Just So Festival 2016

The summer holidays are getting closer and it’s almost a little daunting to think about six weeks of occupying our kids. One of our thoughts was an extended camping experience, but then we also thought about festivals. However when we thought back to the festivals we attended ten plus years ago, they weren’t suitable for bringing the kids along…

Just So Festival 2016 – 19th-21st of August 2016

It was by pure chance that we stumbled upon an article showcasing the Just So Festival. In it’s 7th year Just So is promising an imaginative, creative and adventurous weekend in the grounds of Rode Hall Estate, Cheshire. This Award Winning festival (National Festival of the Year in 2015) is dedicated solely to families.

The estate is split up into nine zones:

The High Seas.
Here you’ll find pop up den building at Sail Cloth City! Lantern making and a Lantern Parade. Try out your sea legs and row a boat out on the lake. Then when the night starts to draw in snuggle up to watch a movie. This year there is The Wizard of Oz, Labyrinth and Swallows and Amazons.

Tales of Animalia
Explore the strange and unusual imaginations of our friends The Fabularium. Here you’ll find on open glade, where creatures play and tell stories and sing songs for all that wish to listen. There is also rumours of a Fairy City and Fairy Ball found within Away With The Fairies.

The Spellbound Forest
Experience the best new outdoor performance for families. A new show from comedian James Campbell. An interactive dig with the curious archeologists in How Time Flies on the woodland stage. Live demonstrations with Professor Kelso’s Strange & Unusual Phenomena. Then while the night creeps in enjoy campfire tales, music and songs in the magical woodland.

Jitterbug
This is the home of Dance. Learn and join in with Bollywood, Ballet, Can Can, flat footing and even dare I say it… a retro Disco! Also “Around The World in 80 Notes” with Melanie Ash and Jade Jagger.

The Village Green
Over at the Eccentric Village Green you can meet some of the UK’s Favourite authors sharing the best new books from 2016. If your feeling more energetic you can join in with then Just So sports, which included toddler jousting and pillow fighting. Looking to show off your cake talents? Join in the Just So Bake Off. Try your hand in the Ukelele Workshop – Abigail will be queuing up for this one!
This area is also the hub of activity for the Tribes. Choose a tribe and engage in the tribal tournament to see if you can make the difference by Sunday!

Head Over Heels
Jugglers, tumblers, aerial acrobats and more. All types of circus entertainment will be over here for you to watch and maybe join in and try it out for yourself!

Footlights
This is the big stage, where headliners Skinny Lister will be playing fresh from their US tour (music in the video below). Hope and Social will be instilling a feel good factor and getting you up on your feet. Along with over 20 other bands and artists.
One name that jumped out to us were BAGHDADDIES, who come from Newcastle upon Tyne (a little bit of Geordie pride there).

Peekaboo
Finally an area dedicated to the tiny little babies that are often forgotten about at festivals. Activities including, painting, Baby Ballet, Massage, Lullabies, yoga and story telling.

To accompany this quick overview the official video backs up the family friendly ethos and shows a very fun friendly set up.

Here is the official video showing the run down from 2015.

It didn’t take long for us to decide that this would be one of the highlights of our Summer Holidays. When we started to set up Here Come The Hoopers, one of the main points of the blog was to document our family experiences and push ourselves harder to find those events that would create memories. This kind of festival is one of those opportunities that will create a lasting memory for Imogen and Abigail to grow up with.

Start Your Adventure Now.

Tickets are £125 for an adult’s weekend ticket, £50 for a child’s weekend ticket, £50 for an adult’s day ticket and £20 for a child’s day ticket.
Under 3’s go free.

For the full line-up, information and tickets visit www.justsofestival.org.uk.

Follow Just So @justsofestival https://www.facebook.com/justsofestival

Tickets are £125 for an adult’s weekend ticket, £50 for a child’s weekend ticket, £50 for an adult’s day ticket and £20 for a child’s day ticket. Under 3’s go free.