Top 5 Music Festivals Around the World You Can Take Your Kids To

Start em young

Ever feel like becoming a parent has killed festival season for you? Well, think again. There are loads of festivals cropping up across the globe that welcome our mini ravers, so get ready to reach for the lasers. We bring you our favourite music festivals you’re allowed to take the kids to.

1: Boomtown Fair

Winchester, UK

One of the fastest growing festivals in the world, Boomtown Fair rose rapidly from humble beginnings, with multiple sectors joined by a complex labyrinth of streets and corridors. The intricately designed stages coupled with the stellar line-up and lighting & pyrotechnic shows will leave revelers mesmerized.

Base camp for the mini-boomers is Kidztown where children can enjoy a variety of music and activities including treetop adventures, face painting and interactive play stations. The Sandcastle Stage hosts multiple family friendly shows, artists and bands tailored for your kids delicate little ears.

Both founders, Chris Rutherford and Lak Mitchell have children and this reflects on the amount of effort that’s been put into making the festival so family friendly.

When: 9–12 August 2018
Where: Winchester, UK
More info: http://www.boomtownfair.co.uk/

2: Clockenflap

Hong Kong

Music & Arts festival, Clockenflap, in it’s 10th year, has become a hub for Hong Kong’s creative community, bringing together people from across the world to enjoy a more alternative, experimental sound.

Boasting a fantastic line up including Massive Attack, The Prodigy, Jungle and many more, the festival also caters for your little flappers with the Future Fields zone, a special area that plays host to various family-friendly attractions including a handmade market, bouncy castle, arts and crafts zone and DJ workshop. The Acorn Stage will also host family friendly music programmes and a more ambient sound.

When: 17–19 November 2017
Where: Hong Kong
More info: http://www.clockenflap.com/

3: Glastonbury

Glastonbury, UK

One of the most popular festivals on the planet, Glastonbury turns it’s sleepy village into a 170,000 capacity party for one weekend each year and with some of the biggest and most varied line-ups on the planet it attracts people from all over the world and from different walks of life. This includes families, thanks to its huge Kidsfield area which is billed as a festival within a festival.

Featuring top children’s entertainers and musicians, there are lots of activities, from soft play areas to Helter Skelters and two family camping fields. Unfortunately for those planning this for next year, Glasto is taking the year off so you’ll have to wait until 2019 to make the pilgrimage.

When: 26–30 June 2019
Where: Glastonbury, UK
More info: http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/

4: Burning Man

Nevada, USA

Every year, thousands of people travel to Nevada’s Black Rock City to create a metropolis dedicated to self-expression, art, and self-reliance. It’s this community that can create the weird and the wonderful.

Probably one of the more challenging festivals on our list to take your kids to, Burning Man does offer a Black Rock Kids initiative for your lil burners including an area called Kidsville that is split into four quads — Curmudgeons, Orphanage, Toddlers & Teensville — all offering age appropriate activities. They event have a Black Rock Scouts initiative where kids are incentivised to perform good deeds such as hand out lamps.

If you’re extremely outdoorsy and have a more bohemian outlook on life, this could be for your family. However, if you’re worried about your children seeing activities that you may not deem age appropriate, I’d give this one a miss.

When: 26 August–3 September 2018
Where: Nevada, USA
More info: https://burningman.org

5: Sun & Bass

Sardinia, Italy

Set on the beautiful island of Sardinia, this 8 day drum & bass festival draws in crowds from all over the world. Now in it’s 14th year, the boutique festival, held in multiple locations across the island, has grown such a strong following that tickets sell out within hours of going on sale.

With the sandy shores of San Teodoro hosting the who’s who of DnB artists, the festival, renowned for its family feel, gives kids full access to the beach parties. Kids can play in the sand and sea whilst experiencing the rave culture, as families enjoy the sunshine, scenery and food. If you’re the kind of family who likes a bit of bass then this one’s for you.

When: September 2018
Where: San Teodoro, Italy
More info: http://sunandbass.net/