I can’t believe it’s already been over a week since Camp Bestival! Although I’ve just about finished washing all our post-camping clothes, the tan lines are very much in existence (including some impressive panda eyes that I’ve adopted) and I haven’t quite got used to visiting the fridge for food once again (as opposed to a cool-box!).
Now that the buzz has (sort of) worn off, it’s not surprising that our 4-year-old is now asking when he can go back to Camp Bestival – instead of asking when he can go to school. I have a feeling it’s going to be a looooong year until Camp Bestival 2020.
Although we’ve written about our weekend, we haven’t really gone into detail about our highlights, from our favourite food vendors to our unforgettable moments. So without further ado, here’s a quick run down…
Entertainment
One of our first excursions when we arrived at Camp Bestival was the Dingly Dell, seeing as we missed out on it last year. Located in dense woodland, it’s the perfect location for busy imaginations. We spent a lot of time here playing with theatre spoons and making mud pies. Another firm favourite – so much so that the boys wanted to see it twice – was the Insect Circus. This bright and bold performance that was comical and corny in equal measures made us laugh out loud several times. The Insect Museum, which linked with the show, was a wonderful touch and emphasised what was being shown – making it all the more magical. Samsam Bubbleman was also another favourite, but then who doesn’t like bubbles?!
Music
Camp Bestival has never failed us when it comes to their music. From The Cuban Brothers to Elvana, there’s something for someone! Our highlights this year were the Vengaboys, who absolutely should have been at the Castle Stage as they completely packed out the Big Top. Another highlight was Jess Glynne, who stole the show early on. I don’t often listen to a lot of mainstream music, but even I was able to sing along – it’s hard not to!
Thanks to the way the sound travels throughout the festival, even if you’re sat at the Feast Collective, you can still enjoy tunes coming from the Castle Stage, which means you never really miss out. This is how I managed to score a few minutes listening to East 17, The Wailers, and The Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band.
Food
One of the best things about Camp Bestival is the mini foodie festival that happens throughout the weekend. There’s literally something for all palates and belly sizes – not to mention wallet sizes. From grilled cheese toasties and Pad Tai to curries and pizzas, you have so many options available.
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I’ve also recently ‘come out’ as a vegetarian, which means this year I was keen to not only see what veggie street food there was available but to also push the boat out and get some vegan food down my gullet. Based on previous Camp Bestivals I had absolutely no concerns about whether I would eat or not.
This year, my favourites were the vegan kebabs from Bamboo Street Food and, as always, Anna Mae’s mac ’n’ cheese, which is the best festival accompaniment. I’m gutted I didn’t try Popdogs (a plant-based hot dog company) and I absolutely did not have enough crepes in me! Sharon and I did, however, enjoy trying out some halloumi fries, which was a new one for us at Camp Bestival this year. For Sharon she fell in love with the loaded hash browns and the buttermilk Thai chicken with sriracha fries. T’s favourite was grilled corn on the cob and brownies!
If you fancy joining us next year, ‘Early Bird’ tickets are now LIVE (but selling fast)!
Just pop over to the Camp Bestival website for more info on tickets and prices, as well as details on payment plans.
Disclosure: As Official Camp Bestival Bloggers we received our tickets in exchange for promotion and coverage during the festival. All thoughts, opinions, and imagery are our own.
