list to do and the vegetable orchestra looks lots of fun. The Science tent was the best one yet this year with all the catchy tunes
Yes, it definitely helped to make science cool for my little ones.
Now all the posts about Camp Bestival are coming out, I’m realising how many things we missed! Glad to hear that the accessibility camping was so good, and you were all able to have a place to retreat to. Looks and sounds like you had a fantastic time! x
Thanks Michelle, we did, don’t worry there’s always next year. It’s impossible to do it all.
Reading this makes me want to go back right now – it was wonderful wasnt it!
We think so, it was a fabulous weekend.
I can’t believe how much we missed when I thought I’d seen it all! The diablos were a huge hit with our boys – great souvenirs to bring back. Thanks to Purple Dad for the lesson and it was SO nice to meet you properly. Defo see you next year x
It was really lovely to meet you properly too. Glad to hear you had a good time too.