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What do you get your son for his 15th birthday? A weekend of fun with his brother and friends at Camp Bestival was our answer.

We’ve never been to a festival - fact. Yes that’s right the Smallmans have never been to a festival! We thought we better change that so for Eddie’s 15th birthday we gave him weekend tickets to Camp Bestival here in Shropshire - just up the road at Weston Park running from August 15th to 18th. Yes this weekend so get a move on if you haven't already booked! 

Tickets - tent, boutique, backstage, Manor House or go back to your own bed just up the road!

The weekend ticket, which we bought through The Movement Centre charity auction (win, win for all), includes weekend camping - great value for the packed programme on offer with arrival from Thursday night and family fun through to Sunday night. However as most people know wherever we go, the motorhome also comes so we’ve got a “live in camper van” spot too. For those who want a real weekend of luxury there’s ready made accommodation waiting for you too - boutique style and all! There’s also “Manor House luxury accommodation” too!

For those who want to take in the music from their pitch and enjoy a very short walk to the front of the stage then there’s a “backstage camping” option too.

However if you are reading this as a friend of J&PR then there’s a high chance you are in Shropshire and therefore can go home to your comfy bed each night - yes day tickets are ready and waiting for you! You can choose from one day or all three and still go home every night. 

So what did the teenager think about the tickets? He wasn’t sure until he realised he could invite friends (ticket for up to four teenagers) and they could have an adult free weekend - I’m sure they will find us when they need feeding or money! The Weston Park site is big enough for them to enjoy their independence and as it is a festival, set up for families by a family, then we are happy they will be in like-minded company and everyone will be looking out for each other’s children, teenagers and young people.

They aren't quite old enough to go to a festival alone but can experience the fun with us on the site and we can all enjoy a nice combo of family fun and independence too. We don’t want to cramp their style all weekend!

So what’s on?

And so many more! 

Family fun on our doorstep 

But it’s definitely not all about the music - the Camp Bestival Weston Park programme includes a packed programme for the little ones who simply will be on the go from morning until night with Dick and Dom, Horrible Histories; Brainiac Live; Hacker T Dog & Kate Thistleton; Mr Tumble; Mister Maker and the fabulous George Webster too.

Everyone loves face painting, the world’s biggest bouncy castle, sensory garden, painting and creating, silent disco, skateboard ramps and lessons and more! 

We’re already trying to prioritise what everyone wants to see and do as judging by the programme, we’ll struggle to fit everything in. 

If you want to show off the creative talents of your family then start planning now for the family dress competition, the night parade, pimp my trolley competition, make and create in the Artlab, enjoy the cyanotype printing, fashion and textile world and make some festival fairy lamps together!

For those who want to take some time out for yourselves (you know you deserve it!) then there’s loads of workshops from yoga, massage, psychology, breathwork, meditation, reflexology, mindfulness and more - the water and stone wild spa has caught my attention! Maybe I’ll even get the boys to have a go at Yoga for Teens - or even the family HIIT session! That will help with the post holiday belly busting! For those Telford Park Run attendees, don’t worry you won’t miss out as you can join the CB running club during the festival.

With our beautiful Weston Park boasting a gorgeous lake then there’s also lifeguard lessons in the programme, wild swimming, kayaking, SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding), SUP Yoga (I’m not sure this one is for me as I’m still mastering staying on the board!), mega SUP races (the teenagers will be all over this one!), mermaid lessons and also synchronised swimming! 

Culture is also at the heart of the Camp Bestival programme with African activities, Afro beats dance classes, Circus Raj, Rajasthan Brass Band so much more.

Time is precious and the back to school day is looming so you can even get free haircuts and styling at the festival - no I’m not joking! Free and no need to book - just rock up and sit in the waiting room! Brilliant!

Our boys are sport mad so the parkour and free running workshop will be their thing, along with the lake activities and no doubt dummer boy will have a bash in the Rock School too!

Just a day or a full weekend? Your choice!

I love the fact the Camp Bestival organisers have given families the choice to attend for one of the days, all of the days, go home or stay for the full weekend with so many different options of accommodation. 

People are forever asking on social media for recommendations for family activities and with this being on our doorstep here in Shropshire, it is perfect for families across the county from Oswestry, Shrewsbury, Telford, Market Drayton and down south too with Ludlow and Craven Arms.

The events industry has had a difficult time and is still recovering from that period we no longer want to talk about - it is simply a case of use it or lose it. Support our local events and they will be there year after year. If we don’t then we can’t moan when such events don’t return to Shropshire.

The vast majority of the activities are free but may need advance booking so once you've booked your tickets, then get booking your acitivies. However many of them you just walk up and enjoy so don't stress!

I’ll leave you to it now to find the full programme (make a brew first or pour a vino as it’s extensive) - see full programme and ticket information here https://shropshire.campbestival.net/