Calling anyone who loves the great outdoors and enjoys micro-adventures close to home. This also applies to people who have small children and want to take them to a festival, but the thought of going to a festival with children is a little scary. Especially when camping at a festival with kids!
I was like that a few weeks ago, until I heard about the Big Little Tent Festival.
The Big Little Tent Festival will be held this weekend, July 22-23. The festival was organized by the Caravan and Campervan Club. But this is not a festival as you know it, but one that you organize yourself. Yes, it’s your own mini-festival!
It’s about exploring nature and having micro-adventures in your own backyard. That means pitching a tent in your garden, setting up a garden bar, playing your favorite songs as loud as your neighbors will allow, and getting the kids excited about your own garden festival.
Visit the Caravan and Motorhome Club website and sign up online at www.camc.com/bltf to register for our free Festival Pack, which includes bunting, flags and wristbands to enhance your experience!
When you sign up, you’ll also be entered into a prize draw to win a week-long European camping holiday when you sign up for a pack. If the weekend of July 22-23 is not convenient for you, don’t worry. Save your festival pack and host your event at your convenience during the summer holidays.
The club saw a 20% increase in camping bookings last year. Perhaps because more families are opting for affordable staycations?
Two weeks ago I went on my first camping trip with the boys and it was amazing. We all had so much fun and it’s such an affordable way to spend a quick weekend getaway. I was really nervous to take them camping. George is 2 years old but Joseph is only 8 months old and I had a vision of him waking up in the middle of the night screaming and waking half the campground
So we tried camping in our backyard, mainly to give the boys a space to play on a lazy Sunday afternoon. And they loved it too. They played in the tent all afternoon and had so much fun. Seeing them having fun and playing in the tent made me realize that camping isn’t all that difficult.
We ended up leaving the tent pitched in the courtyard for a week, and it became like an extension of our house, an extra room to play in!
Tips for camping with kids
Check out this article to learn about my favorite camping gear when camping with kids.
- Get an air bed that is taller than a traditional floor-based air bed. I have this one from Coleman, and it’s about the same height as a regular bed, which is nice.
- Buy a tent like this one that you can stand up in.
- We bought George a special Paw Patrol inflatable bed he loves it very much. Before he bought this he wanted to sleep in bed with us
- Bring as many blankets and cushions as you can fit in your car. The car is very comfortable and gets cold at night
- For older kids, forget about bedtime and let them run around until they’re too tired to keep their eyes open
- Don’t forget the marshmallows – no camping trip is complete without marshmallows
- Duvets and blankets are much better than sleeping bags, so if you have space in your car, pack a duvet instead
The Big Little Tent Festival is a great way to encourage families and children to host their own mini-festival and introduce them to the fun of camping. Invite your friends and neighbors to join in the fun. Encourage the whole family to enjoy the great outdoors by having a barbecue, playing music, lighting fairy lights, and telling stories (as long as you have your own home facilities within walking distance!).
Harvey Alexander, Marketing Director at Caravan & Campervan Club, said: “The Big Little Tent Festival is now in its third year and the event is going from strength to strength. It’s a great way to introduce people to the joys of the great outdoors. There was a huge response as people went to their backyards and spent the night outdoors, relaxing, having fun and enjoying a different experience with friends and family.
“Camping bookings have increased significantly and 47 of our sites welcome tent campers, campervans and caravans, we encourage even the most reticent of campers to give it a try and with all the comforts of home close by, you have nothing to lose!”
for more information, log on to www.camc.com/bltf and don’t forget to share your photos on social media using #BLTF17.