Packing for a family festival can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little planning, you can make sure that you have everything you need for a fun and stress-free weekend. Thus we have put together a few festival packing tips in the guide for camping and glamping to help you get started.
So if you are planning on Festival Glamping with Children here are some of our top tips including a Festival Packing Checklist!
- Start by making a list of everything you think you’ll need. This includes clothes, toiletries, food, drinks, and activities.
- Once you have a list, start crossing things off as you know you won’t need them. For example, if you’re camping, you probably won’t need your iron or hairdryer.
- Bring things that can be used for multiple purposes. For example, a bandana can be used as a scarf, a headband, or a towel.
- Don’t forget the essentials! This includes things like sunscreen, insect repellent, and first-aid supplies.
- Take a day bag for each person. This will make it easy to carry your essentials with you throughout the day.
- Label everything! This will help you keep track of your belongings and make it easier to find them when you need them.
- Pack a backup plan. This could include things like a raincoat, an umbrella, or a change of clothes in case of bad weather.
- Setting up, and taking down, your tent are all part of the experience. Get the children involved, passing pegs, and having a go with a wooden mallet. Have a picnic, rug, and toys to hand if they loose interest.
- Fairy lights, and LED tea lights provide a dim night light to help children feel more comfortable. Put a few around the entrance of your tent to help if you are returning after dark. Head torches are great for you and your children to keep your hands free.
- Consider a tent without bedrooms, in case someone needs a middle of the night cuddle.
- Bring a few soft toys, your own pillows, and maybe duvets, to ensure everyone is happy and cosy.
- Camping Trolleys are essential – for carrying gear from car to campsite, everything you need during the day (snacks, water etc), and tired children – contrary to safety advice. Seasoned festival goers have trolleys with sun shades, fairy lights, blankets and even pillows.
- Forget ‘bedtime’ – wait until the children are tired and settling them is much easier. There is too much going on to expect them to go to bed at a respectable time. Just plan for them to have some downtime (and perhaps an early night) the following day.
- Write your phone number on children’s wrist bands (& make sure you have mobile service and battery) in case you get separated. This was compulsory at Elderflower Fields, and the staff were very quick to notice when our two year tried to loose hers. Some families had walkie talkies for older children.
- If there are activities that can be booked ahead, book early to get the best slots. Look at the programme to choose a few ‘must-see’ performances or activities, but allow lots of time for wandering about to avoid dashing about too much.
- Relax, unwind, and enjoy the experience!
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Ultimate Festival Packing Camping Checklist!
- Tent & Awning
- Mallet
- Rug for floor
- Picnic blanket & extra rugs for warmth
- LED tea lights and/or solar fairy lights
- Bunting, because any tent looks better for it, and it takes up very little space
- Lanterns, torches & head torches
- Camping trolley, preferably with sun shade
- Ear plugs and eye masks (if you think your children will wear/need them)
- Sleeping bags or duvets
- Pillows
- Children’s camping bunk bed – if you have room in your tent this helps free up some floor space and provides storage and a good night sleep
- Self inflating mattress and sheet
- Crate for dirty shoes, to be kept near the door
- Doormat to reduce the need for sweeping the tent
- Brush and dust pan
- Bin bags
- Frozen rose wine box (very effective in a cool bag)
- Breakfast (cereal, long life milk, coffee and tea, bread rolls, hot chocolate)
- Snacks, snacks & more snacks
- Cans of Gin and Tonic
- Water carrier and bottles (no plastic water bottles are on sale at Elderflower Fields)
- Eco coffee cups and lids (you get a discount on a coffee at Elderflower fields if you use your own mug)
- Stove and kettle
- Standby food (e.g. tin of beans or pasta) – the food providers at Elderflower Fields were so good, and reasonably priced, that our standby food went unused
- Washing up bowl (can double as ‘water-play’ for the children), washing up liquid and tea towel
- Sun cream & hats
- Raincoats
- Onesies
- Bed socks
- Trainers, flip flops and wellies to cover every eventuality
- Wipes, hand sanitisers, toiletries & dry shampoo (showers were available at Elderflower Fields, but the queues can be long)
- Potty (in case morning toilet queues are too long for your children to bear)
- Camping chairs & tables
- Unbreakable wine glasses
- Marshmallows and sticks
- Glow bracelets & face glitter
- A couple of family card games and books
- Ball and/or frisbee and bubbles
- Spare batteries & phone chargers (phones and battery packs can be charged in the information tent at Elderflower Fields)
- String, scissors & pegs – bound to be useful for something
- First Aid kit
Get Our Printable Family Festival Packing Checklist
Print off our printable family festival checklist, with a free blank sheet to add anything you thing we have missed. Simply click here for the PDF printable to use for your next festival.
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Lucy lives just outside London with her husband and three little girls