What To Take To A Family Festival
A festival with the kids is one of the best days out you can have — live music, space to run around, food vans and that buzzy summer-holiday feeling. But anyone who has done it before knows that the difference between a brilliant day and a meltdown often comes down to what is in your bag. Get the packing right and you spend the day dancing rather than dashing back to the car.
This is a genuinely useful, no-nonsense packing list that works for almost any outdoor family festival. Treat it as a starting point, then trim or add depending on the ages of your children and the weather forecast. Pack the night before if you can — half the stress of a festival morning is hunting for a sun hat that has gone walkabout.
Sun & Weather
British weather is the great unknown, so plan for all of it in a single day. The golden rule is layers you can add and remove, plus proper sun protection that you will actually top up. Children burn faster than adults, and a shaded spot is not a substitute for cream.
- Sunscreen & hats — high factor, reapplied through the day. Wide-brim hats for little ones who will not stand still for cream.
- Layers — a jumper or hoodie each, because even warm days turn cool once the sun drops behind the stage.
- Light waterproofs — pack-away macs that scrunch into a pocket beat lugging umbrellas through a crowd.
- Sunglasses — for the grown-ups and any child who will keep them on for longer than thirty seconds.
Comfort & Seating
Children rarely last a whole day on their feet, and neither do most parents. A base camp you can return to — somewhere to sit, refuel and regroup — turns a long day into a manageable one. Grab a patch of grass with a decent view and a bit of shade if you can.
- A picnic blanket — ideally one with a waterproof backing for damp grass after a shower.
- Foldable chairs — lightweight camping chairs are a back-saver, though do check the event allows them before you carry them in.
- Refillable water bottles — most family festivals have free water points, so a bottle each keeps everyone hydrated and saves a fortune.
Food & Snacks
Hunger is the number-one cause of a festival wobble, and the queues at the food vans always seem longest right when a small person decides they are starving. A steady supply of snacks buys you time and keeps moods level between proper meals.
One important thing to check in advance: many festivals are happy for you to bring your own food but ask that you do not bring outside drinks, since they need bar and soft-drink sales to keep the gates open. Policies vary, so always read the event's own rules before you pack the cool bag. At WN7 FEST you are welcome to bring your own food — check the info page for exactly what you can and can't bring.
- Easy snacks — fruit, cereal bars, crisps, sandwiches. Things that survive being squashed in a rucksack.
- A cool bag — keeps lunch fresh and doubles as somewhere to stash a treat for the journey home.
- A little cash for the vans — half the fun of a festival is the street food, so leave room for a treat even if you have brought a packed lunch.
For The Little Ones
Babies and toddlers need a bit of extra thought, but they often have the best time of all. A pushchair earns its keep as a mobile rest stop, snack station and somewhere for a tired toddler to nod off mid-afternoon. Look out for whether the site is flat, grassy or on uneven ground when you decide which buggy to bring.
- Pushchair or buggy — a sturdy one for grass, with a sunshade and a clip-on rain cover for British summers.
- Nappies, wipes & a changing mat — pack more than you think you need. Family festivals like WN7 FEST have baby changing on site, but it is worth being self-sufficient.
- Spare clothes — at least one full change for under-fives. Spills, mud and ice cream are a guarantee.
- Ear defenders — small, cushioned ones are a must for babies and toddlers anywhere near the speakers, and they help little ones settle to sleep too.
Practical Bits
These are the small things that quietly save the day. None of them are exciting, but you will be grateful for every one the moment you need it. Keep them together in one pocket of the bag so you are not rummaging when the moment comes.
- Cash and cards — most vans take card now, but signal can drop in a busy field, so carry a bit of cash as a backup.
- A portable charger — your phone is your camera, your tickets and your meeting-point lifeline. Keep it topped up.
- A small first-aid kit — plasters, antiseptic wipes, antihistamines and any regular medication.
- Hand sanitiser and tissues — festival loos are festival loos. Be prepared.
- A couple of bin bags — one for rubbish, one for damp coats or a wet picnic blanket on the way home.
Keeping Kids Happy & Safe
Crowds are exciting and a little overwhelming for small children, so a few simple habits keep everyone relaxed. Before you go in, agree a plan for what to do if anyone gets separated — point out a landmark, a stage or an information tent as a meeting point, and tell older children to head there and stay put if they lose you.
Write your mobile number on a wristband or pop a card in your child's pocket so any helpful adult or steward can reach you quickly. Dress everyone in comfy, broken-in shoes — a festival means a lot of standing and walking, and new shoes are a recipe for tears. A small toy or two and a phone loaded with a couple of games will buy you a quiet half hour during the slower acts.
Above all, keep your expectations sensible. You will not see every act, and that is fine. Find a good family festival with proper facilities — a dedicated kids zone, baby changing and accessible toilets — and the day looks after itself. For more inspiration, have a read of our pick of the best family days out in Greater Manchester, or browse the rest of the WN7 FEST blog for more tips before the big day.
Ready For Leigh?
WN7 FEST at Leigh Miners Welfare is a relaxed, family-friendly festival to put the list to use — bring your own food, with a kids zone, baby changing and accessible facilities for everyone. See the family festival page for the full picture, and the info page for exactly what you can and can't bring.