festival fun

The last weekend in July saw us head over to Lulworth Castle in Dorset in Sparkly Princess Cinderella (the campervan) for our first taste of a weekend festival ....... Camp Bestival. This festival has the usual mix of music & activities, but is particularly geared up for families, and 1 of its 3 fields was filled with activities aimed at children. The weather was good for the Friday and Saturday, with rain increasing as Sunday progressed (we left in a big downpour, but it wasn't too bad during the day while we were in the festival itself). Tess & Brodie 'loved every minute of it', so I expect we will be going back next year, so long as it doesn't clash with Rob needing to be in Weymouth.

Entering the festival ....

Rob & Brodie in the Children's Field ......

Trying their luck on the circus bikes (part of a whole raft of circus skills activities on offer - though this and hula hooping were the only ones tried by Tess & Brodie) ....

An earnest face .......

.... for the serious business of watching the headlining act, Mr Tumble (who made a surprise extra appearance on the Saturday, and I don't think I've ever seen such a frenzy amongst grown men and women - though mostly men! - to get on their mobiles and tell everyone that Mr Tumble was here!!!) .....

And back again on the Sunday, this time on the main stage ......

Heading for the end of the Children's Field, with the sea in the distance ....

The English National Ballet company were there, with their 'Angelina Ballerina's Big Audition' show. They put on free dance workshops on Saturday and Sunday, and performed a shortened version of the ballet on Sunday afternoon. Tess went to a workshop on the Saturday, and learned some of the ballet, jazz and Irish dancing moves from the show .......

She loved it so much that we went back for another session on the Sunday before watching the performance .......

Music & swings in the Children's Field .........

The number of people there was astonishing. There was a large field for campervans & motorhomes, a couple of fields where you could rent a tent that was already erected for you (my favourite was the field of tepees!), and acre upon acre of 'normal' camping. The overall effect was something like a refugee camp ...........

On the Sunday, there was a very large fancy dress parade, on the theme of Animal Magic. We didn't manage to get hold of a programme for the weekend, so were never quite sure what was happening when, but somehow, we managed to get prime spot to watch the fancy dress parade. Although we had to beat a hasty exit straight afterwards, when the ubiquitous Mr Tumble, who had judged the parade, appeared right next to us to sign autographs (Tess & Brodie never being the bravest when there is someone to meet or someone dressed up - and Mr T was both!) .......

Little princess ..............

Brodie making a castle in the cardboard castle making tent ......

Tess on the Peter Pan bouncy castle (photo courtesy of her brother) .....

And finally, the picture that summed up the festival for me .... a large green hairy monster walking hand-in-hand with a tiny fairy (with the portaloos in the distance!!!!) ........