Along with my general camping tips from our Europe road trip, there are some specific tips I’d have to offer about the Just So Festival.
Just So is a very easy festival to navigate. It was our first ever festival when we attended last year, and we got into the swing of things very quickly. The site isn’t too large so it’s easy enough to get around, and the camping field is right next to the site so again, you can get to all the events nice and easily.
Just So has a brilliant list of what to bring on their website, but here are a few of my own pointers for newcomers:
FANCY DRESS: This is entirely optional so don’t stress about it! You choose your tribe, and then dress up to try to earn points in the Tribal Tournament. Last year there were kids dressed as pirates for the High Seas, cowboys and cowgirls for the Wild West (this area has been replaced with the Imaginarium this year where I reckon circus-themed fancy dress is the order of the day), and as fairies to meet the Fairy Queen. You can join in as little or as much as you like – for kids and adults anything goes. I definitely recommend packing some facepaints for easy dress-up when the kids demand it (and I used them too last year).
FOOD: There are good catering options onsite (burritos and pizza stick in my memory as being really great), but if you have fussy eaters, then make sure you bring your own food supplies. We combined buying food out with cooking back at the tent, and will be doing the same this year.
TOILETS AND SHOWERS: There are plenty of portaloos located close to the camping field, and at other places on the festival site. The queues for the showers varied according to the time of day. Obviously they were longest in the mornings, but I managed to shower in the afternoon without any wait at all. Bring a hat and then you don’t have to worry about what your hair looks like anyway!
PHONE CHARGING: You can leave your phones to charge in the Information tent – I believe that last year it was £1 per charge if my memory serves me correctly. Otherwise I’d definitely recommend bringing a universal portable power bank/emergency charger (we use a Kit model) which will mean you can still charge up.
GETTING AROUND: Last year we brought a trolley with us, and we’ll be doing that again, although we’re hoping we won’t need to use it so much now the twins are older. The site isn’t huge, but all the walking is tiring for little legs – you’d be fine with a pushchair, or you can hire wagons for the weekend. The lantern parade through the Spellbound Forest is one of my festival highlights, but it’s in the evening so a pushchair is a good idea for smaller kids.
OUT AND ABOUT: Carry a picnic blanket about with you so you can settle on the grass to watch any shows or enjoy a drink and snack. Appoint a meeting place nearby whenever you stop that you and the kids can go to if you get separated. We found it helpful to have a bit of a plan of what we were going to do when, so have a good look through the festival programme before heading out. You do also have to book places for some of the activities, so be aware of this and plan around your slot.
I’M SO EXCITED! If you spot us about at the festival do come and say hi. I’ll be the one with the stupid grin plastered to my face for the whole weekend.
Handy tips thank you! This will be our first Just So festival. I’ve been looking at the programme this evening – can’t wait!
You’ll love it, I promise!
I’ve got one – don’t assume that because it’s a festival you can roll up and join in with all the activities at any time. Check first, many – like the parcour, clay faces, and dance lessons are led activities, you really have to be there at the start! Not sure if the program makes it clear however (it didn’t last year). If it’s “going on all day” or there’s a wide time band for the activity then it’s likely to be a drop-in (like lantern making or the fun-with-physics people); if it’s a short time period, like ~1hr then you probably need to be there at the start time.
That’s a really good tip!