Camp Bestival 2023
It was a soggy July in Great Britain, but the spirits of Camp Bestival attendees were not to be dampened. Thousands of families descended upon the Dorset festivities for the first weekend of summer holidays, where Rob Da Bank offered up another eclectic mix of music, rides, performance art and installations.
The famous robot was back (our children refer to CB as “the robot festival”), this time with a green companion on the Castle Field. The queues to ride down the slides of the new green robot were long, but the joy on the faces of youngsters were worth every moment of waiting.
From the eyes of children, Camp Bestival is a place to play, the ultimate countryside playground full of colour and ice cream. But what’s so brilliant about this summer offering is that the kid’s activities are perfectly balanced out with fun for the adults. The lineup gets better every year, with a variety of acts to entice every musical taste. Friday offered loads of rock n roll, from festival headbangers Elvana to indie-rock crooners The Kooks, who’s 2006 hit “Seaside” was ever so poignant at a youth-oriented festival that’s footsteps away from the Dorset seaside.
Saturday showcased the full spectrum of age-appropriate acts on the Castle Stage, from BBC hero Mr Tumble singing nursery rhymes to The Cuban Brothers making dirty jokes over Latin inspired covers of The Beastie Boys. Audiences also enjoyed a fantastic set by The Longest Johns and a superstar appearance by Eurovision winner of our hearts, Sam Ryder. Grace Jones headlined with unmatched musical and performance mastery.
Outside the Castle Stage one could enjoy everything from local punk bands and festival legend Beans on Toast performing with his daughter in the Big Top, to busker and music historian Billy Bragg educating crowds about skiffle in a heaving side tent, to acrobats and DJs creating a carnivalesque atmosphere in the beloved Caravanserai. The event closed Sunday night with a spectacular fireworks display, summing up the colourful experience enjoyed over the long weekend.
We’ll be back every year, and not just because our kids insist on it. Thanks to a second location in Shropshire three weeks later, families all over the country can enjoy Rob Da Bank’s unique experience every summer.
Don’t miss Camp Bestival. Just because you’ve had kids doesn’t mean you have to stop partying.
The "little sister" of Bestival. A family-friendly music festival held annually in two locations in the UK (Dorset and Shropshire), featuring a diverse lineup of music acts, family entertainment, workshops, and activities for all ages.