Camp Bestival Dorset 2024 in the grounds of Lulworth Castle brought epic fun for all the family
Tens of thousands of festival-loving families descended on the transformed grounds of Lulworth Castle in Dorset for three days of non-stop tunes, fashion shows, woodland adventures, impressive circus acts, outdoor spa sessions, arts and crafts and delicious food and drink.
This year’s Camp Festival, visually stunning and boasting breathtaking coastal views, was jam packed with activities and entertainment, from ‘the world’s biggest bouncy castle’, mud kitchens and yoga to CBeebies bedtime stories and ‘Ibiza classics’ from renowned DJ Pete Tong.
The long weekend, aided by glorious sunshine, offered an eclectic mix, and to ensure families benefited from the huge array of sights, sounds and epic festival scenes, the brand-new Explorer’s Passport was available for young revellers to document their adventures. Collecting stamps and stickers across the site, families could ensure they took it all in and benefited from the 100 free activities on offer.
Headline musical acts included legendary rock band The Darkness, pop queen Paloma Faith, disco diva Sophie Ellis-Bexter, and McFly playing a nostalgic set. For the kids, Mr Tumble entertained on the iconic Castle Stage and CBBC’s Hacker T Dog brought out Hey Duggee for a crowd sing-along to a backdrop of an Idles live performance of Stick Song.
Other acts included Undateables legend Daniel Wakeford, singer-songwriter rapper Hak Baker, iconic electronic duo Orbital, the original Reggae selector David Rodigan, and all-round family favourite Gok Wan.
The weekend saw more than 350 artists and acts perform, and TV presenter Alison Hammond made a surprise appearance in the Bollywood tent on Saturday night to support son Aidan for his debut festival set.
There was an incredibly varied food and drink offering, from vegan hot dogs, Sri Lankan cuisine and fish and chips to paella, pizza and Greek gyros.
Camp Bestival’s first ever Camp Couture workroom saw aspiring designers putting together outfits from recycled materials in the lead up to the ultimate fashion show. A parade of models showed off bubble wrap ball gowns, tarpaulin trousers and space junk millinery made from bits and bobs.
The Trash Gowns and Drag Dads Fashion Parade on Saturday was the ultimate celebration of creativity and fashion, while also sending a strong sustainability message.
The theme at this summer’s event was intergalactic, aliens and space, and there was no end of weird and wonderful homemade outfits worn by revellers who had clearly got the memo.
As popular as ever, the CBeebies Bedtime Story Tent was back with an array of expertly spun yarns to provide a bit of chill out time for the little ones.
A highlight was the tucked away woodland wonderland, The Dingly Dell, a magical refuge beneath a canopy of trees and well away from the rush of the main site. Here, kids played in the mud kitchens or on the many musical instruments, burned off some energy in the play area or simply explored nature.
Outdoor spa Slow Motion saw families soaking in some guided relaxation, with dozens of ice baths being taken and several sleep and yoga retreat sessions taking place.
Camp Bestival Shropshire will take place between 15th and 18th August at Weston Park. For more information and tickets, go to campbestival.net
