Not suitable for adults…
In case we haven’t hammered it home enough by now: Nozstock is very much a family affair.
Founded by a family in their ramshackle farmhouse twenty years ago with the aid of a few friends and local troublemakers, now uncles, cousins, grandchildren and other assorted Nosworthy clan members are called in from across the country on a yearly pilgrimage to get stuck in and lend a hand with the festivities.
Numerous Nosworthy-and-extended-family sprogs have come into the world since Nozstock’s inception so the Noz HQ team are no strangers to the challenge of combining festival frolics and family fun. In fact, it’s partly the reason why Nozstock prides itself on being so family friendly – that, and our belief that a good festival is for everyone, whether you’re into late-night skanking or glue, glitter and tie-dyeing.
In 2018, Sarah and the Spare Room Arts crew will return to our Little Wonderland kids area to ensure our littlest festivalgoers are suitably enthralled, entertained and enchanted over the weekend. Whether it’s learning a new skill, getting stuck in to make a Nozstock memory to take home with you, or just having a good old fashioned boogie – you’ll find it in the Little Wonderland (and, best of all, it’s all completely free!). Come and learn a few new moves at the Pimp Souls dance workshop, or take an hour out to reset and unwind with yoga classes (and storytelling) for kids and adults alike. Behind The Scenes theatre company will be on hand to take you back in time with immersive storytelling sessions, and the Spare Room Arts resident disco queen will be bringing the party to the Little Wonderland with a guided tour through the hits of yore – with some modern tunes thrown in for good measure – at our Mini Disco. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get yourself all dolled up, with regular facepainting, costume-making sessions, head-dress and mask workshops and tie-dying classes (for mum and dad to get all nostalgic about the 90s). The pessimistic among you can even glam up your wellies in case of rain. Once you’re properly suited and booted, learn a new craft or show off your skills with one of our many workshops. From willow weaving to felt creations, instrument-making to clay pots, pom-pom bunting to kites and puppeteering, whatever you create will surely have pride of place in your home and make you nozstalgic for festival life long after the face-paint has flaked away. Finally, for the tiniest among us who want to chill out in style after a hard day’s toddling, we’ve added a soft-play area for 2018, complete with paddling pools, sandpits and everything you could need to soak up the festival vibes without going near a DJ booth. As well as all this, the Nozstock arena is pretty much a little one’s dream, with captivating walkabout theatre, cinema and interactive artworks, not to mention the music. In addition, all areas which might be unsuitable for under-18-year old eyes will be strictly signposted.
But it’s not all fun and games (though it mostly is) – we know from hard-earned experience the realities of bringing little ‘uns to a festival, and have tried our best over the years to make the whole process as smooth as possible. In the Little Wonderland, you’ll find free bottle-warming services and changing mats, as well as the Lost Kids area where you can stop by for a special wristband to write parents’ mobile numbers on in case a mini raver should wander off the beaten path. If you’re wary of the revelry to be found in the general campsite, then bed down in our dedicated Family Camping area. Family Camping is strictly stewarded so only families with children can camp there, and it’s far away from the music so you can get a solid chunk of sleep every night: however, it has its own dedicated entrance to the Dingle – home of the Little Wonderland – so those little legs are just a hop, skip and a jump away from arts, crafts and fun. The Family Camping area comes complete with nearby food traders, entertainment and games for the kids while you’re setting up camp, and even showers for you to truly create your home away from home. And if all this doesn’t convince you – did we mention that kids aged 12 and under get in scott free to Nozstock?
Phew, there we have it – a quick-stop guide to all the reasons we positively encourage you to bring the littlest members of your tribes with you. But you don’t have to take our word for it: many before you have brought their families to Noz and lived to blog the tale. Daddacool hales us as ‘exactly the sort of festival that is great for kids’, Mum in the Madhouse says ‘the setting is just perfect and the upkeep is great’ (and includes a list of essential Top Tips for festivalling with tweens that would be compulsory reading at Nozstock university), while Tired Mummy of Two says Nozstock ‘feels welcoming and safe for children’. Finally, we were chuffed to bits to be named one of Festivalkidz’s Best Family Festivals in the Midlands 2018. So if you’re trying to find the perfect summer getaway that’ll cater to all ages, tastes and attitudes to glitter, why not come on down and join the ever-expanding Nozstock family in the Hidden Valley…
