Making the most of Festivals
Get down with the kids at T4 On The Beach – 4 July
What: Every year, T4 brings the hottest celebrities and music acts around to Weston-super-Mare for rocking beach party. This year’s stellar line up is set to get teen hearts throbbing with The Saturdays, Diana Vickers, Pixie Lott, Ellie Goulding, JLS, Tinie Tempah, N-Dubz and Alexandra Burke among the acts signed up to get this seaside town pumping.
Where: Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
Cost: £37 per ticket
Festival info: www.channel4.com/t4
Local cottage info: www.holidaycottages.co.uk/somerset
Have the ride of your life at Relentless NASS – 9 to 11 July
What: Hold on to your hats at this action, sports and music packed festival which promises to blow your socks off. Where else can you see world class skaters, BMX riders and music, all in one place. The UK’s top action sport stars compete during the day, while a top secret line up will keep the ‘high octane’ adrenaline fuelled atmosphere going on into the night.
Where: Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset
Cost: Adult day tickets start from £20; children’s tickets start from £10
More info: www.relentlessnass.com
Local cottage info: www.holidaycottages.co.uk/somerset
Fun for all the family at Chagstock 2010 – 16 to 17 July
What: Billed by Ade Edmondson as "The Best Little Festival in The South West", Chagstock is a relaxed family friendly festival offering eclectic blend of music to suit the young and the not so young alike. With heaps of extras to keep kids entertained including a children’s play area, Climbing tower, Punch & Judy Show, face painting and a large Drum workshop marquee.
Where: Whiddon Down, Devon
Cost: Adult weekend tickets start from £55; with children’s weekend tickets from £30
More info: www.chagstock.info
Local cottage info: www.holidaycottages.co.uk/devon/mid-and-east-devon
Wild swimming, One Minute Discos and Performance Art at the Port Eliot Festival – 23 to 25 July
What: Dance till dawn under the clearest stars in England; go wild swimming in the estuary at sunset; be roused by The Fisherman’s Friends’ choruses inside a secret Walled Garden; sip Bellinis and eat fresh Cornish fish as you sit on the water’s edge watching performance art at the Boathouse; or join a happy throng of strangers and dance like you’ve never danced before on the hour, every hour at the One Minute Disco. All this and more awaits you at Britain’s most eclectic literary, music, fashion, flower and food festival.
Where: St Germans, Cornwall
Cost: Day tickets start from £30 for adults and £15 for children
More info: www.porteliotfestival.com
Local cottage info: www.holidaycottages.co.uk/cornwall/south-cornwall
Step back in time at Sidmouth Folk Week – 30 July to 6 August
What: Whether you want to dive head first into the full festival experience or just dip in and out of concerts, workshops or ceilidhs, Sidmouth is the festival for you. All you have to do decide which of the 500 plus events and activities to choose. From children’s workshops, storytelling and morris dancing to crab sarnies on the beach, fireworks and a whole host of folk-tastic musical entertainment
Where: Sidmouth, Devon
Cost: Season tickets start from £32 for adults and £8 for children; day, weekend and full week season tickets are available
More info: www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk
Local cottage info: www.holidaycottages.co.uk/devon/mid-and-east-devon
Bop until you drop at Bude Jazz Festival – 28 August to 3 September
What: Once a year, New Orleans comes to Cornwall as the unspoilt seaside town of Bude plays host to Britain’s leading jazz festival. This year’s festival packs 144 jazz events into seven days, with the music on offer ranging from blues and ragtime to mainstream and bop, and of course old-style New Orleans and classic jazz. And the good news for music lovers is that a single stroller ticket gives you access to all but two of these events.
Where: Bude, Cornwall
Cost: Stroller tickets start from £23; day, part week, and full week tickets are available
More info: www.budejazzfestival.co.uk
Local cottage info: www.holidaycottages.co.uk/cornwall/northcornwall