Longer evenings, warm weather and dining alfresco at the weekends are all the joys of late spring and the summer to stretching before us. With many of us having already booked our family holiday and dusted off the barbeque, the family summer fun doesn’t have to end there.

Festival season will be here before we know it and often tickets sell out early. Having small children does not mean that families need to miss out on the relaxing, fun pleasurable experience that the festivals are, nor does it have to be something of a chore when camping and attending with small children. Many festivals now cater extremely well with the needs of families in mind. We have put together our favourite family festivals that have tickets on sale now.

Port Eliot Festival

Port Eliot Festival, 21st -24th July 2011, at St Germans, Cornwall, held in the grounds of the beautiful Port Eliot estate, still the family home of Lord and Lady St Germans. In their ninth year, this festival is an opportunity for your children to explore and roam free in beautiful surroundings, climbing trees and having the magical childhood experience of yester year. In addition, along with the many interesting literary, music and cabaret experiences to be of interest and entertainment for all the family, there are many activities laid on for children of all ages. Although the children’s list of activities is still as yet to be confirmed for this year, they typically include skate boarding, bubble workshop fun, puppet show, art and craft activities, fairy magic and storytelling.

The camping areas are relaxed and enjoyable without being cramped, and have a pleasantly sociable evening atmosphere . In addition, there is the opportunity to tour the private home Port Eliot house on the Sunday, which is a rare treat not to be missed.

Camp Bestival

Camp Bestival, this year from 28th to 31st July 2011, at Lulworth Castle in Dorset, has won Best Family Festival from 2008 -2010. Organised by Rob Da Bank, as an additional festival to his Bestival festival, this festival is organised with the delight and entertainment of adults and children firmly in mind.

With two distinct children’s gardens offering a vast array of organisations and activities for children with many interest and ages, including ballet lessons from the English National Ballet, Kids Big Top, which hold many workshops and has an under fives area, to dressing up to fancy dress parades, Insect Circus and Museum. The list goes on. The camping facilities and areas are predominately family orientated areas, with a smaller area for adults only. In addition, if you need to dance or let your hair down child free, there is a Boutique Baby Sitting service, run by qualified CRB checked professionals, giving the children four hours of fun and entertainment.

Beautiful Days Festival

Beautiful Days Festival and the Green Man festival, are both over the same weekend this year from the 19th – 21st August 2011. Beautiful Days is run by The Levellers and held at Escot Park, Ottery St Mary, Devon, was highlighted as Best For Families in 2009 Best Music Festivals feature by The Times and also shortlisted for five years in a row for the Family festival Award.

This is a relaxed music festival offering many genres and tastes in the acts performing, with a safe family orientated atmosphere and ethos. The family camping area, Redwoods camping, has easy access and is shaded from the elements by the redwood trees. Plus, should your little one tire of bed time stories and books, there is a story telling area in the campsite to enchant and inspire your children’s imaginations. The main children’s area is in the centre of the festival and all events and activities are organised by the Majical Youth Theatre Company. The list of events is long but includes comedy, craft workshops, theatre, storytelling, and dressing up, circus skills, face painting and much more to keep children of all ages interested and entertained.

The Green Man Festival

The Green Man Festival, winner of the Best Medium Sized Festival Awards 2010, held in the beautiful countryside near Crickhowell, in the Brecon Beacons has an equally ecological and family orientated ethos, providing and electic range of acts. With designated family camping within easy walking distance to the main entertainment area and with the choice of Einsteins Garden, a fusion of art, science and nature, providing stimulation and intrigue for children of all ages and the childrens area with many workshops and activities, including art, crafts and dressing up, there is little chance that any member of the family will be bored.

Camping with children is obviously about organisation, organisation! and packing for all weathers, from waterproofs to sun hats. In addition, items such as day sacks with reins provide the security that we as parents need, together with the illusion of freedom for your independent little one. Have an excellent festival season!