THERE'S a mythical type of family that appears randomly throughout parenthood - the family that goes to a huge music festival and actually has a good time.
We've all seen them in pictures of Glastonbury, children running free, adults looking relaxed, possibly wearing lightweight cotton with flowers in their hair, sipping on a drink and looking carefree.
There are many festivals that tout the 'family-friendly' badge, but camping with kids, while dealing with large crowds, loud noises and the demands of your own children can be enough to test anyone's patience.
One person even joked with me that for parents, being on holiday is simply being away from all things you need to be able to parent effectively.
Add the extra pressures of a festival - including other people having a good time and the British weather - then it's a potential minefield.
However, we might have found the solution.
Camp Bestival marked its 15th anniversary this year from July 27 to 30 in the grounds of Lulworth Castle in Dorset.
Tentatively only going for one day, we took the kids, aged four and six, along for the ride.
And boy did they love it. It was a shame to have to drag them away at the end of the night. There was everything a kid could want for.
We started the day off with a storytime session from CBeebies royalty Justin Fletcher. Otherwise known as Mr Tumble, Justin was a hit with both kids as he read two books to the assembled crowd.
After that, we hit the funfair - taking on the world's largest bouncy castle (yes it really was massive) and traditional helter skelter, plus stopping for some face paint.
My son loved the science shows, including the Lego building show, and nearby rocket making.
We also spent time in the circus workshop - where my son was taught how to use a diabolo - a handy lifeskill which I have somehow forgotten - while my daughter ran around with other small ones in an inflatable area just for smaller kids.
A spot of improv comedy for the kids during church quiet hour - where all music stops on site so the church can hold its service - was a surprise hit for both children, who now have aspirations of becoming stage stars, before our family highlight - Big Bear's Big Balloon disco.
Think kids' disco with a big bear, lots of balloons, glow sticks and random silliness - it provided a great mix of whacky fun.
And of course, a festival wouldn't be a festival without the music - and we were lucky to catch some great sets from Rhythm of the 90s in the afternoon, who had the whole family dancing, while Sam Ryder finished off our experience by belting out Spaceman as the sun set.
There were plenty of food and drink stalls, plus toilets, meaning we didn't really queue and the whole place had a well-thought-out vibe. A nice touch was the smaller kiddy-friendly cubicles.
Everywhere you look at Camp Bestival there's something fun and interesting, from the inflatable chapel, where people were getting married, to playgrounds, and the plethora of stages, there really is something for everyone.
There was no way we could experience everything in one day. You could probably stay for a week and still not have done everything.
First aid was on hand and accessible (and tested with a grazed elbow), festival marshals were present, alert and friendly, and the parking well signposted and directed.
An app gave details of events and a map, which worked despite the patchy phone signal.
With great views down to the sea, making it a wonderful setting, plus being incredibly lucky with the weather (only a few spots of rain on Saturday) meant Camp Bestival certainly gets a great big tick from our family - and we will most certainly be planning our fancy dress for next year's whole weekend of camping.
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Camp Bestival 2024 Ticket Information (Early Bird prices):
Adult Weekend - £180
Age 13 to 17 Weekend - £137.50
Age 10 to 12 Weekend - £112.50
Age 5 to 9 Weekend - £92.50
Age 2 to 4 Weekend - £72.50
Babes In Arms (1 & Under) - FREE (but ticket required)
General Caravan - £130.00
General Campervan - £120.00
Weekend Car Park - £21.50
Hospitality Camping, Backstage Camping, Boutique Camping, and Front Row/Kids’ Garden Campervans and Caravans also available.
9 Month Payment Plans available on Weekend Camping Tickets only.
Camping Plus reserved plots - £180
About Camp Bestival
Camp Bestival combines an all-encompassing family festival experience with an action-packed camping holiday to create a Festi-Holiday!
The brainchild of renowned music specialist Rob da Bank and creative director Josie da Bank, and founded in 2008, Camp Bestival is known as the UK's ultimate family festival, having won Best Family Festival at the UK Festival Awards six times.
Taking place over the summer holidays at Lulworth Castle on Dorset’s stunning Jurassic Coast, and now Weston Park, Shropshire in the heart of England, Camp Bestival offers hundreds of things for families to do from circus skills, science explorations, bushcraft and immersive theatre journeys through to amazing live acts and DJs, family raves, comedy, cocktails, award-winning street food, and flamboyant evening cabaret, all shared with likeminded people.
Camp Bestival Dorset
Website: dorset.campbestival.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/campbestival
Instagram: www.instagram.com/campbestival/
#CampBestivalDorset
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