This past weekend I was lucky enough to attend Suffolk based festival Latitude. Far from the rowdy all-night music festivals you might be imagining, this event is a celebration of arts, culture, music and, as I discovered, family fun.
Having camped at the festival multiple times as university student in the late-noughties and, later, regularly visited with my husband and friends during the twenty-teens, I thought I knew what I could expect from Latitude.
However, this time, I was visiting with members of family, including those with children, and I was amazed by all the child-focused elements of the event. The kids’ zone has always been there but I’d never really noticed it before. Now, I found myself being constantly surprised by the sheer volume of provision for families.
If you’ve got little ones and considering a visit to Latitude next year (or beyond), I thought it might be helpful if I shared with you a selection of the incredible family-friendly aspects of Latitude festival that really impressed me during my visit this year…
Family-friendly arenas
Let’s start with the different arenas that I felt were ideal for families to enjoy. The most obvious is the Kids’ Area, where you’ll find the helter-skelter, Tommy Bradshaw’s Punch and July shows and a stripy big top tent. Running alongside this is Camp Greenpeace, the ideal place for children to learn about bushcraft in the woods of Henham Estate.
Then, in the family camping zone is a traditional funfair complete with Ferris Wheel, which leads into the Enchanted Garden. This sprawling section is home to Colour Town, movement and dance classes, archery, a mini zoo with wildlife animal displays, theatre, creative workshops and more. One of my favourite local charities the Fairyland Trust was there, along with ‘Get Medieval’ and the Norwich University of the Arts.
Across from the Kids’ Area is the Cosmic Shambles Forest, with even more educational displays on Museum Street including a Crab Museum, the centre for computing history and the Orwell Astronomical Society. This is where science-themed sessions were held throughout each day for children and adults alike, featuring famous names from the industry including some of my personal faves; Professor Chris Lintott from The Sky at Night, Springwatch presenter Chris Packham, Robin Ince from The Infinate Monkey Cage and scientist Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock from CBeebies.
There seemed to be something for every age group in each of these areas (yes, even the parents – yoga and coffee, anyone?) so you’d easily fill up your whole weekend schedule just by visiting all the family-friendly arenas and watching the entertaining and educational performances.
Creative workshops
Wandering around the site, I couldn’t even try to count the number of creative activities that are available for kids. I spotted upcycling workshops, drawing and painting classes, sticker-making, stained glass mosaics, rocket-blasting, sculpture studio, weaving and crafting musical insutruments. I even spotted children sawing wood and nailing planks to build a huge ship.
One of the top sessions I spotted was clay modelmaking with Jim Parkyn, best known for his work with Aardman Animation. The taught children to make their own models of dogs, monsters and even pink Latitude sheep! The children were each gifted a plasticine modeling kit and got to take home their creations, possibly sparking a new love of modelmaking in a generation of children.
Not only were children learning new skills, developing their creativity and expanding their knowledge in each of the family-friendly areas, but they were all able to make something themselves to keep and take with them. I can imagine them enjoying recreating the activities back at home during the shool summer holidays, keeping the fun going long after the festival is finished.
Smaller stages
I’m not only talking about the theatre, music and even comedy shows that are put on in the Kids’ Area, although there are a whole programme of these performances and all are really fascinating. In fact, each time I wandered past the big top in that zone, there was always a crowd of captivated kids watching some top class entertainment designed just for them.
Photo by fabulous family photographer Claire Lacey
But, what I’m actually talking about is the fact that there are so many stages dotted around the arena that you don’t have to worry about trying to squeeze your little ones into a massive crowd at the Obelisk Arena.
Photo by fabulous family photographer Claire Lacey
Instead, you can all enjoy watching bands and dance groups in the Trailer Park, Alcove, Waterfront or Sunrise Arena – they’re smaller and less crowded yet still deliver an epic festival experience for youngsters and teens. And a dance at the Disco Shed beside the river is a must!
Photo by fabulous family photographer Claire Lacey
I hope this round-up will help you to get an idea of all the fun things you could enjoy if you attend Latitude Festival as a family. Let me know in the comments below what you enjoyed most about visiting Latitude with your youngsters, I’d love to hear what activities and entertainment you loved. Thanks!
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I attended Latitude festival as a member of the press but was not asked to write this blog post. This piece contains my own opinions and experiences of the festival and I am not responsible for your experience of the event.
