Woodlands Festival is an intimate, family friendly festival in the heart of stunning Kent countryside. Set up by Chris and Rachel Baseby, having been touched by dementia and cancer the event raises funds for the Alzheimers Society and Macmillan Cancer Support. Woodlands is fun, friendly and ideal for first time family festival go-ers. Everything is geared towards entertaining children whilst the surrounding woodlands act as natural adventure playground for little explorers.
Entertainment
The programme kicks off as early as 8am when you can start the day with a session of yoga in the Whizz Bang Pop tent. The activities continue with non stop fun in the form of bush craft skills, treasure hunts, story telling and crazy science shows. Meanwhile the Woodlands Stage keeps all ages shimmying along to Cheesy Choons family disco, Mum’s The Word #Wild_Child dance party and performances from the Rock Choir. Live music comes in the form of bands such as Subtle Hustle and the New Nervous Kid with exclusive performances from Rock School students at local Dulwich Prep and Beneden School Live Lounge.
Food and Drink
The pop-up food village offers something for everyone with oven baked pizza, deep south dishes, veggie delights, ice creams and waffles. There’s plenty of choice for those wanting to indulge in something a bit stronger as well, with the Little Cocktail Box offering a fabulous range of cocktails and the Bignose & Beardy Cider Tent selling the best cider spritzers I’ve ever tasted in addition to many of their award winning Sussex ciders.
Location
Woodlands is tucked away down a winding country lane near Cranbrook in Kent. As you approach you pass pretty oast houses and rolling fields. Once on site the festival is equally as idyllic with the main stage situated in a large open field surrounded by woodland. Of course the festival makes the most of its natural environment inviting children to explore the woods. The trees were full of busy little folk making dens, creating Gruffalo houses and playing hide and seek.
Cinema
Evenings are finished off snuggled up in front of the big, silent cinema. Headphones are available to hire from the festival guaranteeing sleepy heads won’t be disturbed by others late night fun. This year saw the cinema featuring The Greatest Showman, Grease and Back to the Future.
Anything else?
If you’d like to find out more about The Woodlands Family festival please visit their website here.
