Celebrating its tenth anniversary in summer 2017, Lulworth Castle and Estate threw its doors open once again for the biggest music and arts festival on the South Coast – Camp Bestival. This family-friendly festival is the sister event of Lulworth’s boutique music Bestival also set on Dorset’s dramatic Jurassic coastline.
Art meets music
The event schedule is always crammed with entertainment for festival-goers of all ages and interests, from big-name bands to niche cultural events, arts, comedy and crafts to stunning sideshow attractions.
Camp Bestival has made quite a name for itself for its family-friendliness, with its very own sub festival for the little ones stuffed with options to let them explore, express themselves and ultimately entertain, with soft play and circus skills, go-carts and glitter. Make sure you catch the kids shows and performances on the Castle Stage and in the Big Top, enjoy the daring endeavours at the Freesports Park and go on memorable fairytale adventures in the Dingly Dell.
Big-name bookings
Camp Bestival’s impressive track record for booking top-name music artists alongside up-and-coming talent is in no small part due to the efforts of music specialist Rob da Bank, one of the event’s founders. Where else would you find Chuck Berry, Basement Jaxx, Madness and Blondie sharing the bill with emerging talent of the time like Florence & the Machine, Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding and countless others?
The event represents all musical genres “from folk and dub to drumstep and jazz jungle,” and everything in between, making for a memorable and inclusive occasion. The festival’s arts programme comprises contemporary theatre, performance, spoken word and discussions. Coupled with this, there’s also an incredible line-up of street eats and gourmet treats to tempt you into grabbing a delicious meal or quick snack.
Camping of every kind
If you can’t decide which day on the two-day line-up you’d prefer, why not go the distance, opting for a camping ticket for the whole weekend? Pick your own pitch in the purple or yellow zones, bring your campervan, trailer tent or caravan, choose Camping Plus to bag your own reserved plot or for the epitome of posh, why not explore the numerous Boutique Camping options including tipis, yurts, squrts, cloudhouses, podpads, bell tents and gypsy bowtop caravans. If you’re not a seasoned camper and you want to ease yourself into the experience, book your place in Pitch Village, which offers affordable and pre-pitched tents with everything you need for the weekend!
2017 top billings
The 2017 tenth anniversary festival line-up was packed to the brim with big name entertainment crossing all genres. Live music acts included Madness, Brian Wilson presenting Pet Sounds, Mark Ronson, Holly Johnson, Leftfield and The Bootleg Beatles. Comedy acts including Reginald D Hunter and Gary Delaney brought the laughs, while theatre performances included School of Rock – The Musical and Meet the Bolds with Julian Clary and David Roberts.
Before you pack up bound for your four walls of home, make sure you check out the world’s biggest bouncy castle, the giant kids disco with the world’s largest disco ball, numerous ‘slow motion’ alternative health and healing services and various top-name children’s entertainers such as Mr Tumble, Dick and Dom and Mister Maker in previous line-ups.