Returning to Weston Park for its second outing, the UK’s favourite family festival, Camp Bestival Shropshire delivered four days of incredible acts, entertainment, activities and standout moments as 20,000 festival goers came together and embraced a majestic Wildlife fancy dress theme with their families.
From wild swimming and water sports in the beautiful Park Pool lake with a special twilight Lantern Parade on Sunday evening emerging from Weston Woods, Weston Park provided the ultimate backdrop for four magical days of adventure for families.
The unstoppable Rudimental brought the energy on Friday evening with a headliner set of their best hits plus an amazing cover of Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn whilst synth-pop 80s icons The Human League played hits including Don’t You Want Me and Electric Dreams to an adoring crowd and Scottish rockers Primal Scream delivered the ultimate closing party with a memorable set packed full of hits from their impressive back catalogue. Vocal powerhouse Sam Ryder was out of this world as he thrilled crowds with hits including Space Man and the party didn’t stop there as one of the hottest acts of the last year, Confidence Man brought their uniquely feel-good party anthems to Shropshire, whilst pop sensations Melanie C, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Junior Andre and Ella Henderson made it a weekend to remember. The youngest weekend ravers in the crowd also enjoyed hours of entertainment from family favourites, Dick & Dom, Cosmic Kids Yoga, Junior Jungle, Mr Motivator and Mr Tumble, who also made an impromptu appearance in the CBeebies Bedtime Story Tent for a surprise secret storytime reading!
The weekend was jam-packed with memorable moments and incredible surprises. Crowds flocked to the main stage on Sunday morning to cheer on the fiercely inspiring Lionesses in the World Cup Final and despite the result the mood was celebratory for the team’s successes throughout the competition. The incredible female showing didn’t stop there as Academy Award winner Kate Winslet, who was enjoying the festival with her family, surprised crowds on Sunday afternoon with an impromptu appearance in the CBeebies Bedtime Story Tent where she treated families to a reading of Robert McCloskey’s Blueberries for Sal. Presenter and friend of the festival Josie Gibson popped up to judge the Beard and Moustache competition on Saturday morning before heading to the Camp Bestival Inflatable Church to marry her best friend.
Taking impetus from the awe-inspiring wonders of precious life on planet Earth, Camp Bestival Shropshire celebrated with a roaring Wildlife theme as thousands of families transformed into their favourite species. Radio legend and long-time friend of the festival Sara Cox hosted and judged Saturday’s family fancy dress competition as families walked the fancy dress catwalk in their incredible costumes. Tying in with the animal theme, Camp Bestival also partnered with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for the festival whose giant panda helped lead the fancy dress parade around the festival.
The infamous Cirque Bijou thrilled with new mind-boggling circus shows The Silent Forest Show, and The Princess and the Chickpea, as well as a giant Heliosphere display which took an acrobat high into the sky to amaze families, and the festival inside the festival, Caravanserai transported festival goers to another world, from trapeze artists and sea shanty acts, to brass bands and polka punk and everything in between.
Those looking for some family downtime enjoyed much needed time out in the Slow Motion wellness area on the banks of Park Pool within the immaculate grounds of Weston Park. From ice baths and meditation to yoga sessions and sleep retreats, plus much more guaranteed a weekend of wellness and recuperation in amongst the festival excitement. The peaceful lake took centre stage as families enjoyed wild swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking and raft racing.
Festivalgoers spent the days exploring the fields enjoying enchanting discovery play and an abundance of amazing activities. With soft play, circus skills, African drum workshops, lantern making, dance classes, skateboarding, bushcraft, tree climbing, stargazing and swing boats there was tons of screen-free, creative activities to fire up the imagination.
Camp Bestival wouldn’t be complete without ending the weekend with a famous Finale Spectacular and this year the festival celebrated in style, engulfing the beautiful Weston Park sky in a bath of sound and lights in a unique firework finisher followed by a jaw-dropping night-time Red Devils Parachute display complete with LED lit parachutes, flares and dazzling aerial acrobatics.
Weekend Camping tickets for Camp Bestival Shropshire 2024 (which takes place 15th-18th August next year) will go on sale 10am, Friday 29th September with tickets frozen at this year’s prices* - find out more here.
*face value (booking fees may differ)
"I’ve been to many countries but my favourite country is England and my favourite festival is Camp Bestival!”
Kate Winslet
“The most joyful crowd out there”
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
“The greatest family festival in the world!”
Mister Maker
“Camp Bestival is special to me, the original festival where you see people coming together, having fun and being free, that’s why it’s so special!”
The Cuban Brothers
