The festival season in nearly upon us and many are looking forward to a spring and summer of great music, fun and dancing, some great acts and the odd pint or several of Brother’s cider in a complementary paper pint cup.
If you haven’t indulged yourself, you would be mistaken for thinking that a festival is a few hours of evening music with little to do during the daylight hours. The amount of daylight and evening activities at most festivals seems almost endless and there is always something to keep you entertained.
The cost of a festival may seem expensive (Glastonbury £210) but this does include up to five nights camping and all the acts and performers that you can fit in during your stay. In comparison a ticket to a gig with travel to and from and a bite to eat is likely to cost you £100 for only a few hours entertainment.
For many the thought of attending a festival is not very appealing: drudging through mud, being open to the elements and having to camp out in a tent with little facilities. If this is your expectation then you can add a few more comforts by attending a festival in a campervan or motorhome. As well as providing a shelter from the rain a campervan can also provide washing and cooking facilities, storage, heating, power and in a some larger vehicles a nice hot shower to revive you after a long days partying.
A campervan ticket will usually be required which is in the region of £80 for the major festivals, but as well as giving you some welcomed facilities can be a real money saver. Motorhomes can accommodate groups of friends and family and you only require one additional ticket for the motorhome pitch. Preparing drinks and meals in your campervan will also save considerably on your daily food budget. The variety of food at festivals is usually excellent but purchasing up to three meals per day can be quite expensive.
If you don’t own your own campervan and or haven’t built one yet! There are now hundreds of businesses providing campervan and motorhome hire at affordable prices.
Which Festival?
Although the majority of festivals cater for all kinds of music tastes some are more suitable for a particular scene or music type. Have a look at the line-up and performing acts to see whether the type of festival suits your tastes. A lot of festivals cater for families but some are more adult friendly. If you have youngsters you may want to try Camp Bestival in July which is hailed as ‘The Greatest Family Show on Earth’. If you fancy something a little different why not visit Festival No 6 in Portmeirion, Wales, which was home to the classic TV series The Prisoner.
Campervan or motorhome pitches at festivals do not usually have electric hook-ups, but this shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the facilities on your vehicle. The leisure battery provides power for the operation of the lights, taps and shower, and TV/DVD if you have time. The LPG gas operates the heating, cooking facilities and hot water. You may need to operate the vehicle to top up the power to the leisure battery on occasion.
Before purchasing any festival tickets check the website to view the rules and regulations regarding campervan attendance and which facilities are available. Some do not allow specific vehicles, some allow awnings, and some don’t. Some require an additional campervan ticket for larger motorhomes.
Whether you camp in a tent, campervan or Winnebago we recommend that you attend a festival this year and fully experience the magic and excellent atmosphere that they have to offer and we are sure you’ll be back for more.
Written by Callum Franklin
