It’s nearly the end of term yippee! Are you planning a camping or festival this summer? Having done Camp Bestival three times, Penny shares her family festival packing list, also great for camping…
Hello Campers! Things have changed a lot since I set off to Glastonbury aged 16 with just a small rucksack, a sleeping bag, and a two person tent. Festivals with kids require a little bit more planning. This is extensive, but don’t be overwhelmed, it’s more so you can make you mind up what you will find useful, rather than a must take all list. You can read more about my wonderful Camp Bestival experiences with different age kids, over three consecutive years here and here.
Tent stuff
Tent, mallet and pegs
Airbeds – kids ones that have sides to stop them rolling off, or Ready beds are great.
Airbed pump – the car battery powered ones are fast, but you will then have to carry it to the site, people do this, but foot pumps are probably more practical and good for top ups too.
Sleeping Bags
Blankets
Pillows
Hot water bottle, although it looks too warm this year!
Keeping clean stuff
Mirror
Bucket
Soap and nailbrush
Toothbrushes and paste
Deodorant
Hairbrush
Hairclips/headscarf/hairband to hide greasy hair
Dry shampoo/ Dry wash kit
Babywipes
Travel towels are so lightweight and handy if you do get a shower or wash in!
Hand sanitiser
Pocket tissues
Toilet roll or handier still, packets of tissues.
Travel potty (personal portable toilet units are not permitted to be brought onto the festival site)
Happy and Safe
Torches – head torches are great.
First aid kit
Medicines – suncream adult and child painkillers, insect repellent, hay fever tablets.
Handy small bag for valuables
Binbags for keeping muddy gear and rubbish tidy.
Ear defenders are essential if you are at the front, but are really handy to help kids zone out and sleep while you watch bands.
Never mind the weather
Clothes – lots of light layers, leggings/tights under dresses and shorts, t shirts under fleeces…
Warm jumpers – fleeces are ideal
PJs
Wellies
Waterproof trousers
Raincoats/ponchos
Sunglasses
Sunhats
Warm hats for nighttime
Sandals – crocs/jelly shoes are great as you can wash them clean
Suncream
warm socks/long socks for night time/wellies
Money for food and treats.
Fun stuff
Sweets
Pens and pencils
Bag of little toys
Bubbles
Flag and flagpole to help make finding the tent easy
Glowsicks
Costumes – many festivals have a theme
Solar powered fairy lights
Transport
Trolley/ radio flyer – we hired one from Mr Trolley which was big enough for our 3 and 5 year old to sleep in or laze in when they were tired. You can prebook them for the whole weekend at some festivals or just rent one for long enough to get your stuff from your car to the site. With a 4 and 6 year old we didn’t really need it so much and with a 5 and 7 year old we managed without.
Playlist, games, DVDS and snacks for the car journey
Memory making
Camera
Phone and charger/solar or mobile charger, spare old phone can be handy!
Scrapbook and pens, Camp bestival have a colouring book in the goody bag which kept them happy. A few small toys – it kept them happy while we watched bands.
Food and Drink – remove excess packaging to save waste
You can get amazing food at festivals, but having child friendly snacks and a few bits and bobs can really save money and tantrums.
Drink cartons – handy and a money saver for kids.
Water plastic bottles/container
Cereal/cereal bars or granola bars
Fruit
Bread and peanut butter for quick sandwiches
Snacks – dried fruit, nuts, crisps, crackers, biscuits, breadsticks, anything to keep em quiet!
Booze!
If you want to cook or want to save money
Small pan – beans/ pasta and sauce are easy meals.
Small gas stove and spare canister – check it actually works beforehand.
Kettle
Teabags/coffee/hot choc
Milk (freeze it so it lasts longer!)
Sugar
Ice packs and cool box
Cups, Bowls and cutlery
Washing Up liquid, cloth, bowl, tea towel
Out and about
Foldable Seats – only really essential if it rains
Picnic rug with plastic back in case ground is damp
Sunshade/golf umbrella
Flask/plastic drinks bottles
Snacks
Day Rucksack
Small cool bag for snacks
If you buy any new equipment, recycle the packaging at home before you leave to save space and waste at the site.
Crucial stuff
Cash and tickets!
In a word… Wellies
defiantly good footwear and old clothes as WILL get dirty xx
Arrange a meeting point with your family/friends in case you lose them during the day- something tall is always good as a ferris wheel is unlikely to move during the day
hand wipes
Baby wipes
Wipes are a must.
plenty of plastic bags – useful to sit on, to put things in when the heavens open, and to use as temp rubbish bins until you can find one on site.
wet wipes are good for lots of stuff
Wet wipes – good for most things – you can’t live without them!
Great post! Am off to my first festival next week so this is v handy 🙂
I always pack wet wipes they are always needed especially if you are going with young children
Wet wipes, suncream, sleeping bags and rubbish bags!
wellys and a rain coat
stove loo rolls
Dry Shampoo!
Bottled water x it cures everrything…. didn’t you know 😛
blow up beds make camping so much more comfortable
wellies and wet wipes. ….totally essential! Thank u for lovely comp
Always bring your own toilet tissue, because you never know if where your going is going to have any!
Take baby wipes!!
Wet wipes
Pampers wipes and defo waterproofs and wellies if rainy weather
Baby wipes are a must
Dry Shampoo for a quick refresh! oh and spare hairbands they always get lost or snap!
Baby wipes and dry shampoo x
handgel and baby wipes.
baby wipes xx
My must have item is dry shampoo, it’s a life saver.
don’t pack what you don’t need. dry shampoo
Toilet rolls and wet wipes , you dont want to go without either x
a sheewee
take lots of toilet rolls lol
havin a hubby who fishes so we have bed chairs to sleep on they are so comfy
Games for the kids are essential especially for rainy evenings stuck inside the tent!
It has to be wet wipes as they have so many uses
baby wipes are an absolute must!
Solar charger and wetwipes
Definitely wet wipes and wellies
Toilet rolls
my must have item is wetwipes
wet wipes is a must have!
Like the majority have said, I’d have to go with wet wipes – they truly are multi-purpose.
A Headtorch is essential
good walking boots and plenty of baby wipes to freshen up with, also layers of cloths as it can change weather so fast
Good pair of boots
Wetwipes and a good supply of clean, dry socks!
Wellies and wipes and a spare set of clothing!
I have a wind-up torch that can also charge my phone.
Take a pack of wet wipes with you
we always pack a couple of board games, for those rainy times stuck in the tent 🙂
Using hand gel
pack your wellies to the top of your rug sack
Baby Wipes and plenty of carrier bags for rubbish/dirty clothes
Keep your wellies handy!!
wellies
If you pack some of your gear in a plastic tub this can double up as a washing up bowl plus you can wash in it! I remember a lovely hot festival filling a tub and giving my long hair a good scrub! Fantastic!
You’ve made me realise how much stuff I need to get for Camp Bestival! Have my must-have item though – bumper box of solpadine!
wet wipes.
The 3 ‘W’ – Water, Wellies & Wet wipes.
A head torch and sun cream / sun hat / sunglasses.
Baby wipes and juice boxes for the kids – they are guaranteed to get messy and a thirsty grumpy child is never a good thing! 🙂
Bottled water for essential hydration and a camera to capture those special moments.
must have WIPES
wet wipes – an absolute must-have:)
Must have item is water!
Making sure I’ve packed the things I’m going to need first at the top! (I learned this the hard way.)
My phone. I. Need. it. 🙂
plenty of baby wipes x
put some spear many in the bag then if you lose your purse/wallet you have some spear cash to buy a drink of what with.
lots of wipes and wine!
Wet wipes,toilet rolls and plastic bags sorted!
Baby wipes!!
We always take one of those canvas pocket storage hangers and hang it from a tent pole (we’re fortunate to be able to access a pole inside the tent which I know not everyone can). They’re great for keeping little bits and pieces handy and off the ground, including woolly gloves – even at the height of summer they’re a godsend if you’re chilly of an evening (especially if you’re holding a cold beer!).
Baby Wipes! Priceless
You can never ever have enough wipes
Suncream
A head torch
Wetwipes, dry shampoo, lip balm and ear plugs (for those who are light sleepers!!)
A torch, baby wipes and a warm sleeping bag
Baby wipes, tissue and dry shampoo!
Wet wipes xx
Baby wipes
Wet wipes and wellies
Baby wipes are a must.x
lots of binbags
amazin!
love camping
dont forget the toilet roll
baby wipes
A cross shoulder bag to go under your t-shirt to keep cash, phone etc. safe.
Spare toilet rolls
wetwipes, but have loved reading some of the suggestions on here
Camping chairs, snacks as can get so expensive, and wet wipes
Wet wipes – lots of them
Toilet paper!
Take as many wet wipes as you think you will need, then double it!
Wellies is a must
chocolate
our must have item is our vw campervan
wet wipes and plastic bags they can be used for many purposes
Must haves are wellies and newspaper. Wipes need taking along too.
Kill a few flies, chop them all into three pieces, and lay bits just inside tent, flies will think you are a sicko and refuse to fly in. Incredible but true.
Definitely wet wipes – can solve all manner of problems!
Dry shampoo and wet wipes are a must
Wet wipes are my must-have camping item as they’re so versatile – wouldn’t go camping without them!
I can’t go without an airbed – no sleeping on floors or roll mats for me!
black bags..for rubbish, emergency waterproofing, sitting on, warming up..and possibly sleeping in if the tent gives up the ghost
lots of loo roll, baby wipes and a mac
anti bac wipes
wet wipes
Always keep some toilet paper / tissues close at hand
A bottle opener
my must have item is a packet of wet wipes, invaluable
it’s got to be wet wipes
Babywipes!
Loads of Midge repellant
Has to be wipes!
I always have to have a torch haha, its not easy in the dark when you forget one haha 🙂
a rain mac is a must
Healthy backpack, you can keep everything safe & not strain your back!
take plenty of wet wipes – they are so… versatile!
Roll up clothes in your wellies, plenty of room 🙂
Pack light but don’t forget plenty of sunblock
Wet wipes and and light layers of clothing you can swap over or pile on to keep warm.
A pop up tent and an inflatable lilo or air bed
Wet wipes and dru shampoo! x
we always take some strong tape! it comes in handy for everything! sorting out your tent in bad weather to attaching your stuff to your trolley! 🙂
A Radio Flyer wagon – you can put your kids, tent, beer and essentials in there. Perfect!
A pair of decent wellies, after all you cannot count on the weather.
It’s actually ketchup. That way, the kids will eat even the most challenging looking piece of overcooked bacon.
It has to be dry shampoo!
Wet wipes and antibacterial gel is a must!!
babywipes, they always get used, toilet, cleaning, freshening up etc
wellies and babywipes are a must take x
My top tip is to leave a set of clean clothes for every one in the car just incase your tent gets flooded.
Bring baby wipes
Baby wipes and toilet roll!!
Baby wipes – I like the Huggies wipes as they are a bit more sturdy.
Take loads of wet wipes and use them-don’t waste your day waiting around for a shower, chances are you’re missing something amazing!
Wet wipes
You can get led hanging light things from most pound shop style shops, they hang great on the tent poles and save dancing around with a torch in the dark.
a she wee!
Got to have wetwipes and lip balm
tea bags at the ready! with some of those mini milk cartons like you get in hotels
Anti bacterial gel.
Bright clothes so the kids can spot you easily if they wander off!
plasters are necessery for us
wet wipes, baby wipes
Our must have is antibac spray!
baby wipes
Wet wipes! Good for many situations when camping
wet wipes
Wet wipes, wellies and cheap blankets that can be wraps, spread on the ground or whatever!
wet wipes – useful for almost everything
Tissues and hand gel are my top items, there are so many essentials though like wellies, suncream, wipes, the list is huge
A torch. lighter wet wipes and dry shampoo
Wipes and hand gel!
Baby Wipes!
Baby wipes
My festival must have item is a definitely a waterproof tent!
A Torch….you do not want to try and find the loos in the dark in the middle of the night without one….
Has to be wet wipes
wet wipes are essential.
A torch and plenty of toilet paper
baby wipes
the must-have item is earplugs
Wellies for everyone!
Bubble Wrap is essential – it is so versatile and multi-functional serving as a pillow, cushion, insultator, sandwich wrapper, rain hat, wellie boot plugger and Keep your cash and ID dry!
Baby wipes – they have so many uses they simply are a must have.
Take more towels than you think you need!
lots of baby wipes
toilet roll is a must have 🙂
Have something ready to keep the kids entertained while you put the tent up.
Don’t over pack!
Invest in a good quality tent, they are better designed to cope with weather condition, hot/cold/wet, and will last for years.
Always take your Wellies with you
Wet wipes are a godsend or dealing with mucky hands and faces
Sun cream and wellies!
I would say to always make a checklist to remember you bring everything you need
Wellies and Wet Wipes 😀
Duct tape! Fixes holes in tents, water carriers and wellies
Take antibacterial wipes with you! These can be used for wiping over surfaces, toilets, hands, etc.
definitely toilet roll !
Wet wipes are a must
a decent chair is a must and for a good nights sleep I take a memory foam topper for my air bed bliss!
Toilet roll, Wet wipes, wellies and hand sanitiser – I think they are all complete essentials 🙂
wet wipes and lots of pairs of clean dry socks!!
My festival tips are: Baby wipes (obviously amazing for cleaning everything), breakfast biscuits (who wants to pay loads of money for expensive burgers?!), and my own personal favourite; a book, for all the down time!
A must have is toilet paper i have found…cant leave the house with out it
Wellies, wet wipes and snacks!!
Wet wipes
Lots of wipes and antibacterial hand gel, suncream and a raincoat.
Baby wipes – always take baby wipes. They can be used for hundreds of different things
Lots and lots of baby wipes!!!
You can never have too many plastic bags. Not very environmentally friendly, but really useful.
Along with wet wipes, I always bring spare towels & garbage bags for when the skies open up and drench everyone
wellies!!!!
All the Ws – Wellies, wet wipes and plenty of water
wet wipes!
Wellies for All!
From previous experience, puncture repair kit and always put up the tent and do a test run at home before you actually need it! Spent a very cold and wet weekend on the floor at one festival as my air bed had a rip and my tent wasn’t waterproof! 🙁
wet wipes and waterproofs
wet wipes and bug spray
Wet wipes & wellies
Antisceptic spray always got a bottle in my handbag and it would be what i packed plenty of and a face cloth
Bin bags and wet wipes. 🙂
Wet wipes are a must! Good for cleaning of mud, washing faces and so much more! i couldn’t live without them
wet wipes is a must
Wells, wet wipes and dry shampoo
toilet rolls
wet wipes and loo roll
Hand sanitiser and a wooly hat… even on hot sunny days it can get cold when the sun goes down
lots of toilet roll
Extra toilet rolls
Your going to get dirty so go with it LOL x
Spare socks-for comfort and warmth
Keep your clothes in a liner (bin liner) so if it rains at least they stay dry
Dry shampoo and baby wipes
my festival must have is wet wipes
Baby wipes and toilet rolls
A camera
Wipes
Always take wet wipes.
Lots of wet wipes!
An easy to put up tent & tea bags.
wet wipes and some sunshine
For everyone to carry a backpack with essentials – to spread out the weight x
It would have to be wet wipes. Couldn’t enjoy myself it I though I smelt!!! 🙂
baby wipes
Wellies and wetwipes!
A decent pillow I always have to have a decent pillow
Wet wipes.
Must haves are baby wipes and some champagne to make the camping a bit more like glamping!
Wet wipes, wellies and waterproofs. The three ws!
Baby wipes, a comfortable air bed and warm, dry socks.
For camping it would have to be pillows! We always forget them when we go!
Wet wipes!
Frozen 2 litre bottle of water – it keeps all of your supplies cold for days
Must have tea bags!
Air bed and pillow!
Take your pillow… You’ll never get a good nights sleep with your head on the cold ground
wet wipes
a towel
Take a load of bin bags. If the weather turns place all your stuff in and tie up when you leave your tent to make sure it all stays dry, then swap for your wet stuff at the end of the day to keep it away from the dry stuff!
Wipes
baby wipes
Ground sheets!
baby wipes and a torch !
waterproofs are a must in my opinion x x
roll everything don’t fold
insect repellent
My packing – space saving tip is to set out the items you want to wear together (for instance a pair of shorts, a top, knickers, socks) and then stack them (largest item on the bottom) and either fold or roll the together. This way all you have to do is grab a bundle rather than searching through your cases for corresponding items. My festival must have is a first aid kit.
lots of spare loo rollsx
Wet wipes
wet wipes definitely most used item in our tent!
roll your tshirts, don’t fold. Folding adds creases, rolling doesn’t. Rolling also means they take up less space. Generally good practice if you still want to look presentable out there.
Actually good practice in general – when putting tshirts in drawers or packing in a suitcase too.
Wet wipes
Baby wipes! Best thing ever for a festival
baby wipes
Wet Wipes and Dry Shampoo
a torch
Baby Wipes!
wet wipes
wet wipes or baby wipes
baby wipes always come in handy for lots of things… to keep you clean and freh, as loo roll, too cool off, ..i take a supply wherever i go lol <3
Must have item when camping – wet wipes
suncream, sunglasses and rain coat
Definitely baby wipes
Wet wipes – have a multiple of uses 🙂
got to be baby wipes
It has to be a juice box for my mobile phone which I use as a camera so I dont run out of battery and miss capturing those special moments
A decent tent
Wipes, wipes and more wipes.
It has to be had wipes or hand gel in an attempt to keep clean
WELLIES!!!!
Wet wipes – lots and lots of wet wipes
Wet wipes & wellies are a must 🙂
Hand Gel!
Wet wipes
baby wipes can be used for everyhting
Baby wipes are a must have even if you don’t have a small child they are extremely useful, I also find a selection of food & carrier bags come in handy for storing things you’ve opened & disposing of rubbish.
Blow up bed with a battery operated pump. its always got me through to the last day 🙂
Plus a Tupperware box with a good lid and pee-mates. Tupperware box can be used with water and a scent free soap for tent “baths” or if really desperate a wee during the night which can then be disposed of later. Not all festivals are safe to wonder around during the night to the portaloos.
Pee-Mates are for when the loo situation gets dire.
Baby wipes! Can be used for freshening up, in the loo and also are fantastic for getting marks off of clothes
Has to be wet wipes,so versatile.
wet wipes and spare socks
Take dry hair shampoo
from experience …wet wipes, wellies, dry shampoo and plenty of toilet roll !
My wind up/ solar powered lantern is a must have. Its great because I can always depend on it, rain or shine and it doesn’t use batteries.
Earplugs, fabric walls and close neighbours do not mix!
always take baby wipes
Suncream, lots of people forget and end up red as a lobster
Baby wipes. Lots and lots of baby wipes. Xx
Wheelie bin liners for sitting in in the car on the way home
A TENT (of course) but top tip is lots of plastic bags they come in handy for everything from your dirty washing, to muddy shoes, to rubbish or even to help stop a leak if youve got a bad tent!
Wet/baby wipes!
My festival essential is dry shampoo. I want to be having fun not wasting time washing my hair!
Wellies and wet wipes. Essential!!
Wet wipes.
A very warm hoodie as it gets very cold at night! 🙂
moist toilet tissue and vicks vapor rub for the smell in the loos.
Has to be wet wipes
Wellies and Wipes
My selfie stick ! To take the best group photos 🙂
Dry shampoo!
Baby Wipes – small, easily packed and incredibly useful in numerous situations!
Wellies, Don’t risk a festival without them
Wellies are a must!
hand wipes
Lots of babywipes
Disposable bbq!
Definitely hand wipes.
always pack beer at bottom of rucksack 😀
Tin Foil, you can cook absolutly ANYTHING in a tin foil pocket over a fire! 🙂
Wellies and air mattress are my festival essentials great at Glastonbury
Disposable clothes!
wet wipes
My tops must-haves for festivals and camping are 1) Dry Shampoo 2) Wet Wipes and 3) my phone so I can capture loads of memories!
Wellies and wet wipes
Take loo roll
Dry shampoo.
Comfy clothes
Baby wipes, toilet paper, dry shampoo and a potty if you have room to pee in your tent!! (you’ll need to dispose discreetly tho!!)
baby wipes toilet tissue, tent ,torch , warm clothes wellies loads of stuff
wet wipes and hand sanitizer
Old newspaper, which can be screwed up and left inside damp wellies or trainers overnight to help dry them out!
Old clothes, wet wipes and antibac hand stuff
Tin opener for camping!
Roll your clothes tightly to avoid creasing and pack some dry shampoo!
Soft toilet rolls and lots of wet wipes – handy in all sorts of emergencies
Dry shampoo, bin bags and baby wipes are a must. Roll up your clothing so it doesn’t crease.
baby wipes and clean undies are my essentials
A box of beer or a bottle of wine to reward yourself after setting everything up.
Hav
Hav
Always have a supply of carrier bags .. they can be converted in to raincovers,putting your dirties in, emergency toilets etc
Wellies for a British festival
Must have is baby wipes!
Dry shampoo and paracetamol
light clothes that dry quickly , dry shampoo, wet wipes
Wetwipes and wellies are a must!
Baby wipes. The only way to freshen up!
Get a cheap festival phone!
baby wipes 🙂
Baby wipes, so useful!
You have to have wet wipes and hand sanitiser!
Most vital possession is one’s youth – whether in actuality or reclaimed!
Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream!
check the weather before you go.