Camp Bestival, an evolution of the original Bestival music festival, has transformed into a family-oriented event that prioritizes a diverse range of activities for all ages.
Originally conceived as a boutique festival on the Isle of Wight by Rob da Bank and his wife Josie, Bestival began in the early 2000s, attracting 10,000 attendees with acts like Basement Jaxx and Fatboy Slim. The festival was known for not taking itself too seriously, even attempting world records for large crowds in fancy dress. As the original audience grew and started families, Bestival introduced Camp Bestival as a "little sister" event, designed "by a family, for families."
"We loved Bestival and it had a time and a place, and I think we nailed it with what we did, but it kind of ran its course," Rob da Bank explained. "Whereas Camp, we just can't really see that it could ever dry up. There's always new families wanting to go and have an amazing time with their kids and grandparents and the whole gang."
Camp Bestival, held at Dorset's Lulworth Castle, aims to provide an experience where parents can enjoy music and activities alongside their children, emphasizing screen-free engagement and outdoor play. The festival offers a broad spectrum of entertainment, including music acts like Fatboy Slim, De La Soul, and Billy Ocean, alongside a wellness area, allotments, beekeeping, bread making workshops, Silly Science shows, and Shakespeare's Globe workshops. For younger children, "festival nannies" are available.
"I think it's really good for children to see their parents happy and letting go and just having fun," said Josie, who handles the creative direction. "Because life is hard, isn't it? Always thinking about what's for dinner or then bedtime and work and finishing an essay, it's just relentless. So yeah, so it's an opportunity to just be present."
The festival has made efforts to attract a younger demographic of parents by implementing a policy where under-5s attend for free. This has broadened the audience to include more families with very young children. Rob da Bank noted that while there's a mix of children from 0 to 18, the introduction of free entry for under-5s brought in "younger parents bringing younger kids."
"There's still a massive mix of kids from 0 to 18. But it's been really great for us because when you've been doing a festival for 18 years, sadly you can't keep those older parents, you know, in their 50s and 60s like us," he said. "We're in our 50s, but you have to reinvent the audience. You need 20-something parents, you need 30-something parents to come and keep the festival vibrant."
Organizers highlight the festival's role in encouraging children to disconnect from screens and engage in outdoor activities. "Camp Bestival's brilliant in that you're sleeping outside, there's no Wi-Fi really, so those two things are resolved as soon as you come through the doors," Josie remarked. "And there's so much to do, there's so many activities to do that you wouldn't cross paths with in everyday life, and they're all really exciting and they appeal to mums and dads and kids."
Rob da Bank added, "There's almost too much going on to actually have time to grab that screen. But we're not being some kind of evangelists on this. Our kids go on screens, you know, and we go on screen, so we're not saying, 'Oh, thou shalt not use a screen.' It's just that we think it's the one weekend, and so many people email us afterwards and say, 'Thank God for that weekend because it's kicked off the summer holidays in the right way,' and, the kids just want to play outside and build dens and make tents and stuff, get stuck in, make a mess."
The festival is scheduled to take place from Thursday, July 30 to Sunday, August 2, 2026. It has received recognition as a "Best Family Festival" winner and offers ample space for children to play outdoors. The event emphasizes a shared atmosphere, free from judgment about bringing children into an "adult space."