PRAMSTOCK: revellers ditch Hunters for Huggies as the number of people taking children to festivals is on the rise

More people are taking children to festivals and, this year, as many struggle to afford foreign holidays, kid-friendly weekenders will be more in demand than ever.

With holiday prices on the up due to the cost of living crisis, many people are opting to stay in the UK this year and instead relive their youth at a festival – with their children in tow.

Package holidays to Spain, Greece and Italy will be up to 70% more expensive this year amid the cost of living crisis, according to statistics from Which?

This is prompting many families to rethink their summer plans, and many are opting to enjoy events closer to home.

“Festivals have become more family friendly in recent years and, as Millennials grow older and start having children, they’re reluctant to leave that fun behind – they want to take their kids along for the ride,” said Martin Keane, Director of Marketing at UK safari park Longleat, which is hosting its own family friendly festival, Longleat Summer Party, in June.

“While going abroad may be off the agenda for a lot of people, there is still fun to be had – as a UK based attraction we are seeing increased interest from families who want to make the most of their holidays while staying closer to home. It’s partly due to the cost of living, but also a more sustainable option,” added Keane.

This has precipitated a boom in family friendly festivals, and many established mainstream festivals such as Glastonbury and Camp Bestival offering more child-friendly activities to entice parents.

“Festivals are a great way for families to enjoy live music together – the freedom of being outdoors means it’s much easier for those with kids to plan their experience and make the most of all the activities on offer,” advised Keane.

Longleat Summer Party is on 17 – 18 June, with music from The Lightning Seeds, The Coral and The Wurzels, live cooking shows hosted by TV chefs James Martin and John Torode MBE and a vintage fairground, all held in the grounds of the historic Longleat House.

Day Tickets: Adult £44.95 & Child £33.70, Twilight Tickets: Adult £24.95 & Child £18.70. Three cooking demos daily at 11:30am, 2pm, 5pm, bookable online for additional £1 donation to good causes. For details and to book visit www.longleat.co.uk .

About Longleat

Adventure is yours on a wild day out at Longleat. Be in the company of kings in their Drive Through Safari. Walk with meerkats, sail among sea lions, and hop aboard the Longleat Railway to steam past hippos, gorillas and more. Experience the joy of the Adventure Castle and jump back in time as you explore Longleat House.

All this and more at the astonishing kingdom of Longleat – one of the UK’s most iconic and popular family attractions, with its unique mix of magical wildlife encounters, rich history, and year-round programme of events.

Longleat Summer Party line-up

Saturday 17th June

Chef: John Torode MBE

Headline support act: The Entitled Sons

Headline act: The Coral

Sunday 18th June

Chef: James Martin

Headline support act: The Wurzels

Headline act: Lightning Seeds

For more information contact:

Zoe Fawcett/ Fiona Grezda

Zoe.fawcett@purplefish.agency